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My Remarkable Journey
The remarkable woman at heart of the smash New York Times bestseller and Oscar-winning film Hidden Figures tells the full story of her life, including what it took to work at NASA, help land the first man on the moon, and live through a century of turmoil and change.
In 2015, at the age of 97, Katherine Johnson became a global celebrity. President Barack Obama awarded her the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—for her pioneering work as a mathematician on NASA’s first flights into space. Her contributions to America’s space program were celebrated in a blockbuster and Academy-award nominated movie. In this memoir, Katherine shares her personal journey from child prodigy in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia to NASA human computer. In her life after retirement, she served as a beacon of light for her family and community alike. Her story is centered around the basic tenets of her life—no one is better than you, education is paramount, and asking questions can break barriers. The memoir captures the many facets of this unique the curious “daddy’s girl,” pioneering professional, and sage elder. This multidimensional portrait is also the record of a century of racial history that reveals the influential role educators at segregated schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities played in nurturing the dreams of trailblazers like Katherine. The author pays homage to her mentor—the African American professor who inspired her to become a research mathematician despite having his own dream crushed by racism. Infused with the uplifting wisdom of a woman who handled great fame with genuine humility and great tragedy with enduring hope, My Remarkable Journey ultimately brings into focus a determined woman who navigated tough racial terrain with soft-spoken grace—and the unrelenting grit required to make history and inspire future generations.
In 2015, at the age of 97, Katherine Johnson became a global celebrity. President Barack Obama awarded her the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—for her pioneering work as a mathematician on NASA’s first flights into space. Her contributions to America’s space program were celebrated in a blockbuster and Academy-award nominated movie. In this memoir, Katherine shares her personal journey from child prodigy in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia to NASA human computer. In her life after retirement, she served as a beacon of light for her family and community alike. Her story is centered around the basic tenets of her life—no one is better than you, education is paramount, and asking questions can break barriers. The memoir captures the many facets of this unique the curious “daddy’s girl,” pioneering professional, and sage elder. This multidimensional portrait is also the record of a century of racial history that reveals the influential role educators at segregated schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities played in nurturing the dreams of trailblazers like Katherine. The author pays homage to her mentor—the African American professor who inspired her to become a research mathematician despite having his own dream crushed by racism. Infused with the uplifting wisdom of a woman who handled great fame with genuine humility and great tragedy with enduring hope, My Remarkable Journey ultimately brings into focus a determined woman who navigated tough racial terrain with soft-spoken grace—and the unrelenting grit required to make history and inspire future generations.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2021
326 people are currently reading
2940 people want to read
About the author
Katherine G. Johnson
4 books64 followersKatherine Johnson is a former NASA mathematician whose work was critical to the success of many of their initiatives, including the Apollo Lunar landing program and the start of the Space Shuttle program. Throughout her long career she has received numerous awards, including the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Barack Obama.
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May 10, 2021
My Remarkable Journey is the posthumous memoir of Katherine Johnson the NASA mathematician who Taraji Henson portrayed a few years ago in the film Hidden Figures. In her memoir, Katherine writes about her life beginning with her upbringing in West Virginia to her behind the scenes career as a NASA computer. She writes about the film early on in the book and reveals some of its inaccuracies.
Johnson was very humble in her memoir, she never took sole credit for NASA’s space successes, and she always recognized her team members throughout the book. She recognized folks like her fellow Hidden Figure colleagues/sisters Dorothy Vaughan, Eunice Smith, and Mary Jackson and also her close work partner Ted Skopinski.
Johnson begins her memoir describing her early childhood days living in West Virginia with her family. She got her love of math from her father. Her father’s mathematical skills were so good that he could look at a tree and estimate how many logs he could make from it. Katherine started school at the age of 4, skipped a few grades and began going to college at the age of 15. It was there where a professor encouraged her to become a research mathematician. The book also covers her marriage to her first husband Jimmie Goble and her life as a working mother of three daughters, two of which coauthored this book with her. She later married James Johnson.
