John Glassie & Ben Greenman

Known as one of the great intellects of his time, the eccentric 17th-century Jesuit priest, scientist and inventor Athanasius Kircher studied and wrote about everything from optics to mechanics to mathematics – but today we know that his “discoveries” were often off-base, even bizarre. In A Man of Misconceptions, local author John Glassie tells the story of the real, if at times unlikely, role Kircher played in the birth of modern science, while uncovering a treasure trove of surprising and amusing historical facts and anecdotes, and sheds light on the strange and sometimes illogical path that led to much of modern science. John will discuss the book with Ben Greenman, editor at the New Yorker and the author of several acclaimed books of fiction. John will also lead a trivia contest, in keeping with the odd polymath who inspired his book.