Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. So all the way through reading "Hidden Figures", I was asking myself why haven't I ever heard about the African American Women Scientist involved in the US Space Program from it's earliest days! However, I'm afraid the author's writing style is worse than bad and she does not do these women justice at all. I want EVERYBODY to read this. In 1943, in the midst of World War II, the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, VA seeks to hire hundreds of junior physicists and mathematicians to help in … I like the book, but it's not a story. Thanks to Margot Shetterly for introducing us to these (s)heroes of rocket science(!) I wonder watching the news...I am glad they finally got some kind of recognition for their service and tenacity. I'm sure there are countless other untold stories about women and minorities. The #1 New York Times Bestseller. She lives in … Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. However, I hadn't even noticed. What I especially appreciated was the way Shetterley always grounded the story in history. 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. 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 is a book about society, struggles, overcoming prejudices, spirit, strong will, and brains. Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where her father worked at Langley Research Center, on which the book is centered. I mean a book about mathematicians? Be forewarned: this book has lots historical and technical information and not a lot of personal stories. How far we have come in the last 100 years! This is a history lesson for all of us not to repeat mistakes. It never got better. Browse The Guardian Bookshop for a big selection of History of the Americas books and the latest book reviews from The G Buy Hidden Figures 9780008201326 by Margot Lee Shetterly for only ), still, the inspiration is there! Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly is a 2016 William Morrow publication. I saw the movie before I read the book, and I am honestly not sure whether that was a good or bad thing. This is a really uplifting read. 5. This is a history lesson for all of us not to repeat mistakes. She reads at a high school level. It's the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. “Women, on the other hand, had to wield their intellects like a scythe, hacking away against the stubborn underbrush of low expectations.”, “Katherine Johnson knew: once you took the first step, anything was possible.”, Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Nonfiction (2017), Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Nonfiction (2017), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History & Biography (2016). I just finished this book and could not have articulated my feelings about it better myself! Who knew? Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Something went wrong. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Her new book Hidden Figures shines light on the inner details of these women’s lives and accomplishments. Shetterly started working on the book in 2010. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly is a remarkable account of a small number of intelligent, hard-working, driven and admirable African-American women who made significant contributions to the Space Race and to the fields of math, science and engineering. I would get through a chapter and have to walk away from it. This book follows a handful of smart and tough women as they work their way through a society rigged against them in every way until they get a small. This was such an extraordinary, exhilarating and important story to tell, but the writing was so dry, repetitive and full of platitudes that it began to dull the edges of this sharp tale. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. Just a suggestion, but let your daughter read whatever she wants! She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young students. by Margot Lee Shetterly On Sale: 09/06/2016 Format: I gave the book five stars for the importance of the subject, new information shared, and for the author's extensive research. 3. Before John Glenn orbited 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. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. New Dominion Bookshop in Charlotteville, Virginia works with Margot to offer autographed copies of Hidden Figures. A very well researched book on a fascinating topic very few of us knew about until now. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip. That being said, certain aspects of it disappointed me. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. 2.0K views. Welcome back. I have seen the movie twice and read the book. HIDDEN FIGURES: The Story of the African-American Women W... by Margot Shetterly. The book was as amazing as the movie. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Hidden Figures The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. It's really exciting to see how the Langley Research Institute continues to grow and expand over the arch of the story, and to see how the laws transform during the course of these women's careers. The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. I don’t remember the last time I struggled to get through a book this bad. Bummer because it could have been SOOO good. Originally math teachers in the South’s segregated public schools, these gifted professionals answered Uncle Sam’s call during the labor shortages of World War II. The efforts of many courageous people that paved the road of social freedom for women and black people are amazing. “Their dark skin, their gender, their economic status--none of those were acceptable excuses for not … An inspiring story. They, and all the other West Computers, worked unbelievably hard and with often flawle. Coming from a STEM background myself, I found it fascinating to hear about the personal and the professional lives of the women who worked at NACA (before it was known as NASA). 6-8, 9-12 U. Genre. It's the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. or yes? .