1953 was a big year, when her family moved to Newport News, VA in order to start her job at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) which later becomes NASA. Johnson worked as a computer, doing mathematical calculations for the engineers and scientists. One of the good things about this book is that Johnson does a great job explaining her work without using very technical language. The rest of the book covers her tenure at NASA all the way to her retirement in 1986. The final chapter gives a glimpse of her post-retirement life where she connected with Black astronauts and spoke to young people about her job.
Overall, it was a good book. I learned a lot more about Johnson than what I remember from the Hidden Figures film. I would love to know how this book came together, when was it written, how involved were Johnson and her daughters in the writing of it, how long did it take to write, and how much was complete when Katherine passed away in 2020.
Thanks to NetGalley, Amistad, Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore, for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on May 25, 2021.
Johnson was very humble in her memoir, she never took sole credit for NASA’s space successes, and she always recognized her team members throughout the book. She recognized folks like her fellow Hidden Figure colleagues/sisters Dorothy Vaughan, Eunice Smith, and Mary Jackson and also her close work partner Ted Skopinski.
Johnson begins her memoir describing her early childhood days living in West Virginia with her family. She got her love of math from her father. Her father’s mathematical skills were so good that he could look at a tree and estimate how many logs he could make from it. Katherine started school at the age of 4, skipped a few grades and began going to college at the age of 15. It was there where a professor encouraged her to become a research mathematician. The book also covers her marriage to her first husband Jimmie Goble and her life as a working mother of three daughters, two of which coauthored this book with her. She later married James Johnson.
1953 was a big year, when her family moved to Newport News, VA in order to start her job at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) which later becomes NASA. Johnson worked as a computer, doing mathematical calculations for the engineers and scientists. One of the good things about this book is that Johnson does a great job explaining her work without using very technical language. The rest of the book covers her tenure at NASA all the way to her retirement in 1986. The final chapter gives a glimpse of her post-retirement life where she connected with Black astronauts and spoke to young people about her job.
Overall, it was a good book. I learned a lot more about Johnson than what I remember from the Hidden Figures film. I would love to know how this book came together, when was it written, how involved were Johnson and her daughters in the writing of it, how long did it take to write, and how much was complete when Katherine passed away in 2020.
Thanks to NetGalley, Amistad, Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore, for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on May 25, 2021.
March 16, 2021
Katherine Johnson, who recently passed on at age 101. has written an amazing memoir with the help of her daughters. She worked for NASA as a mathematician for over 30 years, and is a central character in the film Hidden Figures. This memoir not only discusses her contribution to the space program, but also offers her insights on what was happening in the United States, and especially in the South where she grew up. Her parents raised her to be positive, she says, and that comes across clearly in the narrative. She is so humble about her accomplishments, and discusses how racial unrest, discrimination, and other disturbing situations affected her, but she never presents herself as a victim. Recommended for anyone who is interested in the space program, American history, or who just wants to read an uplifting memoir by a strong woman. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the privilege of reviewing this ARC.
January 9, 2022
Autobiography of Katherine Johnson, of Hidden Figures fame. Born in 1918, she lived 101 years and truly led a remarkable life. This book tells of her early life in West Virginia, how her father ensured education for all his children, early influences in developing her gifts in mathematics, and how she ended up working in America’s space program. All this occurred in the face of widespread racial prejudice before civil rights legislation was passed. This book covers more than her life. She puts her experiences into the context of significant historical events of the 20th century. She overcame many barriers and endured multiple personal tragedies. We get a sense for her intelligence, humility, sense of humor, love for family, and perseverance. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. I found it inspirational.
January 31, 2022
Yes, her journey is quite remarkable
Like many others, I learned about Katherine Johnson and her work at NASA from the movie and book Hidden Figures. As a woman in a STEM field, I wanted to know more.
The book tells of her life growing up, the focus on education and much of her work at NASA. As an advanced mathematician, she helped calculate trajectories and landing locations for many of the early missions during the space race. She also tells of her family and some of their accomplishments.
Dr. Johnson is very humble in her contributions to the space program and all of her accomplishments. I would have liked to know more about her life and her work at NASA. Instead, in many instances, we got a detailed history lesson with tons of names and dates. There were several minutes in the audiobook of the history of each college she attended, space launch, and civil rights event. No doubt, each of these played an integral role in her life, but I wanted to know more about HER.
