My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir

I enjoyed the Hidden Figures movie and wanted to know more about her. The book gave a lot more details

Although having read Hidden Figures and seen the movie I was interested in reading Katherine Johnson’s Memoir to hopefully capture some of the more personal insights that might have been left out of the Hidden Figures story. Her book does that and shows what a life purposely lead could achieve in spite of the vagaries of life and the obstacles that are inevitably encountered. And she had more than her share. Her recounting of her days and work at NASA Langley both during and after the early space work on getting to the moon are appreciated. This is something that the movie focuses on, but she is careful to point to the realities and where the producers took “artistic liberty” to compress the story. I especially liked her comment, repeatedly made, was that her focus was on her work and getting the job done to the best of her abilities, regardless of attitudes of some towards her race and gender. As a former employee there, I found that “getting the job done” was the dominant attitude of most of the employees I knew. Race and gender were not an issue for most, but there are always exceptions. And as she pointed out, for most of those, she educated them to the world she lived in and almost always they understood what they hadn’t before. Needless to say, her work was outstanding and established not only her legacy, but for those who would follow her. Well worth the read.

After reading, 10 times, Bill Bryson's hilarious "A Walk in the Woods" about his off and on hike of the Appalachian Trail with a friend, I stumbled upon "My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir" that was truly amazing. It is the story of a woman who has been abused by her husband, raised many children mostly on her own, and one day left and decided to walk the Appalachian Trail by herself with virtually no preparation. What an amazing and true tale. I highly recommend it.

Kathryn Johnson did an excellent job telling her journey throughout her life. I am from WV and very proud of her accomplishments. So happy “Hidden Figures” was made into a movie and I learned about her contribution to the Space Program. Well- written and thought provoking.

Hidden figures is one of my favorite movies so of course I wanted to read more about her life. She was a great inspiration to women everywhere and to the American dream. She worked hard, she saw alot of changes especially for the black community. Very interesting to hear things from a black woman's point of view and how she lived. I gave it 4 stars because it was not an I can't put it down sort of book but still very good. Glad I read it.

Entertaining history of an accomplished woman, family, and community in spite of the hindrance and horrors of the Jim Crow years of America. Some interesting insights into the early space age as well. While not her goal, this narrative illustrates that all minority peoples need is not to be interfered with – neither by legal restrictions nor by so-called welfare programs that belittle their abilities and ambitions.Family motto: I am just as good as anyone else, but no better.[W]omen, the new [human] computers proved that they could do the calculations faster and better [than the engineers].On seeing Sputnick: I felt that competitive American spirit rise in me.One of the things I loved about working with the guys [engineers] is that at the end of the day, everything was about the work.

This book arrived on time and in great conduction.

Even after the success of the 'Hidden Figures' book and movie, Katherine Johnson decided to write her autobiography in her nineties. It wasn't only about her phenomenal career in the space industry (which I really appreciated, having spent the bulk of my career as well) she wrote about being a person of color in the south in the most tumultuous times of the civil rights movement. But it wasn't portrayed as drama- she did cover the major historical events, but as a backdrop. Her community was presented as ordinary colored/black people who lived their lives in the midst of it and worked through the hardships with church, strong community support, social gatherings, close family and good advice along the way- her Dad: "You're as good as anyone in this town, but you're no better." A completely different tone than anything that has been presented so far regarding the 50s and 60s. (I never felt like I was being lectured to).An elegant unassuming genius who lived long enough to finally get the recognition she deserved- and, in addition, she was a good mother, wife (twice- first husband passed at an early age), teacher, seamstress, cook- Whew! Exhausts me just thinking about her accomplishments!Get the book!

Read this amazing book in two and a half days, a real page turner

Thoroughly enjoyable book which makes me wish l had mer this inspirational lady.

A compelling read. Paints a vivid picture of what life was like for a gifted black woman (Katherine Johnson) growing up in rural pre and post WW2 America, and of her involvement in the "space race" during the 1950s and 60s. Giving a more factual and detailed account than that in the feature film, "Hidden Figures".

Very interesting and moving story. Not as much on her NASA work as I had hoped.