On February 24, 2020, Katherine Johnson (1918-2020), a mathematician and aerospace technologist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) died at the age of 101 years of age. Her remarkable life had ended, but her legacy and importance to the American space program did not. In 2016, the film ‘Hidden Figures‘ was released with actress Taraji P. Henson starring as Johnson. The motion picture received positive feedback but there is more to the story and there is no one better able to tell it than Johnson herself. And that is exactly what she does in this autobiography that is bound to inspire those who read it. And though the book is only two hundred fifty-three pages, her story is unbelievable and a testament to the fact that life is unpredictable.

Johnson’s story begins in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1918, and from an early age she learns the ugliness of racial hatred but is supported by a loving family. School becomes her second home, and she develops a fondness for numbers. She did not know it at the time, but her ability to solve complex mathematical equations would take her places in life she could only dream of. And she soon learns that education is the vehicle to success. After leaving high school she was chosen to integrate West Virginia State University. The memories she shares of integration are not pleasant, but they do not stop her momentum. In fact, the adversity only spurs her to reach higher goals. And she makes friends in many places due to her pleasant nature and advanced intellect.

Amid continuing education, Johnson also finds love in first husband James with whom she begins a family. Career wise, she continued to push forward and finds herself at The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (“NACA”), the predecessor to NASA. And it is here that the story changes gears as the space mission intensifies. Johnson is joined by other women portrayed in the film, most notably Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008). The story takes a tragic turn with James’s departure in 1956, but Johnson’s story was far from finished. On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) signed legislation which created NASA whose mission was gaining consistent support through Congress. And the arrival of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) proved to be the spark that NASA needed to reach heights once thought unreachable. Johnson watches it all unfold as a crucial component of the space mission and can hardly contain her joy when Kennedy pledges support and additional funding for NASA’s objectives. And although the United States did not beat the Soviets to space, NASA did launch successful missions of its own. Johnson provides an interesting anecdote about the role of astronaut John Glenn (1921-2016) and her role in making sure his mission was a success. Her account is fascinating, and a reminder of the importance of merit. There is a statement she makes which has remained with me, and these words may resonate with you as well:

“The point is this: if you want to know something or don’t understand, ask questions. The path to your destiny may start with a simple question“.

Love re-enters the story in the form of second husband Jim who she remained married to until his death in 2019. She found another source of happiness and in 1986 she retired from NASA. But little did she know that life had more in store for her. The epilogue follows her post-retirement which includes being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack H. Obama. And then came Hollywood and an appearance at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony. The stories are heartwarming and may leave you shedding a tear. All that takes place in her later years is the comeuppance for a lifetime of government service where she played critical roles in the most momentous events in the history of America’s space program. NASA also made sure to keep her legacy alive, and its actions as explained in the end will ensure that she lives forever. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and did not want it to conclude. If you are looking for a delightful read, this is an uplifting story that is sure to leave a smile on your face.

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” – President John F. Kennedy, September 12, 1962

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08G1MTFMS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amistad (May 25, 2021)