James Vining

James Vining (1940-) grew up in a rural Georgia county noted for two famous authors, Joel Chandler Harris (creator of Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit, and the other "critters") and Alice Walker ("The Color Purple"). He studied geography at three universities and spent his entire career as a professional geographer at Western Illinois University. His academic publications included more than half a hundred journal articles, a book, and co-authorship of two other books. A decade ago, he began seriously researching adversity literature, and has taught adult Sunday school courses about dealing with suffering. He worked eight years on his book, "Forty Ways to Overcome Adversity." The book is consistent with his life purpose: "My purpose in life is to use the gifts and abilities God gave me to help others."