
Hidden Figures
The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $31.49
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Robin Miles
The phenomenal true story of the Black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space. Now 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 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 shots 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 as they faced challenges, forged alliances, and used their intellects to change their own lives - and their country's future.
©2016 Margot Lee Shetterly (P)2016 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Robin Miles narrates the true story of four Black women whose work as mathematicians helped break the sound barrier, and set the stage for space exploration.... Miles warmly profiles these hard-working women and their significant contributions to a field still dominated by white men.... Miles's inflections, rhythm, and pace move the story forward in a fascinating timeline of events." ( AudioFile)
Featured Article: Hit the Open Highway with the 40+ Best Road Trip Listens for Your Next Journey
It takes more than great storytelling to be the right fit for each type of road trip. What works for a cross-country adventure may not be quite right for a quick day trip. What you listen to with your significant other may not be (read: is definitely not) the same as what you listen to with a carload of kids. And when driving solo, sometimes what you want is a little company. No matter what kind of journey you have coming up, we’ve got you covered.
People who viewed this also viewed...


















Terrible, author missed opportunity to be great
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The woman in this book are amazing.. this book opens the eyes to ones thoughts of the brains of woman of all colors!
Thanks very
Moving
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Surprisingly dull
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
amazing
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Forces the question of what important inventions, discoveries, scientific knowledge, and medical advances, have been thwarted and never materialized because of the attitudes of White folks.
Our world would and could have been a better place TODAY if, African Americans had been treated with respect and their contributions fully acknowledged, appreciated, and accepted.
I enjoyed the book and went to see the movie this week. In light of John Glenn's recent passing, it is good to know that at least he honored the people who helped him get back to earth.
I am proud of my people, and disappointed at what many were forced to endure in an effort to simply contribute. America needs to acknowledge this miscarriage of history, and show the world what actually happened, and give credit where credit is due.....even if it hurts.
Superb view of history.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Surprising engaging story of invisible NASA staff
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
interesting content, not well written
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Enlightening
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Incredible
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fantastic
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.