This is rated a 4 because the parts that were truly about her were definitely a 5 STAR. Unfortunately, I wanted more from her.
I listened to the story on audiobook. The narrator spoke very slowly, so I would recommend speeding it up a bit.
Like many others, I learned about Katherine Johnson and her work at NASA from the movie and book Hidden Figures. As a woman in a STEM field, I wanted to know more.
The book tells of her life growing up, the focus on education and much of her work at NASA. As an advanced mathematician, she helped calculate trajectories and landing locations for many of the early missions during the space race. She also tells of her family and some of their accomplishments.
Dr. Johnson is very humble in her contributions to the space program and all of her accomplishments. I would have liked to know more about her life and her work at NASA. Instead, in many instances, we got a detailed history lesson with tons of names and dates. There were several minutes in the audiobook of the history of each college she attended, space launch, and civil rights event. No doubt, each of these played an integral role in her life, but I wanted to know more about HER.
This is rated a 4 because the parts that were truly about her were definitely a 5 STAR. Unfortunately, I wanted more from her.
I listened to the story on audiobook. The narrator spoke very slowly, so I would recommend speeding it up a bit.
May 24, 2022
Fascinating story that I LOVED! This lady was smart, but she worked HARD in every opportunity she was given and continued to overcome the obstacles she faced! She lived through some perilous times as a black woman, and seeing the civil rights movement through her eyes was very insightful! She hated how the movement turned to violence and was never in support of that and didn’t want her kids to be involved in protests.
She had amazing opportunities to work for NASA at a crucial time in history and I loved learning what exactly she did in her job. She truly had a remarkable journey and this will be going on my favorite memoirs list!😍
📖 “I’ve always believed that to do your best work, you’ve got to love what you do.”
📖”If you want to know something or don’t understand, ask questions. The path to your destiny may start with a simple question.”
She had amazing opportunities to work for NASA at a crucial time in history and I loved learning what exactly she did in her job. She truly had a remarkable journey and this will be going on my favorite memoirs list!😍
📖 “I’ve always believed that to do your best work, you’ve got to love what you do.”
📖”If you want to know something or don’t understand, ask questions. The path to your destiny may start with a simple question.”
February 2, 2021
Katherine Johnson is one of the women of color who provided the calculations that enabled the astronauts to make it to the moon. Her work went largely unnoticed and unrecognized until the last few decades when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Hidden Figures book and subsequent movie came out. In this book, she tells her story in her own words, and it is quite an amazing story.
Even though her time at NASA is extraordinary and boundary breaking in many ways, I was most fascinated by reading about her education and the people who poured into her. She goes into detail about her many teachers who saw her potential and pushed her to learn and achieve as much as she could. She talks specifically about one teacher whose own dream to be a research mathematician inspired her dream, and while he would never achieve that dream due to racism, he created groundbreaking classes that would be exactly what Johnson would need to work on the projects at NASA. I was also inspired by the one teacher who mentored Johnson and would ask her each day, "what do you know today that you didn't know yesterday?"
All in all, this was an absolute treat to read. It was hard to put down, and I loved every second of reading it. Yesterday, I knew very little about Katherine Johnson, but today I know how her drive for knowledge allowed her to help a country reach the moon. She is certainly an inspiration!
A big thank you to Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick, Katherine Moore, Amistad, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!
Even though her time at NASA is extraordinary and boundary breaking in many ways, I was most fascinated by reading about her education and the people who poured into her. She goes into detail about her many teachers who saw her potential and pushed her to learn and achieve as much as she could. She talks specifically about one teacher whose own dream to be a research mathematician inspired her dream, and while he would never achieve that dream due to racism, he created groundbreaking classes that would be exactly what Johnson would need to work on the projects at NASA. I was also inspired by the one teacher who mentored Johnson and would ask her each day, "what do you know today that you didn't know yesterday?"
All in all, this was an absolute treat to read. It was hard to put down, and I loved every second of reading it. Yesterday, I knew very little about Katherine Johnson, but today I know how her drive for knowledge allowed her to help a country reach the moon. She is certainly an inspiration!
A big thank you to Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick, Katherine Moore, Amistad, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book!
