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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These women are worth learning about and the book goes into depth. However it was not always easy to follow. The movie was a great overview if you want to learn just enough and be entertained. The book is a bit cumbersome.
Excellent book. True story I never knew. Shows the discrimination of both black people and women.
One of those stories that never got told until now.
This book exposes the long-hidden contribution that “colored women” made to the jet propulsion and space program that made the US advancement to space possible.
Everyone should read this book.
great book
I enjoyed the detail of this book and becoming familiar with previously unknown persons in history.
Too dry andtechnical. I was expecting a storyline similar to the movie. This is an in-depth history of many different individuals and incidents that left me disinterested.
This was an amazing story about some amazing women who left their mark on the Space Race, in spite of every attempt to leave their contributions in the shadows of white men. As a former female engineer in defense electronics, I understood more than I would have otherwise. I am so impressed.
Such an inspirational tale of a time in our shared history when everyone came together for a common goal. It’s just a shame to know it took decades before these women were rightfully acknowledged for their contribution.
Loved the movie so I wanted to see how much they changed it from the written script. totally different but just as interesting.
i absolutely love it
Just a fantastic story! A great read for anyone that like historical characters and stories!
I absolutely loved this book. I had no idea this had taken place.
A must read!
This was overall an amazing book! I didn’t give it a full five stars because it started out slow and didn’t grab my attention until I was about 25% in. It is a phenomenal story about incredible women who haven’t gotten the credit they deserve in history books and lessons!
Excellent portrayal of racism and need to expand our world.
Inspirational and important history that ought to be taught in our schools (along with many other voices & events), but has been omitted from secondary social studies curriculum at large throughout the United States.
I love this story. It’s so important and powerful. But the book got into a bit too much detail and sadly wasn’t as enjoyable as the movie.
Few “whites” know or care what African Americans endured at our hands, and it wasn’t all Jim Crow. It was the widely held view that darker skin made you “inferior,” excluding one from the “club” of “whiteness.”
Nonetheless, America owes much to many more blacks who achieved much despite daunting obstacles.