Headstrong by Rachel Swaby

Headstrong

by Rachel Swaby

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.

Reviewed by Beth C. on

5 of 5 stars

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Women in science. We know they exist, but for some reason, it is rare that they are talked about. When they are, the default scientist tends to be Marie Curie...and yes, she is plenty fascinating, but how much more interesting to have a variety of women scientists to talk to children about? This book would be an excellent classroom resource for teachers, and for homeschoolers, and even just as reading material for those who are curious.

The bios of each scientist are fairly short - 2 or 3 pages at most. We learn the years of their birth and death, where they were from, their full names and their scientific specialty. They are interesting, full of little details that make the scientists seem more like the real people they were, rather than some dry blurb on a page. I easily could have done the review for this book after the first 10-15, since the format is the same - but I was so interested in learning about these amazing women that I waited until I finished the entire book.

Honestly, this is a very interesting book to read, and a vastly overdue one. Science and math need more women, but so many girls believe that it's just not the place for them. Hopefully, this book will be just one of many different ways that they will learn how much they are truly needed.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 April, 2015: Finished reading
  • 7 April, 2015: Reviewed