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner. The book was as amazing as the movie. As someone who hates math with a passion, I did not think I would enjoy it but hey I wanna see the movie so I gotta read the book. 0 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars 0. Revealing the inspirational untold story of female African-American mathematicians working at NASA during the 1960s, the film Hidden Figures is based on a book by Margot Lee Shetterly. Just wow. The film was OK, but for the real deal, do read this book. about. Although women were treated as equal in many parts of the world such as the Soviet Union, in US women were treated as lower in rank; and segregation was considered the norm until 2nd civil rights act was signed in 1964. The author bounces around and, combined with the intensive technical language, whole passages are muddled with confusion. $29.99. 5.0 average based on 2 product ratings. I really hope that the author was able to get through some revisions to work out some of the weaknesses in the writing because the story is so important -- it's about African-American women in the South who, because of the war, are temporarily able to secure jobs as 'human computers' at NACA -- which later beco. Yet the tone is at times so flowery and glib that the women become caricatured heroes as opposed to complex women in extraordinary times. Audiobook Free Hidden Figures Written By: Margot Lee Shetterly. There was a problem loading your book clubs. It felt very clinical as opposed to experiencing life with these women. There's a problem loading this menu right now. See all 25 questions about Hidden Figures…, Popsugar 2020 - Books about or by Women in STEM, 2017: What People Born in the 1980s Have Read in 2017, ☘Misericordia☘ ~ The Serendipity Aegis ~ ⚡ϟ⚡ϟ⚡⛈ ✺❂❤❣, “‘We Have Always Fought’: Challenging the ‘Women, Cattle and Slaves’ Narrative”, Janelle Monáe, Margot Lee Shetterly, and Melissa Harris-Perry on the Importance of Portraying Nuanced Black Female Characters, [Poll Ballot] Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly - 4 stars, Hidden Figures: Reviews by 2020 Reading Challengers, Readers’ Top Histories and Biographies of the Last 5 Years. Please try again. The movie is done very well and I commend all those involved in its production including the talented stars. Check out our revolutionary side-by-side summary and analysis. Three of these women are followed in detail: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson. I was in the minority for having finished the book. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Many movie goers who only see the movie will miss out on a number of opportunities to see more realistically Aunt Katherine's nature, attitudes, and life's perspectives on work, family, and race. Thanks to Margot Shetterly for introducing us to these (s)heroes of rocket science(! Margot is telling and not showing. I read Hidden Figures for a local book club. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. 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 book not only about strong women but more. It is unbelievable that we did not know about the contributions of these women until now. My young DD is passionate about mathematics and is dying to read this book, and prefers to read the original versus the young readers version. I did finish it, but I will be avoiding anything by this author in future. Shetterly, a 1991 graduate of the McIntire School, and her husband, writer Aran Shetterly, live in Charlottesville. Start by marking “Hidden Figures” as Want to Read: Error rating book. 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. Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson, Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II, Meet You in Hell: Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership That Changed America, Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars, “Meticulous… the depth and detail that are the book’s strength make it an effective, fact-based rudder with which would-be scientists and their allies can stabilize their flights of fancy. You girls rock(et)! Thank you! Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. It is also very interesting to read about this era; since the kids of today are born with an ipad; but before. of all things! A talk with Margot Lee Shetterly, the author of 'Hidden Figures' Margot Lee Shetterly's bestseller is now an Oscar-nominated movie. As a reading experience, I rated the book three stars; I did not have an emotional connection that compelled me to read on. I had occasion to meet the author who is the niece of one of these remarkable women. I liked this book very much. I was thinking while reading it of the recent furore at google over a programmer who believed that women find it hard to apply the necessary analytical skills to become programmers. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Moving from World War II through NASA’s golden age, touching on the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War and the women’s rights movement, ‘Hidden Figures’ interweaves a rich history of mankind’s greatest adventure with the intimate stories of five courageous women whose work forever changed the world. ATBroady, Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2018. I understand the film is better – if you want to know the story, watch that instead!! I liked this book very much. Set amid the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program. shipping: + $3.86 shipping . It is a product of thorough research and is full of events and anecdotes that make us re-live the tough times black women had to endure during 50s and 60s. It really is a revelation, even if like me you think you know what went on. The convergence / overlap of the lives of these women with the collective dreams of the nation and its obsessive space race are fraught with contradiction and celebration. Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race - Kindle edition by Shetterly, Margot Lee, Freeman, Laura. They deserved more credit then but society still wasn't ready and is it still? The efforts of many courageous people that paved the road of social freedom for women and black people are amazing. by William Morrow Paperbacks, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. The #1 New York Times bestseller. $19.99. