HIDDEN FIGURES The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

Forget about breaking the glass ceiling—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. From the 1930s to the 1960s, they made calculations on such phenomena as rocket trajectories and sonic booms, first at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), taking advantage of the opportunity that arose from the labor shortage of WWII, and then at NASA. Miles warmly profiles these hard-working women and their significant contributions to a field still dominated by white men. As the author highlights such figures as Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, Miles’s inflections, rhythm, and pace move the story forward in a fascinating timeline of events. Listeners will get to hear the story before the much-anticipated movie is released next year. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016]