I am a curious optimist, which means I want to know how the universe works and use that knowledge to imagine and build a better future. That’s why I chose a career as a physicist. Along the way, I learned about the marvelous laws that govern our universe, but I also discovered the many unsung women who played a huge role in uncovering those laws. I love to share the inspiring stories of women scientists who persisted in the face of many challenges in fields dominated by men. I think they too were curious optimists.
I wrote
Her Space, Her Time: How Trailblazing Women Scientists Decoded the Hidden Universe
As a physicist and a woman of color, Hidden Figures was absolutely unforgettable for me because it was the first book I read that celebrated women scientists of color.
This wonderful account of the remarkable African-American women who broke through societal and racial barriers and played critical roles at NASA during the space race, transformed the way I thought about the history of science. Interlacing history with personal narratives, Shetterly powerfully brings these women to life.
Not only does the book draw these long-forgotten women out of the shadows, but it also shines a light on the biases and challenges they faced which still persist today. This is a must-read for anyone interested in science, history, and achievement in the face of adversity.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe-winner Taraji P. Henson and Academy Award-winners Octavia Spencer and Kevin Costner Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA's African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America's space program-and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now. Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as "Human Computers," calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American…
In Contact, Carl Sagan takes us on a wondrous interstellar adventure in which humanity makes contact with an alien civilization.
Although it is a work of fiction, Sagan, a scientist and a master science communicator, seamlessly blends real science into his gripping storytelling. I loved the main character, a woman astronomer by the name of Ellie Arroway, who is based on the real-life scientist Jill Tarter, former director of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute.
A passionate and tenacious scientist who defies gender stereotypes, Ellie’s sense of curiosity and wonder, coupled with her intellect and determination make her an inspirational heroine you want to cheer for.
This novel is surprisingly fun to read despite tackling very real issues of sexism and assault that women in science face. It upends stereotypes about scientists and housewives and mothers and cooking shows in delightfully witty ways.
At the heart of it all is Elizabeth Zott—a charismatic chemist-turned-tv-star whose brilliance and humor make her a uniquely zany character. Her struggles against sexism in science seemed maddeningly familiar despite the novel being set in the ’60s.
That makes Elizabeth's journey from being dismissed to becoming a force in her field all the more empowering and entertaining. This book is a thoroughly original blend of humor, feminism, and science.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heat” (The New York Times Book Review).
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads
"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —Seattle Times…
The Code Breaker tells the amazing story of the development of the famous gene editing technology called CRISPR and the woman who co-created it.
I was drawn to Jennifer Doudna’s story because of her incredible journey of scientific discovery, but also because of her desire to grapple with the huge societal implications of her work. In engineering the genetic code, how do we impact humanity’s moral code?
Doudna’s story truly shows the need for scientists to consider the social impact of their work. She leads by example.
The best-selling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns.
In 2012, Nobel Prize winning scientist Jennifer Doudna hit upon an invention that will transform the future of the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA.
Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. It has already been deployed to cure deadly diseases, fight the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, and make inheritable changes in the genes of babies.
But what does that mean for humanity? Should we be hacking our own DNA to make us less susceptible to disease? Should…
This book made me want to go hug a tree. Hope Jahren’s love for her research in geobiology shines through and she makes the careful, detailed work of a scientist seem like an epic and wondrous quest.
Jahren's prose is as lush as the plant life she studies, vividly conveying the highs and lows of a life dedicated to science. Reading her reflections on friendship, health, and the demanding world of research is like taking a walk with her in a beautiful forest.
She manages to infuse the narrative with humor and warmth, creating a compelling story that transcends the lab.
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER •NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Geobiologist Hope Jahren has spent her life studying trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. Lab Girl is her revelatory treatise on plant life—but it is also a celebration of the lifelong curiosity, humility, and passion that drive every scientist.
"Does for botany what Oliver Sacks’s essays did for neurology, what Stephen Jay Gould’s writings did for paleontology.” —The New York Times
In these pages, Hope takes us back to her Minnesota childhood, where she spent hours in unfettered play in her father’s college laboratory. She tells us how she found a sanctuary…
Her Space, Her Time shares the stories of unsung women in physics and astronomy from around the world whose work expanded scientific understanding. It is a thrilling account of scientific discovery, inspirational leadership, and persistence in the face of overwhelming challenges. Among this list of impressive scientists: Margaret Burbidge, whose work unravelled the death of stars and the birth of the universe; Cherokee aerospace scientist Mary Golda Ross, who helped make the Moon landings possible; and Bibha Chowdhuri, who discovered two fundamental particles.
Engaging and inspirational, Her Space, Her Time is threaded through with Ghose's own experiences and challenges in science and driven by the imperative to make the invisible visible, ensuring that these women who pursued science against all odds will never be forgotten.
Constance is a wild, stubborn young girl growing up poor in a small industrial town in the late 1800's. Beneath her thread-worn exterior beats the heart of a dreamer and a wordsmith. But at age twelve, she’s orphaned. Running away to join the circus—like kids do in adventure books—seems like such a brilliant idea…or is it?
"Flight to Brassbright appeals to my inner child's desire for adventure and independence as well as my (mostly) grown-up desire for really well-written stories that capture my imagination and hold my attention." - Tricia, Amazon Reviewer
"...well plotted with a likable protagonist...upbeat with…
Constance is a wild, stubborn young girl growing up poor in a small industrial town in the late 1800's. Beneath her thread-worn exterior beats the heart of a dreamer and a wordsmith. But at age twelve, she’s orphaned. Running away to join the circus—like kids do in adventure books—seems like such a brilliant idea… or is it?