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. To see what your friends thought of this book. Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures . Since the success of “Hidden Figures,” she committed to publish two more books in a trilogy loosely shaped around charismatic mid-century African-American figures. Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures. An Amazing book. Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures. The lack of focus in the writing was exhausting. This was especially true of the aeronautics and defense industry, which was crucial to the American war effort. I suggest you eat WELL! OUAT Founder and Owner Ryan Heathcock spoke with Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the book, Hidden Figures. It is literally everything I have wanted in a science history book for a while. Reading the book just gave me even more details about the African American women who came out as human computers (I had no idea that was where the word computers came from, they computed so were seen as computers) and helped shaped the United States space program. This book was everything I thought it would be, which unfortunately is why I didn't want to read it. This shows how history and historians are extremely selective and do not stray from the pre-established political narrative. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2017, My comments are somewhat bias since Katherine Johnson is my aunt. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. The reader is always reminded of what else is going on in the world as well as other American historical events. I did not expect to become tearful upon finishing a history book, especially one about mathematicians and engineers, but I did. What a disappointment. Please tell me the movie was based on the book and not the other way around? It is a case of getting one slice of pie when you could get two slices. This hardworking, earnest book is the perfect foil for the glamour still to come.” (. This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades as they faced challenges, forged alliances, and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country’s future. To order autographed copies, please email ndb [at] cstone.net, or call (434) 295-2552. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}Ask Alexa to read your book with Audible integration or text-to-speech. During World War Two, the gradual dismantling of the Jim Crow system of racial segregation began, asthe demands of the war economy brought African-Americans and women into jobs and industries from which they had previously been excluded. Set amid the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. It covers an important time in history when things were changing fast and for the better. Margot Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures" (Image credit: William Morrow) Shetterly's new book, "Hidden Figures" (William Morrow, 2016) follows … Hidden Figures tells the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African-American women who blazed the trail for others to follow in the fields of mathematics and engineering at NASA. The movie is based on the book (and Margot Lee Shetterly was an executive producer on the film). Before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as ‘Human Computers’, calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievement. Refresh and try again. 2 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars 2. No matter your gender, ethnicity, race or creed, you need this in your life. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Margot Shetterly is writing a history. She doesn't put us inside Katherine's perspective, she tells us about Katherine's perspective. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. The movie follows the story of three women involved in the race to propel humankind into space… Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly … So many friends told me that it wasn't what I thought, and one friend literally pushed her copy into my hands, and guess what, my fellow book nerds?? I was excited for the book. I feel no satisfaction for making it through. I personally did love it, though a friend of mine found the Americanisms a bit hard to take (too slangy). So thrilled that this is a book! It will move you, it will surprise you, it will frustrate you and it will inspire you. I first heard of Katherine Johnson just a few months ago, when I was watching a Sci-Fi time travel series on television. They, and all the other West Computers, worked unbelievably hard and with often flawless accuracy, and were responsible for calculating the math for the designs of numerous planes and missiles, and for getting men into orbit and to the moon. It's such a shame because there really is a wonderful true story of strong, intelligent black women in there, who triumph despite all the odds. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Please try again. I was excited for the book. 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. More about Margot Lee Shetterly. Ana astonishing account of brilliant women and much much better than the film. It is unbelievable that we did not know about the contributions of these women until now. 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. This book utterly disproves that, It is also an account of the civil rights movement in the US and of the discrimination that makes these women's achievements all the more remarkable. The biographical text follows the lives of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three mathematicians who worked as computers (then a job description) at NASA, during the sp… This book follows a handful of smart and tough women as they work their way through a society rigged against them in every way until they get a small break and they let their brilliance shine. I was miserable. It is a book about society, struggles, overcoming prejudices, spirit, strong will, and brains. I really hope that the author was able to get through some revisions to work out some of the weaknesses in the writing because the story is so important -- it's about African-American women in the South who, because of the war, are temporarily able to secure jobs as 'human computers' at NACA -- which later becomes NASA, despite living in a Jim Crow era of extreme racism and segregation. