My Remarkable Journey

“Katherine Johnson’s personal story never gets old, and never fails to inspire.”  — Margot Lee Shetterly, Author of the New York Times bestseller Hidden Figures  “Katherine Johnson was a fierce intellect, a commanding presence, a determined boundary breaker, a passionate advocate for justice, and, simultaneously, one of the most kind, gentle, and humble spirits I have ever met.  The story of this human computer whose calculations changed the world is also the story of a woman of deep, abiding faith whose trust in God and whose determination to excel changed everyone around her.  In this book, in her own words, her story rises like a rocket, triumphantly and majestically.  Reading it, you will feel your spirit soar.” — Brian K. Blount, President of the Union Presbyterian Seminary, and Former Pastor to Katherine “Her brilliance and numbers helped me and many others reach the stars. A storied and rich legacy that will resonate with many generations of explorers.”  — Astronaut Leland Melvin, author of Chasing Space “A telling and inspirational look into the amazing life of Katherine G. Johnson that goes beyond the numbers to tell a story of brilliance, perseverance and compassion.  Katherine’s journey charted a course to the stars both compelling and beautiful. A story of her humanity, her genius and her compassion that enabled both the dreams of a Nation and of every individual she encountered.”  — Clayton P. Turner, Director of NASA’s Langley Research Center “This compelling memoir takes us on Katherine’s journey as she navigates social forces, great loss, and personal triumph. Katherine demonstrated self-responsibility, determination, a great work ethic, and as her father taught her, she remained humble even after receiving many prestigious recognitions and awards. Her memoir captures the essence of the values our program wants to exemplify and having her name on our building inspires us to honor her legacy.” — Gregory Blaney, Director, NASA’s Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility, Fairmont, WV “Katherine Johnson’s story shows us how to make it to the moon and back...and beyond.”  — Ted Melfi, Director of Hidden Figures “Katherine Johnson's story of accomplishment and persistence deserves to be part of the nation's Civil Rights archive. Her narrative--from the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia to a key position at NASA—illustrates a triumph of intellect, optimism and grace that is too often ignored in the first draft of history, especially in the case of accomplished Black mathematicians and scientists. My Remarkable Journey offers a rare private glimpse into an admirable arc of the life of this distinguished centenarian, reaching from White Sulphur Springs farm roads to Barack Obama's White House.” — Howell Raines, former executive editor of The New York Times, is a Pulitzer Prize winner and author of My Soul Is Rested, an oral history of the civil rights movement. "Examples of relentless determination in the face of adversity linger with the reader, showing what truly makes Johnson’s journey remarkable. Yes, her mathematical genius was inspiring. Equally inspiring was her grit." — Science News “Johnson’s work at NASA is only one part of her extraordinary life, as recounted in this lovely posthumous memoir, co-written with her daughters. . . . Readers will enjoy Johnson’s personal accounts of the space race and the roles of Black women in STEM. This wonderful, insightful memoir is the perfect companion piece to Margot Lee Shetterly’s best-selling Hidden Figures, which recounted the lives of Johnson and her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.” — Library Journal (starred review) “Johnson is a warm and compassionate author, filling her pages with the most personal of stories while also illuminating the times she lived through with an appreciation for all the dramatic changes occurring round her. Truly a lovely read, this is an important addition to every bookshelf devoted to great Americans.” — Booklist (starred review)