Book Review 📖
Hidden Figures
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Briefly
Hidden Figures is the story of the black women who worked as mathematicians at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. It spans the time between the creation of the segregated West Computing Group during World War II in the 40s through the Apollo program of the 60s.
It follows the careers of several of these women, from their upbringing and education to their work at NASA. It’s filled with the details of the aeronautical work at Langley, segregation, and these women’s families and social lives.
You may have heard of the movie of the same name. The movie was based on this book, but they’re different.
Is it worth reading the book if you’ve seen the movie?
Yes, definitely. The book has way more history, technical detail and “figures”— more than just Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy’s stories. What happens in the movie differs from the book in key ways. If you want the real story, read the book.
It’s also just really well-written. I made dozens of highlights on my kindle. Good job first-time author Margot Lee Shetterly!
Things you’ll learn about
Wind tunnels, The Area Rule, racial segregation in the US South, the social life of middle-class black families in 50s Hampton, the politics of the US Space Program, working under stereotypes and doubts.
Most striking thing
I grew up in Virginia, so it was really good to learn more history of the state. However, some of it is appalling. In particular, the Massive Resistance movement to stop integration.
Federal courts ruled that segregation of public schools was illegal. However, Virginia state and individual counties within Virginia stubbornly resisted. Rather than integrate, they defunded the public school system. Black children in particular had no alternatives, and so went without school.
It was a reminder that things have always been dystopian.
Papers mentioned in the book
- “Determination of Azimuth Angle at Burnout for Placing a Satellite Over a Selected Earth Position” by Katherine G. Johnson, 1960 (aka THE original how-to of precise satellite re-entry)
- “Effects of Nose Angle and Mach Number on Transition on Cones at Supersonic Speeds ” by Mary Jackson, 1958
- “Minimization of Sonic-Boom Parameters in Real and Isothermal Atmospheres” by Christine Darden, 1975
- “Simplified On-board Control of Moon-to-Earth Trajectories” by Katherine G. Johnson, 1971 (aka the procedure Apollo 13 would have used to manually orient the craft if it weren’t for the shiny debris from the explosion).
Favorite quote
“First, however, they had to get over the high hurdle of low expectations.”
