Headstrong

52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World

By: Rachel Swaby

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

Fifty-two inspiring and insightful profiles of history’s brightest female scientists.

“Rachel Swaby’s no-nonsense and needed Headstrong dynamically profiles historically overlooked female visionaries in science, technology, engineering, and math.”—Elle

In 2013, the New York Times published an obituary for Yvonne Brill. It began: “She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job, and took eight years off from work to raise three children.” It wasn’t until the second paragraph that readers discovered why the Times had devoted several hundred words to her life: Brill was a brilliant rocket scientist who invented a propulsion system to keep communications satellites in orbit, and had recently been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Among the questions the obituary—and consequent outcry—prompted were, Who are the role models for today’s female scientists, and where can we find the stories that cast them in their true light?

Headstrong delivers a powerful, global, and engaging response. Covering Nobel Prize winners and major innovators, as well as lesser-known but hugely significant scientists who influence our every day, Rachel Swaby’s vibrant profiles span centuries of courageous thinkers and illustrate how each one’s ideas developed, from their first moment of scientific engagement through the research and discovery for which they’re best known. This fascinating tour reveals 52 women at their best—while encouraging and inspiring a new generation of girls to put on their lab coats.

Inspiring

I love the concept for this book. While each individual woman included is extraordinary, listing 52 female scientists - instead of, say, 10 - drives home the message that any girl, with enough hard work, can become an expert in any field she wants. There are great lessons to be learned here about curiosity, determination and perseverance in the face of any obstacle. I learned new things about already well-known scientists (Florence Nightingale, Sally Ride, Rachel Carson, etc.) and discovered a couple of new favorites as well (Tilly Edinger, Helen Taussig).

The narration was good overall. Fortgang expresses a genuine interest in the material. Unfortunately, her performance is marred by awkward attempts at various European accents. The people who put this audiobook together should have asked her to read quotes in her own voice.

Great Content, Annoying Performance

I loved the content! However the performance took away from the message. The mispronunciation of both common and scientific terms was annoying. The accented voices used to read quotes were both inappropriate and distracting.

Inspiring

As a young female PhD student, this novel radiates and residents. Thank you Rachel Swaby for composing and ensuring the legacy these extraordinary ladies paved for all women in STEM.

Essential history

So many wonderful women in science. I am thankful for Rachel Swaby for bringing them to society's awareness. I have heard better versions of some of these histories, but have never heard them compiled together in a book like this, which really highlights the accomplishments of women, despite all they had to overcome to force their way into education and the sciences. Further, even though I was aware of many women in the book, because I love the history of science, there were still some new biographies for me to enjoy.

I often had to stop reading to reflect on how much they suffered and how hard they worked some that women today could get an education and have an easier time entering science related professions. The story of Mary Taussig was my favorite. Rejected by Harvard and other universities, she persevered only to change the face of medicine. Babies born with heart defects died. There was not a whole lot that could be done. But Taussig changed all that. She is my new hero.

My favorite part of the book was the history of Harvard, thrown into many of the biographies, and how it worked so hard to keep women from entering universities, not just their university, but all universities. The way male experts in a position of power treated intelligent women is without question an important thing to understand and remember.

So many wonderful women. A must read.

Role models for young women

Highly recommended, a much-needed book portraying the lives and works of strong women scientists. Fifty-two excellent role models for young women. I would have liked to see more biographies on women living outside the U.S., Europe, and Russia.
For most of the audible version, the narrator spoke in U.S. English. However, in parts where people from other countries were quoted, she slipped into accents that sounded stereotypical and almost disdainful. I would have liked it better if she spoke those parts without the accents.