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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The author came from within the community of high achievers and dedicated scientists, so she knew many of these groundbreaking women personally. She undertook to tell a story that needed to be told to a world ignorant of their talents, and acclaim given to women who justly deserved it.
If you like nasa or space anything this boook is for you
These women are way more powerful in the book than they were in the film. So much depth to their experiences.
A realistic view of black women in the south and their white employers.
Very interesting book
This is a part of the history of Space Travel and our country’s prejudices that I knew little of. A great read about strong intelligent women!
I enjoyed this story very much.
Wonderful book that looks at the impact, both in science and in society and within the culture of NASA, that Black women played through aircraft research during World War 2 and eventually the research for the space race. This is an amazing group of women who demonstrated not only highly developed skills in mathematics and engineering, but perseverance in an era when they faced sexism and racism. The story in Hidden Figures is inspirational for many reasons, and I highly recommend it, especially as motivation to those who have an interest in math, science, and engineering, but who may think they are not the right fit for those fields.
This book is very informative and inspirational. The movie is excellent.
A huge eye opener into the role of black women mathematicians/scientists in the early days of the space race. Also an eye opener into the horrible stupid ridiculous unreasonable treatment of educated peers who happen to be female and black.
Inspiring story about how the female matheticians and engineers at NASA overcame challenges of racism and sexism.
Brilliant. Important. Inspiring.
Note: Non-scientists may find this to be somewhat book dry/clinical/boring. I find the scientific and technological developments to be inextricably connected to the women and their work, but I can appreciate that others may have preferred more of a biological “at home” portrait.
Great information about the black women who helped to put a man on the moon with their math. Dedicated women who had little hope for a career that allowed them to do anything but teach in their black school systems. They gave up much of their personal lives and achieved a place in history to make anyone proud!
Excellent addition to the people and scenes behind crucial times in Amerca.
I enjoyed reading this book but it felt much like an assigned college class reading. It was very interesting but was a bit dry because it felt like a research paper filled with facts.
Excellent book and recounting of a time in our history which was a exceptional and disheartening at the same time.
Not as interesting as the movie. Too technical for me. It was informative. I was not aware of the level of discrimination still present at that time. These women are inspirational.
I honestly liked the movie better, but this book should be a must read for high school students. This book is about not just brilliant women who happened to be black. They were heroes of their time that should be recognized by more than a good movie and a decent book. For people like me who grew up in the 50’s but were not aware of the sin of segregation this book is a real eye opener.Three cheers for these AMAZING women who conquered two war helping to prove that being a woman and also being black does not affect who a person is and that they should have the same opportunities, and pay as others.
I enjoy books and articles of the space program of NASA, so I really wanted to read this book. There is so much information, of black women, ( and women in general), who were virtually ignored then and now— even though though the gains they made were instrumental to the space program. I listened to this book on audio, bringing the history I lived through to life. I highly recommend this book.
Great story that needed to be told. I think it’s much better than the movie. A MUST read!
Inspiring and eye-opening.