Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race - Margot Lee Shetterly

I watched the movie back in January and it was great. And then I kept putting off reading the book, even though I earmarked it for the Pop Sugar Challenge prompt. So comes December and I am down to two prompts left and figure now is the time to read it. After finishing, I could have kicked my own butt for waiting so long.

 

Image result for iceberg book meme

 

So we have all seen this meme from time to time. Exhibit A to prove this meme true is Hidden Figures. Great if you saw the movie, but the women profiled had much longer careers at NACA/NASA then the movie portrayed and did much more than that one mission. Although my favorite lady in the movie was Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn won my heart in the book (I thought NASA did her dirty at the end of her career). Shetterly also deftly brings historical context to showcase what these ladies were up against and how they achieved success on their own standards. It was more than Jim Crow; it was the Depression, their own families, WW II, and their colleagues.

 

I highly recommend this book!