February 4, 2022
So interesting learning more about this lady. She was phenomenal. Ever since little her hard working and honesty ethics shaped her into what she became. She passed away two years ago at the age of 101.
She put aside fear and insecurity brought on by her color during such a turbulent time. Defied all odds by learning all she could and studying to become the first African American Woman to work for NASA. Her research in mathematics played a vital role in her getting the first man to the moon!!
Learned more about the desegregation time in our History as well. I’m always dumbfounded how others can treat people as less than humans.
It got really technical and dry at the end about
NASA and the USA Space program. Had a hard time finishing but ate up all about her extraordinary life.
She put aside fear and insecurity brought on by her color during such a turbulent time. Defied all odds by learning all she could and studying to become the first African American Woman to work for NASA. Her research in mathematics played a vital role in her getting the first man to the moon!!
Learned more about the desegregation time in our History as well. I’m always dumbfounded how others can treat people as less than humans.
It got really technical and dry at the end about
NASA and the USA Space program. Had a hard time finishing but ate up all about her extraordinary life.
August 21, 2021
As remarkable as she is, I’m guessing her humbleness kept her from making this really about her life. There are only a few pieces where you get to know how she felt or anything personal. It’s mostly a history book of world events.
November 21, 2021
"My daughter was now a mathematician, like me. She worked at NASA, like me. And she had started right out of college. That showed me how important it is for young people to be able to see in the flesh a vision of what they could become. But it also showed me how critical it is for those with influence - parents, teachers and mentors - to help those who look to them for guidance to envision for themselves what may seem impossible.
Dr. Clayton's vision for me had in essence given birth to two generations of mathematicians. He had opened my mind and my dreams to a job I never even knew existed, and by watching me go to work at Langley every day, my daughter knew she didn't have to become a teacher if that wasn't her heart's desire. Now, that made me feel proud."
I really enjoyed this memoir by Katherine Johnson, who I first found about in the Hidden Figures movie a few years back. She lived to be 101 and wrote this story back in 2018/2019 (with a little help from others) so it was a nice, one hundred year look at her life during the fast changing 20th century. I really enjoyed the stories of her childhood, her sense of humor and humility, her focus on the important of family and not letting anyone tell her she wasn't good enough to do her job due to the color of her skin. A really good read by a truly outstanding individual.
Dr. Clayton's vision for me had in essence given birth to two generations of mathematicians. He had opened my mind and my dreams to a job I never even knew existed, and by watching me go to work at Langley every day, my daughter knew she didn't have to become a teacher if that wasn't her heart's desire. Now, that made me feel proud."
I really enjoyed this memoir by Katherine Johnson, who I first found about in the Hidden Figures movie a few years back. She lived to be 101 and wrote this story back in 2018/2019 (with a little help from others) so it was a nice, one hundred year look at her life during the fast changing 20th century. I really enjoyed the stories of her childhood, her sense of humor and humility, her focus on the important of family and not letting anyone tell her she wasn't good enough to do her job due to the color of her skin. A really good read by a truly outstanding individual.
October 19, 2022
For some reason the audiobook version is just $2.84 on Downpour while it's $15-24 everywhere else. The download from my library was glitchy so I got a better copy since this memoir was too good to give up on. Katherine Johnson's life truly was a remarkable journey, from a West Virginia farm to NASA's Langley Research Center where she performed mathematical calculations for the Apollo space program. Her story included the history of the space race and civil rights movement but what really stood out was her love of family and her determination to follow her dreams in education and in her career.
Read
February 14, 2024the thrilling life story and soaring mind of breakthrough research mathematician and aeronautics computer Katherine Johnson, who was forever on a quest and joy of learning new things, every day. Told with grace and warmth, her memoir also captures a childhood in West Virginia.
Read
August 7, 2024Can’t really rate a memoir, eh? For me it was definitely worth the read. There was more about her family life and less about her mathematics career than I expected. A good read regardless!
February 8, 2021
My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir by Katherine Johnson with Joylette Hylick and Katherine G. Moore is a wonderful and stunning memoir about a woman that I have admired and looked up to for many years.
I have known quite a bit about Ms. Johnson for a while now. I have been fascinated about her involvement with NASA, and as a fellow female WV native that majored in the sciences (ok so my degrees are in Biology, not Physics or Mathematics, but by golly I love Physics and Chemistry) myself, I almost felt a kindred spirit and role model in Ms. Johnson.