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. This was such an extraordinary, exhilarating and important story to tell, but the writing was so dry, repetitive and full of platitudes that it began to dull the edges of this sharp tale. Non-Fiction. Reading this book was torture. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race is a 2016 nonfiction book written by Margot Lee Shetterly. I saw the movie when it came out and I LOVED the movie. Also some of the facts that the author was trying to get across were so repeated their value lost meaning. My original "review" was this - two flippant little sentences to serve as a placeholder for an eventual "real" review: Incredible look at some of the brilliant female African-American mathematicians and engineers who worked for NASA and its predecessor in a time when integration was being challenged, schools were being closed in Virginia, and the portrayal of mathematicians and scientists was usually a bunch of white guys in shirts and ties. Still, it's a fascinating moment in US history and these women's stories are truly remarkable. Hidden Figures is a must read. This book is kickass. Three of these women are followed in detail: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson. “These women were both ordinary and they were extraordinary,” says Margot Lee Shetterly. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. It is a product of thorough research and is full of events and anecdotes that make us re-live the tough times black women had to endure during 50s and 60s. I should've stuck with my gut. This is an excellent nonfiction novel to learn about the African-American women who largely contributed to America's race to space. Grades. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner. Buy Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Shetterly, Margot Lee (ISBN: 9780008201326) from Amazon's Book Store. An Amazing book. Please try again. My preference is the book mostly because of the additional information provided about Aunt Katherine. Unable to add item to List. It reminds us also how much was achieved in aerospace before 90% of R&D started to get directed to mobile phones and really amazing technology took a back seat. SIGNED Hidden Figures Margot Lee Shetterly Paperback 2016 LIKE NEW. Short of just gushing about the brainy women featured in this engaging book, I'll say that I wish I could have known some of these women. Share - Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (2018, Hardcover) Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (2018, Hardcover) 2 product ratings. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. It is also very interesting to read about this era; since the kids of today are born with an ipad; but before all this; at a time where there wasn't a computer as we know it, there were Human computers. By Margot Lee Shetterly. I mean it is fascinating. Margot Shetterly is writing a history. The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller! Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women. The #1 New York Times Bestseller. Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. She also gives histories of many of the people and she goes into many of the historical backgrounds that got us here starting with World War II. I'm sure there are countless other untold stories about women and minorities. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2017. Clearly the main story revolves around the incredible achievements of the ladies entering the space program and playing such a vital but unsung role. She also gives histories of many of the people and she goes into many of the historical backgrounds that got us here starting with World Wa. I know in many ways we still have a long way to go, but this book shows how much has changed for the better through the persistance of those unlikely to be given a chance. 4. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. An Uplifting Story - and some very readable information about the US aerospace industry and space program, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2017. AUTOGRAPHED COPIES. Hidden Figures The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. It covers an important time in history when things were changing fast and for the better. "The title 'Hidden Figures' is a reference to the book by Margot Lee Shetterly and the film released in 2016 of the same name, and it has a double meaning," April Stafford, director of the U.S. Mint's Office of Design Management, said at a Sept. 23 meeting of the … Is there anything inappropriate for young readers in this book? I wish the writing was more creative, narrative-driven and sensory to give us a real sense of who they really were as opposed to casting them as emblematic symbols of a people and a nation. This is an astonishing account of the considerable numbers of black women mathematicians in the US's space programme. Most of the ladies went to see the movie. Need help with Chapter 1: A Door Opens in Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures? This is a wonderful story but so badly told. Man I really really wanted to like this book. If you've seen the film based on this book, please read the book. Before John Glenn orbited 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. From my youth, I have always been interested in the space race. Now a Major Motion Picture from Twentieth Century Fox, The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Wow. Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures. I saw the movie when it came out and I LOVED the movie. She lives in … I have to say, I didn't think I would like this book. The Human Computer Project. December 6th 2016 I like the book, but it's not a story. 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 book not only about strong women but more. The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. The book takes place from the 1930s through the 1960s when some viewed women as inferior to men. