The #1 New York Times bestseller
The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.
Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of … the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.
Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Originally relegated to teaching math in the South’s segregated public schools, they were called into service during the labor shortages of World War II, when America’s aeronautics industry was in dire need of anyone who had the right stuff. Suddenly, these overlooked math whizzes had a shot at jobs worthy of their skills, and they answered Uncle Sam’s call, moving to Hampton, Virginia and the fascinating, high-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.
Even as Virginia’s Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white counterparts, the women of Langley’s all-black “West Computing” group helped America achieve one of the things it desired most: a decisive victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and complete domination of the heavens.
Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades they faced challenges, forged alliances and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country’s future.
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Incredible story. They were amazing, bright, inspirational women – and they shone in that dark time in our history.
A fantastic story!!
The story was just too hard to get into, seems like the author jumps around a lot. In this instance I would have to say the movie is better than the book
I really enjoyed this book. Told about a time in history that i believe most people weren’t aware of. I would have given it a 5 star, but it was too detailed in parts which was boring . However I would recommend this to be read by everyone because of the history of our times.
“Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly is a truly wonderful, very thoughtful book that described the women who overcome the line of segregation that divided Americans for many years. This book is very detailed with amazing facts that are not known to many different people, including those who might have studied NASA and fellow agencies in the past.
I highly recommend this book. I feel like it empowers women and brings together the different races by showing equality. This book is the perfect example of how life could not have turned out the way it has without the coming together of all people. Division should not separate individuals, for we were all created with the same common goal, and we should all remember to love one another for the greater good of all involved.
I loved the movie and had high hopes for this book. What a disappointment! It read like a ninth grade history text. I wasn’t able to finish the book.
Even though I had seen the movie, I learned so much more about the space industry and the role of women in making it happen.
Much more in depth than the award won in movie.
While this book was very informative about the era and what these women contributed, I’m baffled as to how they made a movie out of the book. There is NO storyline. It’s literally just a history of each woman.
This book portrayed an excellent history of NASA and black history. Because of the technical nature it was a bit of a slower read I did enjoy it
I’m an avid Space, NASA, astonaut fan & I learned so much more about the early days of the space program from a totally different perspective. Those women are heroes!! Great read!!!!
Highly recommend this inspirational story to everyone—it’s been my new favorite!!
More informative than the movie. Loved both
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Have not seen the movie and was interested in reading the book. Liked it a lot.
Know I really want to see the movie and make the comparisons.
I have also seen the movie several times and enjoyed seeing women establishing careers in an otherwise male oriented world. Proof that gender free professional careers are moving forward!
Saw the movie, but book is always better. Especially when the story is true about real people who make their mark in history.
It is a wonderful book. The fact that it is a true story makes it more remarkable. The women are inspirational
As a middle-class white woman from the Midwest, it is hard to believe the level of segregation these brilliant people were subjected to.