The #1 New York Times bestsellerThe phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Soon to be 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 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. 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 they faced challenges; forged alliances and used their intellect to change their own lives; and their country’s future.
#315455 in Books Nuala Calvi Duncan Barrett 2014-09-02 2014-09-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .89 x 5.31l; .0 #File Name: 0062328050592 pagesGI Brides The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love
Review
94 of 97 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating and true to lifeBy Jo Ann GrahamThis is a can't put it down tale of four women from England who married four American GIs during and after World War 2. The women do not know each other. The book explains their coming to America and how they adapt to the completely new life and culture in a strange country. Some of the women knew little or nothing about their new husbands and married in the heat of war. They all met with some disappointment and some happy surprises in the life they expected to have as a new bride in America. Begun as a project to look into the background of a relative of one of the authors; the book grew into an enthralling tale of real life in all its joys and sorrows.After reading the book in just two days (I couldn't put it down; it is fascinating) I passed it to my mother who is 90 years old and was born and raised in England. In her late teens and early 20s; she lived through the war in London and surrounding areas. She verified that the book is very accurate to real life in terms of the areas and conditions described. She also couldn't put the book down and loved reading about people who seem to come to life in your hands. Although she was not a war bride herself my mother was and remained friends with many woman who were war brides and truly enjoyed reading the stories of the four women in this book.The authors are wonderful in the manner in which they spin this narrative. You really get to know the players and to care about their lives. You cannot help but respect the courage of women who left the only world they knew and ventured to a new land to join their new love and search for a new life. This is a fascinating and very enjoyable book.11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. G.I. Brides or "Whatever Was I Thinking?"By Sue CrossMany of these women were living in a fantasy world of what they believed America was. It appears that they truly felt they were in love with their American GI; but it seems to me that most were really in love with what he represented. The world they lived in was dangerously bombed; short on necessities; and in many cases extremely harsh. They pictured all of America like the Hollywood they saw in movies. They saw their GI husband as a way to "live the good life."It is very interesting to see how their lives in America truly played out. Many of the husbands had hidden secrets of alcoholism; poverty; serious gambling addiction; etc. But there were many women who married for love and found it.This study of these real women and how their lives turned out is fascinating. Happiness or failure; they all had two things in common; they were all strong women and they all were homesick for England.I would highly recommend this book to others. I can hardly wait to read the other books by the same authors on other women in similar situations.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. GI BridesBy Colleen T.I just love WWII history! There is such an amalgamation of beauty and romance; horror and desolation that I seem to be transfixed with these stories no matter what angle they take. In GI Brides we get another interesting angle (and one I haven't read yet): that of the English women who fell in love with the American men that flooded their shores and that left behind everything to follow these men to a country they knew so little about. What makes this story that much better is the fact that it's all true!GI Brides shares the experiences of four English women during the war and after as they moved to America with their G.I.s. Each chapter concentrates on one woman's story and the chapters alternate between women. I was impressed with how well the stories flowed together; showing the similarities within each storyline as well as how each woman's situation was unique; and it really read more like a novel than what I've experienced with more bland; facts-driven nonfiction (which is a good thing!). What I enjoyed most of all was the fact that the stories weren't sugar-coated to give "happily ever after" situations. These women sacrificed a huge amount; leaving behind everything they had to follow these men they really didn't know very well. None of the men were exactly who they said they were and these women had to face the realities of men suffering with alcoholism; gambling addiction; overbearing families and even infidelity. What I was left with was a remarkable appreciation for what these women endured and how they never gave up on working for the life they wanted for themselves and their children (if they had any); whether that was with these G.I.s or not. These women were survivors. My biggest complaint with G.I. Brides isn't really the story but the narrator of the audiobook (I switched back and forth between the Kindle version and the Audible version). While she did a good job of guiding the story along with her inflections and pacing she didn't really distinguish much between the various characters' voices. While I know it would be incredibly difficult to differentiate between this many people I have heard it done before and; for the most part; the women all sounded the same and the men all sounded the same. I will also say that there are some delightful pictures of the women and their families; which I very much enjoyed; but they were lumped all together at the end of the eBook. I would have preferred them disbursed throughout when the actual people were being discussed so I could visualize them while reading; not after I was finished. I think G.I Brides does a wonderful job of giving a well rounded look at what these English women gained and lost by following their hearts to America. It isn't overly romanticized or exaggerated; it is real life with all its ups and downs. I would probably recommend the print version if you are like me and love having pictures throughout showing the people being discussed (I assume the print version does this); but if this isn't an issue for you I would highly recommend getting the story whichever way you can. I look forward to reading more about G.I. brides and that's because of what I learned here.