I truly enjoyed by journey with Ms. Johnson learning even more about her eventful and pivotal life then I ever knew before. Not only did I feel like I was along side her as she pushed through boundaries and ceilings, but also as she navigated the waters of society in regards to civil rights, segregation, being a woman in a "man's field" and solidifying her rightful position.
I loved reading about her youth, and also some of the more personal aspects and relationships. This book has made me admire and respect Ms. Johnson even more then I ever thought possible and is truly a must-read for everyone. It should honestly be added to the portfolio of books suggested to high school/college age youth. A fresh perspective on life and what one can achieve with perseverance, strength, determination, and a honest and grateful soul is just some of what can be learned.
A stunning and memorable read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Amistad for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/25/21
I have known quite a bit about Ms. Johnson for a while now. I have been fascinated about her involvement with NASA, and as a fellow female WV native that majored in the sciences (ok so my degrees are in Biology, not Physics or Mathematics, but by golly I love Physics and Chemistry) myself, I almost felt a kindred spirit and role model in Ms. Johnson.
I truly enjoyed by journey with Ms. Johnson learning even more about her eventful and pivotal life then I ever knew before. Not only did I feel like I was along side her as she pushed through boundaries and ceilings, but also as she navigated the waters of society in regards to civil rights, segregation, being a woman in a "man's field" and solidifying her rightful position.
I loved reading about her youth, and also some of the more personal aspects and relationships. This book has made me admire and respect Ms. Johnson even more then I ever thought possible and is truly a must-read for everyone. It should honestly be added to the portfolio of books suggested to high school/college age youth. A fresh perspective on life and what one can achieve with perseverance, strength, determination, and a honest and grateful soul is just some of what can be learned.
A stunning and memorable read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Amistad for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/25/21
June 19, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Johnson's story from early life through NASA days. Beyond that it was of little interest to me. Her story is one we can celebrate...she worked hard despite barriers without ever relying on others to give her a handout.
February 8, 2021
My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir by Katherine Johnson with Joylette Hylick and Katherine G. Moore is a wonderful and stunning memoir about a woman that I have admired and looked up to for many years.
I have known quite a bit about Ms. Johnson for a while now. I have been fascinated about her involvement with NASA, and as a fellow female WV native that majored in the sciences (ok so my degrees are in Biology, not Physics or Mathematics, but by golly I love Physics and Chemistry) myself, I almost felt a kindred spirit and role model in Ms. Johnson.
I truly enjoyed by journey with Ms. Johnson learning even more about her eventful and pivotal life then I ever knew before. Not only did I feel like I was along side her as she pushed through boundaries and ceilings, but also as she navigated the waters of society in regards to civil rights, segregation, being a woman in a "man's field" and solidifying her rightful position.
I loved reading about her youth, and also some of the more personal aspects and relationships. This book has made me admire and respect Ms. Johnson even more then I ever thought possible and is truly a must-read for everyone. It should honestly be added to the portfolio of books suggested to high school/college age youth. A fresh perspective on life and what one can achieve with perseverance, strength, determination, and a honest and grateful soul is just some of what can be learned.
A stunning and memorable read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Amistad for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/25/21
I have known quite a bit about Ms. Johnson for a while now. I have been fascinated about her involvement with NASA, and as a fellow female WV native that majored in the sciences (ok so my degrees are in Biology, not Physics or Mathematics, but by golly I love Physics and Chemistry) myself, I almost felt a kindred spirit and role model in Ms. Johnson.
I truly enjoyed by journey with Ms. Johnson learning even more about her eventful and pivotal life then I ever knew before. Not only did I feel like I was along side her as she pushed through boundaries and ceilings, but also as she navigated the waters of society in regards to civil rights, segregation, being a woman in a "man's field" and solidifying her rightful position.
I loved reading about her youth, and also some of the more personal aspects and relationships. This book has made me admire and respect Ms. Johnson even more then I ever thought possible and is truly a must-read for everyone. It should honestly be added to the portfolio of books suggested to high school/college age youth. A fresh perspective on life and what one can achieve with perseverance, strength, determination, and a honest and grateful soul is just some of what can be learned.
