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  • Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race

  • The Untold Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
  • By: Margot Lee Shetterly
  • Narrated by: Robin Miles
  • Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (102 ratings)

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Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race

By: Margot Lee Shetterly
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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Publisher's Summary

One of AudioFile Magazine's Best Audiobooks of 2016.

Soon to be a major motion picture.

Before 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 women. Segregated from their white counterparts, these 'colored computers' used pencil and paper to write the equations that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

Moving from World War II through NASA's golden age, touching on the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the women's rights movement, 'Hidden Figures' interweaves a rich history of mankind's greatest adventure with the intimate stories of five courageous women whose work forever changed the world.

©2016 Margot Lee Shetterly (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race

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Fanstastic story, well presented

This story is one of the best I've listened to and it gave me tremendous insight into America's odd racist history, and the huge achievements of the ladies who helped make NASA what it is today. Well read, and a pleasure to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

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what a delight

one of my new favourite books. so interesting hearing the women grow with the science and visa versa.

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loved it

I loved it the story of what they had to contend against and how far they went was just amazing.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Amazing narration but weak story

What i liked - average story narrated amazingly.

What i disliked - the story is about what happened to the african-american women who helped NASA win the space race and not on how they helped win the race. If you want to read about the how each one of the characters evolved on a personal front rather than what challenges they faced and how they resolved it, then read along.

Average story but Robin did a great job narrating it. Will definitely go down as one of the best narration i have heard on audible.

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6 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good account of real people in real offence, but…

A fascinating account that shine some well earned recognition onto the women who did so much for the American space industry. Are really important story. But for me, I would've liked a bit more in-depth exploration of the people to build a better narrative. I found it just a little bit dry. Still, worth a read.

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Fascinating history; well written & presented

Black females in the space program set against the backdrop of racial segregation & sex discrimination. A story of progress in the USA.

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Fantabulous!

Very informative history lesson from a perspective not heard in the past as much. I am so thrilled that all these not just women but African-American women and men were recognised for their achievements and that this ripple effect changed the course of history from banning segregation all the way to having an African-American president. May equality for all earthlings keep on going until achieved!

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great piece of history

great story. insight into the whole organisations of scientific usa . the struggle of black Americans without pokitical lessons

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A great story of great women

A fascinating piece of history that needed to be told and was told extremely well.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

What made the experience of listening to Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race the most enjoyable?

As always listening to the story behind the movie is even more eye opening and enthralling. I disagree with the review comment "the story is about what happened to the african-american women who helped NASA win the space race and not on how they helped win the race" ... because the story goes into depth about their specific contributions to NACA and NASA. Such an amazing story and as the epilogue points out, it's shocking that this story wasn't better known.

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