russia has launched a full-scale war in Ukraine! Donate to the charity fund to support Ukraine and protect the world’s peace.

Support Ukraine

logo

Headway App

(81,672)

FREE - on the App Store

INSTALL NOW
library / 
book

Summary of Hidden Figures 

4.6 . 7412 reviews

Short summary

Digital computers have not always been as compact and efficient as they are today. There was an age when a university faculty building full of literal “supercomputers” could not match an iPhone’s processing power, and institutions that have operations involving complex calculations used “human computers” — mathematicians. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) had an all-female human computer staff in the mid-20th century, and they were primarily Black people. This summary provides a historical account of particular women and how they defied stigmas of sex, race, and status to impact their generation. Margot Lee Shetterly is a non-fiction writer who grew up in predominantly Black Hampton, Virginia. The research that grew into “Hidden Figures” buds from her being familiar with some of the Black women that worked at NASA. Shetterly’s “Hidden Figures” has been adapted into a movie of the same title. She is the recipient of several grants and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. “When seasoned by the subtleties of accident, harmony, favor, wisdom, and certainty, luck takes on the cast of serendipity. Serendipity happens when a well-trained mind looking, for one thing, encounters something else: the unexpected.” ~ Margot Lee Shetterly

Table of content

  • Summary of Hidden Figures
  • About the author
  • What is Hidden Figures about?
  • Who should read Hidden Figures
  • Topics in Hidden Figures
first key point

A crime of neglecting essential contributors

Listen the first key point
00:00
00:00
Miss Dorothy Johnson had just graduated from Wilberforce University with a BSc in Mathematics in 1929. Soon afterward, she met a brilliant young man with whom she tied the knot. By the end of 1932, Johnson married her heartthrob Howard Vaughan at age 22. Mrs. Dorothy Vaughan then pursued a teaching career at a local high school, though she had a lifeline to go to graduate school. However, racial discrimination still ate deep into society’s heart, with the Jim Crow laws at full throttle.

The real story begins during the Second World War in 1943. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics took a shift from commercial flights’ design and optimization to improving the military fleet. The Federal Government was sending fresh streams of funds to fuel research for the uplift of existing fighter jets and the design of new efficient ones.

All the entities involved in the war were actively turning out sophisticated weaponry to outrank the enemy. America took a step to harvest its wealth of intellectual talents by recruiting engineers, data analysts, and mathematicians to their numbers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw great potential in the Black intellectuals of America and passed Executive Orders 8802 and 9346 in 1941. Though it didn't apply to all American citizens of color, it was the nudge that prompted the mitigation of racial discrimination in Defence and Federal parastatals. The journey was, however, far from over for Black females.

Engineers stood at the very core of airplane designs and needed the support work of human computers and analysts to keep up with the volume of data rolling out daily. The missing gap of human computers was the window of opportunity that brought several women into NACA. Dorothy Vaughan came in with NACA's first tranche of human computer recruits in 1943.
Research into records that mention Black women that served as human computers brings their number to around 50. In reality, they may have numbered up to 1,000.
West Wing mathematicians’ contributions did not start with NASA, the Soviet Sputnik space challenge, or Mars landings. They've always been an integral part of America's innovative greatness. Consequently, Black female computers are the unsung heroes of NASA space technology, computer science, and Aeronautics.

This summary provides a tale of human greatness, irrespective of skin color or originating clime. It is likely you have far more than is necessary to forge a historical course. Follow this piece to the end to identify the opportunistic potentials you could use as fodder in the formulation of greatness.
second key point

Langley Research Institute opens gates for female engineers

As soon as the U.S. got a whiff of the invasion of Poland, and with America’s stakes in Europe, President Roosevelt requested a step up in airplane production, a significant development to the nation’s defense fleet — “Victory through airpower!” The target set by the president was 50,000 airplanes per year. Before the beginning of World War II, American airplane production maxed at 90 planes per month.
book
Continue reading with Headway app
Continue reading
Full summary is waiting for you in the app
third key point

Haydays at the Langley West Wing

fourth key point

The end, transition, and scaling new heights

fifth key point

Rapid race with external motivators

sixth key point

The intergalactic dominance and colonization of space

seventh key point

A late but deserved victory

eighth key point

Conclusion

Buy full book on AmazonContinue the summary

What is Hidden Figures about?