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures. Segregated from their white counterparts, these ‘coloured computers’ used pencil and paper to write the equations that would launch rockets and astronauts, into space. It's amazing. Terrible writing style but a wonderful story, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2018. She doesn't put us inside Katherine's perspective, she tells us about Katherine's perspective. Hidden Figures is their story. It's also a very odd mix of docudrama style, historical detail and annoying imagined conversations which just make the characters feel even more 2 dimensional than before. Writer, researcher, and entrepreneur Margot Lee Shetterly is the author ofHidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race(William Morrow/HarperCollins). 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. This is a history lesson for all of us not to repeat mistakes. Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2017. No, but seriously, did you expect anything less of a rating from me? It's a story you need to hear. Nothing is inappropriate. It is a book about society, struggles, overcoming prejudices, spirit, strong will, and brains. Learn more about author Margot Lee Shetterly at Margotleeshetterly.com. Both scientifically and as people. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Margot Lee Shetterly (born June 30, 1969) is an American non-fiction writer who has also worked in investment banking and media startups. Glad the author brought to light these extraordinarily talented “human computers”. I'll start by acknowledging how much I enjoyed this book. They did the calculations that helped get men into space. Recovering the legacy of all of NASA's pioneering human computers and female mathematicians. In Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race (public library), Margot Lee Shetterly tells the untold story of these brilliant women, once on the frontlines of our cultural leaps and since sidelined by the selective collective memory we call history. It's got SO much more in it, and its so revealing about the race divisions in America of the time. Facilities like Langley began to hire qualified women in large numb… Look forward to the movie! Wow , Wow , Wow , Wow , Wow , Wow Wow , Wow , Wow , Wow , Wow , Wow. Margot Lee Shetterly talked about her book, Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win … Her first book, Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race (2016), is about African-American women mathematicians working at NASA who were instrumental to the success of the United States space program. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2017. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER THAT INSPIRED THE fox movie! 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 book not only about strong women but more. She is not writing a story - there is a difference. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. I didn’t connect with any of the characters because it truly jumped all over the place. Please try your request again later. This really is a history and I learned so much from it I had no clue about. I had occasion to meet the author who is the niece of one of these remarkable women. William Morrow Paperbacks; Media tie-in edition (December 6, 2016), Fascinating book; very different from the movie, Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017. Coming from a STEM background myself, I found it fascinating to hear about the personal and the professional lives of the women who worked at NACA (before it was known as NASA). .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. more info. Compelling social more than technical history, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2018. With new jobs at the fascinating, high-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, Virginia, they finally had a shot at jobs that would push their skills to the limits. I enjoy nonfiction and I loved the subject matter the author went after. The author is very empathic and paints wonderful portraits of all the key characters. I saw this movie two weeks ago and was blown away by it. Information such as 'State of Virginia was paying the colored students' tuition so that they don't bother the whites and go to colleges outside Virginia' is still shocking to know. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Highly recommended. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as ‘Human Computers’, calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. However, this was just so dry. Each paragraph would introduce 6 new characters and go on a tangent in a completely different direction. Now a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner. A fascinating subject. Of course, some of the things must have been embellished (or not! Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Hidden Figures Summary. Margot is telling and not showing. We’d love your help. Short of just gushing about the brainy women featured in this engaging book, I'll say that I wish I could have known some of these women. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race is a 2016 nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly. She lives in … She is not writing a story - there is a difference. I am actually excited in this case that there's a major motion picture b/c I think it'll bring the narrative structure into clearer relief -- the lives of the main characters -- Dorothy, Katherine and Mary -- are so intertwined and overlapping that it's hard to keep track of whose story is being told at any given moment. She sold the movie rights while still working on the book, and it was adapted as a feature film of the same name, Hid… Free shipping . It really is, but don't expect some sweeping story. Author Shetterly and illustrator Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black female mathematicians who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers in this adaptation of Shetterly's #1 New York Times bestseller, the basis for the Oscar-nominated film. This shows how history and historians are extremely selective and do not stray from the pre-established political narrative. I loved the movie, and I loved the book, but they are very different. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. Peppered through with facts and fiction and more facts.