A stunning and memorable read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Amistad for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/25/21
August 7, 2021
A remarkable mathematician's memoir. More than readable. The big jumps between parts from Johnson herself and parts written by her coauthors were distracting. Also, the memoir is clearly aimed at a younger audience, and there are frequent Wikipedia-style insertions about the most basic US history. I wanted to hear more about the math!
> Joylette got more good news—she had landed the job at NASA. She joined me at Langley just four days after her secret wedding. My oldest daughter was now a mathematician, like me. She worked at NASA, like me
> I worked closely at Langley with engineer Al Hamer on trajectory calculations for the trip to the moon and contingency plans in case of disaster, including how to navigate the spacecraft back home using the stars as a guide if there were an electrical failure. Al and I examined these and other technical topics in four papers that we would publish together between 1963 and 1969.
> The two of us even wrote a research paper, doing some preliminary work for an Earth-to-Mars trajectory. The paper, titled “Simplified Interplanetary Guidance Procedures Using Onboard Optical Measurements,” was published in May 1972.
> Joylette got more good news—she had landed the job at NASA. She joined me at Langley just four days after her secret wedding. My oldest daughter was now a mathematician, like me. She worked at NASA, like me
> I worked closely at Langley with engineer Al Hamer on trajectory calculations for the trip to the moon and contingency plans in case of disaster, including how to navigate the spacecraft back home using the stars as a guide if there were an electrical failure. Al and I examined these and other technical topics in four papers that we would publish together between 1963 and 1969.
> The two of us even wrote a research paper, doing some preliminary work for an Earth-to-Mars trajectory. The paper, titled “Simplified Interplanetary Guidance Procedures Using Onboard Optical Measurements,” was published in May 1972.
September 10, 2025
This was an excellent read. Mrs. Johnson’s life is not only fascinating to learn about but what I truly appreciated was how she elevated the other individuals in her life who impacted her. She doesn’t just mention a name and then move on, she gives the person a share in her spotlight and honor the legacy and achievements of the individual. She provides history about places she’s learned at or lived in and honors the individuals who made those places what they are.
Mrs. Johnson had an extraordinary life and I would highly recommend this read to anyone regardless of if they are interested in space travel or mathematics or not. It is incredibly inspiring and will leave your heart full. I rewatched Hidden Figures after reading this book and let me tell you, the movie is dessert, but My Remarkable Journey is a whole meal! It will greatly impact the way you see the film.
Mrs. Johnson had an extraordinary life and I would highly recommend this read to anyone regardless of if they are interested in space travel or mathematics or not. It is incredibly inspiring and will leave your heart full. I rewatched Hidden Figures after reading this book and let me tell you, the movie is dessert, but My Remarkable Journey is a whole meal! It will greatly impact the way you see the film.
February 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography of Katherine Johnson, the inspiration for Hidden Figures. This book was written by Katherine with two of her daughters. It recounts her remarkable personal achievements, salutes people who championed her along the way, and weaves in the stories of the day including the Civil Rights movement and the progress of the space program. A delightful read about an extraordinary woman!
May 26, 2021
Even though this book is primarily about Katherine Johnson’s life and contributions as a female black mathematician to NASA and the Apollo space missions, it is also a wonderful window into society during WWII, the civil rights movement during the 60s and 70s, school segregation, and much more. This is quite an enjoyable and informative read.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC to read and review.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC to read and review.
July 10, 2022
This was an incredible story and made me realize how little I know of black history. The author grew up in a world, while poor and segregated, was filled with love and family. A family that believed strongly in education and expected their children to accomplish great things. If you haven’t already, please read or at least watch the movie Hidden Figures. It will give you great insight into what the author had to go through to achieve success.
May 24, 2025
The audiobook was done so well. Her life story was very emotional, heartwarming and inspiring.
August 11, 2021
A trip not only thru her amazing life, but thru many events of the century. She's not just a wonderfully talented and brilliant woman, wife, and mother, but her philosophy and personality allowed her to ignore and overcome many instances of prejudice.
