Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World

Do you already know that, during the last 100 years or so, many of the most important breakthroughs in science were achieved or led by women? Frankly, I did not until reading this book in which Rachel Swaby provides mini-profiles of 52 truly exceptional scientists in seven fields: medicine, biology and the environment, genetics and development, physics, Earth and stars, mathematics and technology, and invention. By the way, all of them are women. When examining the list, I did recognize the names of several, notably Jane Wright, Rachel Carson, Barbara McClintock, Irene Joliot-Curie, Sally Ride, Ada Lovelace, and Hedy Lamarr.With regard to Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Kiesler in Vienna in 1914, she was among the most popular film stars in the 1930s through the 1950s but, as Swaby points out, she and George Antheil developed a frequency-hopping technology that was a much better way to guide torpedoes. "Lamarr's ideas paved the way for a myriad of technologies, including wireless cash registers, bar code readers, and home control systems, to name a few. While she had a long career as a celebrated actress, Lamarr finally got the full recognition she deserved when she was awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1997. Her response: 'It's about time.'" Of course, her contributions during World War Two were classified and her key insight was not revealed until 1976 -- "thirty-five years after Lamarr patented it."Here's a representative selection, a "sampler," of biographical details among those of greatest interest to me:o Charlotte Auerbach (1899-1994) realized that, to understand a gene, she needed to understand its mutation. "Just a few mustard-gas burns and some lab work later, and Auerbach was at the top of the field, the so-called mother of mutagenesis."o Anne McLaren (1927-2007) not only proved in vitro fertilization was possible, "but years later, she was also responsible for safely and ethically guiding it into the world."o Marguerite Perey was the first woman elected to the French Academy of Sciences (before Madame Curie) in recognition of her development of a new radioactive element, #87, that "filled an empty square in the periodic table's alkali metal group, and completed the table's spaces for naturally occurring elements."o Chien-Shung Wu (1912-1997): When the results of her experiments in radioactivity to coax the K-meson into an observable state were announced, "an article in the New York Post gushed, 'This small modest woman was powerful enough to do what armies can never accomplish: she helped destroy a law of nature."o Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) was the daughter of Lord Byron and received what was in her time a superb education. Her research notes helped Charles Babbage to develop his "Difference Engine" and then his "Analytical Engine," providing what amounts to programming code for two of the earliest computers.o Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014): Her preparation of the cold-spun threads (kevlar, developed in the DuPont labs) "launched a brand-new area of research around liquid crystalline polymers."Throughout the history of science, most breakthroughs have been the result of cross-functional, often cross-generational collaboration. The 52 scientists on whom Swaby focuses would be among the first to acknowledge the value of what they learned from others as well as the value of what their associates contributed to the given process eventual success, to reveal, for example, the complex structures of biochemical substances (Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin) or to calm the temperament of the arc light (Hertha Ayrton).Rachel Swaby urges her reader to learn about those whose research "jump-started the Environmental Protection Agency, who discovered the wrinkle-free cotton, and even those whose ingenious score has now saved generations of struggling newborns."If you are a young woman who aspires to gain an education and then pursue a career in one of the STEM disciplines or is now embarked upon that journey, I urge you to read and then re-read this book and leave the final comment in this brief commentary to one of my personal heroines, Helen Keller: ""Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

This is a collection of 52 brief biographies of women who gained note in the sciences. These mini-biographies are very brief, mostly 5 or 6 pages each, and are presented in general categories (physics, biology/environment, inventors). This format makes it easy to stop and resume later. The writing style is conversational, which can be a little jarring. The subjects, all deceased, are generally well chosen, although I do quibble about a couple and how they fit with the title (to each their own). Some of these women were nearly forgotten during their lifetimes while others are well known to this day. I found it interesting and learned things about these important women in history.

I saw the list of women's names covered in this book and realized that I had never heard of most of them. Reading just a few pages on each one left me inspired and interested in learning more about some of these scientists. For many, their stories included struggles to be eligible for good education, to get top jobs, or proper respect - because they were women. That reality was frustrating.This book was a great selection for a book club. We each read the stories of the women of interest and then selected the person who had a particular impact on us. We each shared our selection with the group. That made for an enjoyable evening.

This is a very inspiring book especially for women interested in history, science and tech! This also a great book for young female under/graduate students in STEM who may be experiencing impostor syndrome in male dominated fields or May not be aware of the many exemplary women who have come before.

I remember seeing this book in the library at my school and borrowed it, and liked it so much i bought my own copy. Plus at one point i actually used during a school project when i had to pick out and study an influential scientist, and it helped a lot. Overall 10/10 would recommend this book!

This book should be required for all physicists, chemists, engineers, and mathematicians, as well as pretty much everyone. It is disturbing how many women worked in obscurity and yet created ground-breaking science that has contributed to the common good. The fact that many weren't even paid, struggled to attend school or educate themselves is a testament to the human spirit, the drive of scientists and the shame of those who try to suppress them.

This book is phenomenal. I learned a ton, plus felt inspired. So many women put up with worse conditions to move the rest of us forward.

You have probably only heard of a few of the extraordinary women highlighted in Headstrong. In just two or three pages, forging ahead despite the rules, Swaby tells how each one made the world a better place by simply allowing no one to interfere.

I cried. This book was so inspirational and I loved hearing about all these women most people have forgotten about. They are amazing, well done!However, I would take seriously the authors recommendation to read one chapter a week because it did get a bit dull skipping from one person to the next near the end of the book.Plus, I would say it was very european and american centric. Surely there were fantastic scientists in asia, africa and the middle east? or even canada for gods sake?? So yeah, a brilliant book but her breadth could probably have been better.

You's think that a book celebrating female scientists would be amazing, but this doesn't really hit the spot: some of the scientific writing isn't quite factually correct. Disappointingly, there is very little on the natural sciences, there is a bias towards American scientists and not enough of them are Afro-American. Forgotten Scientists: The Women is a much better book.

A very convincing set of very human examples of genius.These ladies excelled at a time when their sex was a real disadvantage!

Arrived quickly. Interesting book but the info on the back put me off. Why can't we just enjoy their achievements?

Hopefully my daughter will soon be added to the list!