Hidden Figures
The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:9th Feb '17
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£9.99(9780008555375)
This compelling narrative uncovers the untold stories of African-American women at NASA, highlighting their crucial contributions to the space program in Hidden Figures.
Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, Hidden Figures tells the inspiring true story of a group of African-American female mathematicians at NASA. These brilliant women, often overlooked in history, played a pivotal role in America's space program during a time of segregation and discrimination. They worked as 'Human Computers', calculating the complex equations necessary for launching rockets and sending astronauts into orbit. Their contributions were crucial to the success of missions that led to significant milestones in space exploration.
The narrative spans from World War II through NASA's golden age, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of these women in a male-dominated field. As they navigated the challenges of segregation, they not only broke barriers in the workplace but also became symbols of resilience and determination. Hidden Figures intertwines their personal stories with the broader historical context of the civil rights movement, the Space Race, and the women's rights movement, showcasing how their work transcended the confines of their time.
Through the lens of five extraordinary women, Hidden Figures reveals the untold stories of those who helped shape history. Their calculations and insights were instrumental in launching the first American astronauts into space, and their legacy continues to inspire future generations. This book is a testament to the power of perseverance, intellect, and the often unrecognized contributions of women of color in science and technology.
A TIME Magazine Top 10 Nonfiction Book of 2016
‘Clearly fueled by pride and admiration, a tender account of genuine transcendence and camaraderie.
The story warmly conveys the dignity and refinements of these women’ New York Times Book Review
‘Much as Tom Wolfe did in ‘The Right Stuff’, Shetterly moves gracefully between the women’s lives and the broader sweep of history … Shetterly blends impressive research with an enormous amount of heart in telling these stories … Genuinely inspiring book’ Boston Globe
‘A fascinating and important document about the hitherto unknown impact of NASA’s endeavours’ BBC Sky at Night magazine
‘Shetterly’s highly recommended work offers up a crucial history that had previously and unforgivably been lost. We’d do well to put this book into the hands of young women who have long since been told that there’s no room for them at the scientific table’ Library Journal
‘Inspiring and enlightening’ Kirkus
‘Exploring the intimate relationships among blackness, womanhood, and 20th-century American technological development, Shetterly crafts a narrative that is crucial to understanding subsequent movements for civil rights’ Publishers Weekly
‘This an is incredibly powerful and complex story, and Shetterly has it down cold. The breadth of her well-documented research is immense, and her narrative compels on every level. The timing of this revelatory book could not be better, and book clubs will adore it’ Booklist
‘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 stabilise their flights of fancy’ Seattle Times
ISBN: 9780008201326
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 23mm
Weight: 260g
384 pages