She's not exactly humble, but accomplished so much, it would be hard to be. An interesting aside is how the movie deviated from the truth in parts, such as her having to travel to another building to use the "Blacks only" restroom. She pretty much did what she wanted!
note: I just read that she passed away last year at age 101.
Overdrive @ 1.25 and normal speed
She's not exactly humble, but accomplished so much, it would be hard to be. An interesting aside is how the movie deviated from the truth in parts, such as her having to travel to another building to use the "Blacks only" restroom. She pretty much did what she wanted!
note: I just read that she passed away last year at age 101.
Overdrive @ 1.25 and normal speed
June 16, 2021
A wonderful story about a truly remarkable woman who not only made incredible advancements to this country's scientific endeavors, but also experienced all the trials and turmoil of WWII, the civil rights movements, the Vietnam War, the Women's Rights movement, the 1960s and on and on. A true inspiration. Easy to read, hard to forget.
March 16, 2022
If you love Hidden Figures as much as I do, you will be interested to learn more about the Life of Katherine Johnson. My Remarkable Journey is her memoir, told in her own words. From her life growing up in White Sulfur Springs West Virginia, the importance of education to her and her family, to her career at NASA and its precursor NACA. More personal and less technical than hidden figures, I really enjoyed reading both. This book reminds me Reaching for the Moon, Katherine Johnson memoir for young readers with just a few changes.
July 26, 2021
This memoir was published about a year after Katherine Johnson died at 101. It was written "with" her daughters Joylette and Katherine. Clearly they would have had the final edit. I could not help thinking about how difficult it might have been at times to keep to their mother's point of view. My mother was a just few years younger than Katherine Johnson and I am a few years younger than her daughters. I am white and grew up in the north. They were black in the south. Still I thought of how challenging it would be to write a memoir in my mother's voice, especially where we disagreed during the civil rights era of the 1960s. Katherine Johnson's daughters pull this off.
I read Hidden Figures and saw the movie so it was particularly fun to read about what was changed from exact historical accuracy to make a larger point.
I read Hidden Figures and saw the movie so it was particularly fun to read about what was changed from exact historical accuracy to make a larger point.
October 1, 2021
This read more like a YA book. It was a remarkable story of a black woman hired by the precursor to NASA, who handled the computations for space flight. Rapid fire pace with no time to reflect on history. She moved quickly through school with great mentors at every level. Secretly married, she became pregnant and had to drop out of college after becoming the first black woman at UVA. But, everyone was happy about the baby?! She became a high school teacher and eventually got her dream job through a friend. It had been over ten years since she was in school, but she easily remembered complex math ideas. Well, she was definitely smart and driven.
August 31, 2025
Katherine Johnson lived a remarkable life. Crazy how she has literally seen America change and progress made. Living to be hundred and two. That is amazing in itself. Really enjoyed the sections on her career at NASA.
Middle dragged a bit. Her childhood was fascinating, but then her college stint where she lost me. She met many people, but I had no clue who they were so lost meaning to me.
Funny when she begins comparing the movie Hidden Figures to her own life.
Middle dragged a bit. Her childhood was fascinating, but then her college stint where she lost me. She met many people, but I had no clue who they were so lost meaning to me.
Funny when she begins comparing the movie Hidden Figures to her own life.
June 27, 2021
Katherine Johnson's addiction is MATH, and we are a better world for it! She has loved math since it first sunk its metaphorical claws into her little baby heart. From there her dreams sprang - and they supported her through times when it seemed sure those dreams were coming true, to the times it was obvious they never would. Many missed her gift when they looked at her beautiful face, and read her address. Starting out she had to take what came her way, such as the time her only eligibility was deemed a teaching job playing the piano, with not a math book in sight (maybe there was on her nightstand). Yet her brilliance was unrelenting. Undeniable. Her Wonder Brain was known and word got around.
My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir was an intriguing read - Katherine Johnson shows how our own history has been written by whoever holds the pencils and pens, and as people we read the media our own tribes put out. . .we need to keep striving to become that One Tribe! As a woman coming up in her life she paid attention to Ebony, and all of the news it brought to her home. She went through the moments she remembered and were impactful to her. They were all moments not in the media of the majority. I appreciated her list, having grown up during part of that time. It gave me the opportunity to see all the things I didn't hear about until well after they happened.
