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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To read about the history in this time period was very interesting. Enjoyed the book.
The women in this book were so brilliant and so willing to endure hardships to make a difference. It was great to understand a part of the world that I lived through. I was totally unaware of their contributions to the space program.
How did I not know this? Ah, yes, it was a time when women were invisible; black women were not even thought to possess such abilities. I am thankful this account was kept.
Really enjoyed this book. I am a history buff and really enjoy books about people and events that have been over looked for the most part
Fabulous, great read!
These women had guts but did not receive the glory. They were smart, hard working women trying to earn a good income for their families while facing racism and the domestic household burdens of being female during Cold War America.
Needless to say, much richer than the film. What a collection of amazing women who helped the U.S. in its space quest.
great character building, good portrait of minority women who helped win WWII.
A very good, true story!
The movie is better. The book is poorly written. The author says the same thing over and over and over…..
As a female mathematician, this was eye opening and helpful to convey the place of women in math and physics.
Excellent well written. A story that needed telling. These ladies have a wonderful story.
Interesting look into the beginnings of space flight and very informative about the struggles black people faced and how these people overcame that to reach their dreams
I enjoyed reading about the early mathematicians and it was quite informative and interesting but I found it to “drag” at times. Reason for the 4* rating.
It’s eye opening what the Black women were put through. Not being allowed to use white restroom in their building is my first thought. A must read.
I lived during this time and was not aware of any thing like this going on. I was surprised that these black women had the courage and the opportunity to get this kind of education at that time,to allow them to qualify for this kind of work. A most interesting and informative book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
A wonderful story about real women doing extraordinary work under difficult circumstances.
Inspiring young women, but the book was not what I expected.
I loved this book! I couldn’t believe I’d never learned about these women before and thoroughly enjoyed finding out about this part of American history.
A wonderful telling of a part of the space race never told before.
Loved that this was based on a true story!