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Informative,
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Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars
by Nathalia Holt

Published: 2016-04-05
Hardcover : 352 pages
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Recommended to book clubs by 5 of 8 members
The riveting true story of the women who launched America into space.

In the 1940s and 50s, when the newly minted Jet Propulsion Laboratory needed quick-thinking mathematicians to calculate velocities and plot trajectories, they didn't turn to male graduates. Rather, they recruited an ...
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Introduction

The riveting true story of the women who launched America into space.

In the 1940s and 50s, when the newly minted Jet Propulsion Laboratory needed quick-thinking mathematicians to calculate velocities and plot trajectories, they didn't turn to male graduates. Rather, they recruited an elite group of young women who, with only pencil, paper, and mathematical prowess, transformed rocket design, helped bring about the first American satellites, and made the exploration of the solar system possible.

For the first time, Rise of the Rocket Girls tells the stories of these women--known as "human computers"--who broke the boundaries of both gender and science. Based on extensive research and interviews with all the living members of the team, Rise of the Rocket Girls offers a unique perspective on the role of women in science: both where we've been, and the far reaches of space to which we're heading.

Editorial Review

An Amazon Best Book of April 2016: Women's history buffs rejoice! Wonderfully told and intrinsically captivating, this is the story about the elite group of women in the 40s and 50s who broke gender and science boundaries to transform rocket design and lay the groundwork for U.S. space travel. Not only did I geek out on the incredible look into the early days of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but I also fell in love with these women who quite possibly invented the pant suit, and were vital to America's space travel. --Penny Mann

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Book Club Recommendations

Omit
by zongr (see profile) 05/25/17
Invite a woman who broke into the male-dominated work force
by Livres4moi (see profile) 03/17/17
of science/mathematics/engineering during WWII times to come to your book club meeting & tell what it was really like for a woman to even get a job during the 1930s, 1940s, 50s & 60s. We've come a long way thanks to them, but still have a long way to go toward equality.
Try reading in conjunction with Hidden Figures. We plan to see Hidden Figures film for our Jan meeting.
by mbpazazz (see profile) 11/16/16

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Select H. (see profile) 08/13/19

 
by Sharon J. (see profile) 07/08/17

 
  "Rocket Girls"by Pearl Y. (see profile) 05/25/17

I do not care how rockets are built.

 
  "Rise of the Rocket Girls"by Gwen M. (see profile) 03/17/17

I am NOT a natural math or science female, but was certainly inspired by the lives of all the women behind the male engineers who put JPL & USA on the map for the exploration of space. The author was able... (read more)

 
  "Rise of the Rocket Girls "by Margaret G. (see profile) 03/17/17

A well written story like narrative of unknown historical events.

 
by Paula B. (see profile) 03/16/17

 
by M B P. (see profile) 11/16/16

 
by Marlene F. (see profile) 10/08/16

 
by Barbara B. (see profile) 08/12/16

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