Who should read Hidden Figures

book
book

Enjoy summarized nonfiction bestsellers

Grasp the book’s key ideas in less than 15 minutes

Get started

Get new knowledge easily

Let’s check how many titles you can finish in a month with Headway! Tell us how much time you’d like to spend on reading:

2 min/day
5 min/day
10 min/day
15 min/day
20 min/day
30 min/day
45 min/day
4 titles/month
10 titles/month
20 titles/month
30 titles/month
40 titles/month
60 titles/month
90 titles/month
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
4 titles/month
10 titles/month
20 titles/month
30 titles/month
40 titles/month
60 titles/month
90 titles/month
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image

Join 30+ million learners around the world

60K5 reviews on App Store and Google Play
icon

Everything you need to be motivate, to learn & to self improves is all here. I actually do appreciate the reminders because otherwise this wouldn’t work for me. Thank you

icon

sandypantalones

icon

Headway is the answer! No longer accumulating books I never read. With Headway, I initially chose the areas important to me such as productivity, time management, etc., and each day I'm provided several book summaries from which I devote 20 minutes or more each day reading. All of this on my phone! My life has improved with Headway. Truly my most useful app.

icon

Carol Slinker

icon

An excellent concept, executed well. Headway can help you retain what you've read while introducing you to the essential core of new information. It's an easier way to stay inspired, and to be reminded of the mental tools you've learned

icon

Fuse Henry

icon

In today’s world, we rarely have time. Between our jobs, our families are social obligations, when do we have time to grow and develop ourselves? Headway is an excellent app that gives you that time it gives you those little snippets of information that you need to direct your focus in on your life. Headway gives you a chance to find out the meat of a book that you might want to purchase and read or listen to in-depth without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out is this book for me? I highly recommend the app.

icon

sleepy sprite

icon

The selections are on point and the summaries are excellent! I listen while I walk my pup 🐶 and have in turn, ordered a few selections! REALLY loving the app, it’s layout, daily selections and features!

icon

JuicyBaby328

icon

I've gotten multiple books out of the library with the intent to read them, but always have a hard time finding the time. This app has helped me finally be able to get to them. Summarized, yes, and thank goodness too! Just short enough I can finish one on my way picking kids up from school/practice, or while I'm cooking dinner. I can't wait to listen to them over the summer when we visit the beach!

icon

Jillian Emmert

icon

It amazed me! There is the possibility to highlight the most important points of each book and instantly translate unfamiliar vocabulary. With the ability to review the searched words. It's a great way to learn more about English as well. The price is great.

icon

Fiamma

icon

I’m enjoying what I’m learning on headway.each summary comes with quotes at the end which you can save to help you remember key points. You can listen or read, I’ve found that reading puts me to sleep before I can finish but the listening feature keeps me engaged and I can finish in a brief amount of time if not one session.

icon

Epic waters

icon

The app it’s so easy to use. I use it while driving or cooking and is great. I love the fact that the chapters are short, so you can finish them quickly. Very knowledgeable.

icon

kathytaveras

icon

The best app for self development.It helps to keep pace with your reading and also suggests the kind of reading material you might like.It is fun as you can switch from reading to listening and vice-versa as per your convenience .Just get started and partake of the treasure of knowledge at your fingertips .I feel lucky to have spotted the app.It has helped me become self-disciplined and much better informed.The audio track is excellent.

icon

anita yadav

icon

Exactly what I need! I always have booklist to read, but can't committed enough to finish/start bc of too much pages. Headway is really helpful and concise with their summary. What I love the most is that the essence of the book is well crafted, so I don't only read the key points, but also there's the story and how personality of the author still well shown through the summary. Well done!

icon

Feninda Amalia

icon

This is outstanding best app ever and honestly whoever came up with is my app is an absolute genius kudos my gratitude definitely goes out and I’m only on my first week free trial and I’m certainly going to purchase this app annually. Now that I have it, I can’t even imagine living without it.

icon

Darlin NIKKIDOLL0923

Have questions?

Asking the right questions brings you closer to achieving your goals

Can I test out Headway before purchasing it for my team?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What should I do if some of my employees already have your Premium subscription?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

Can I increase or decrease the number of subscriptions on my corporate subscription once it’s started?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What are the benefits of books summary?

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.