Not only is this the story of her life, it is a record of America's efforts to shoot for the stars and the governmental organizations that have come and gone to support that dream. The author celebrates the successes, while making sure to document the fails in who did the work, while others got the memorial.
This is a book not just about a remarkable journey. It is a book about a remarkable woman. I hear her message that many of us missed a lot in the past, and she has a whole book about the things she wants to make sure we "get" before she's gone. Katherine is a hero. One of many, and it is time we start handing out awards, better late than never.
Thank you, Katherine Johnson (and daughters), for all you've done for us, and taking the time to share your Journey with us!
A sincere thank you to Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick; Katherine Moore, Amistad, and NetGalley for providing an ARC to read and review.
#MyRemarkableJourney #NetGalley
My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir was an intriguing read - Katherine Johnson shows how our own history has been written by whoever holds the pencils and pens, and as people we read the media our own tribes put out. . .we need to keep striving to become that One Tribe! As a woman coming up in her life she paid attention to Ebony, and all of the news it brought to her home. She went through the moments she remembered and were impactful to her. They were all moments not in the media of the majority. I appreciated her list, having grown up during part of that time. It gave me the opportunity to see all the things I didn't hear about until well after they happened.
Not only is this the story of her life, it is a record of America's efforts to shoot for the stars and the governmental organizations that have come and gone to support that dream. The author celebrates the successes, while making sure to document the fails in who did the work, while others got the memorial.
This is a book not just about a remarkable journey. It is a book about a remarkable woman. I hear her message that many of us missed a lot in the past, and she has a whole book about the things she wants to make sure we "get" before she's gone. Katherine is a hero. One of many, and it is time we start handing out awards, better late than never.
Thank you, Katherine Johnson (and daughters), for all you've done for us, and taking the time to share your Journey with us!
A sincere thank you to Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick; Katherine Moore, Amistad, and NetGalley for providing an ARC to read and review.
#MyRemarkableJourney #NetGalley
October 17, 2023
What makes this an excellent book is the remarkable and truly inspiring story of Katherine Johnson’s life. She was born in 1918 in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, where the local black school only went to seventh grade. Her mother was a teacher; her father was a farmer and lumberman and also worked part time at the Greenbrier resort. The Coleman family placed high value on education, and young Katherine began sneaking off to school before she was old enough to enroll. She learned to read before starting school and had skipped two grades by the time she reached sixth grade.
Johnson’s father taught her that no one else was better than her but that she was no better than anyone else. This lesson stood her in good stead throughout her life, giving her confidence when her position as a black girl/woman might have left her intimidated. When her older siblings were old enough for high school, the family moved to Institute, West Virginia so they could attend the high school that was operated by West Virginia State College, a historically black school. (Mr. Coleman had to move back to White Sulfur because he couldn’t find work in Institute.)
Katherine began high school at age 10 and college at age 14. During her time there she had several important mentors and took every math class that was available. One of these mentors developed a special class just for her to pursue higher level math and encouraged her to become a research mathematician. She graduated at at 18 with a degree in math and French and got her first job at a black high school in Virginia.
In Virginia she met and married her first husband. Not long after that she was recruited by her college mentors to attend West Virginia University as one of the first three blacks to enter the graduate school there. She left school after one year, having become pregnant with her first daughter. She and her husband moved to Newport News to pursue job opportunities there. From 1958 to 1986 she worked at NASA as a “human computer,” at first in a pool of black women mathematicians. She calculated trajectories, launch windows, and return paths for manned and unmanned space flight, beginning with the Mercury Project, working on trajectories for the Apollo 10 moon landing, and continuing through the Space Shuttle program. During this time she published 26 papers on her research, becoming the first woman to be listed on a published paper there.
The movie Hidden Figures, based on her life and the lives of several of her female colleagues, has a scene where just once a day she crosses the entire campus at Langley to use the restroom. The reality is much more interesting. Johnson sometimes used the few colored restrooms, but she also ignored them discretely as well. She did not eat in the segregated cafeteria, instead choosing to eat at her desk. She stood up for herself in getting work assignments, participating in editorial meetings, and also in getting her work published. At the same time she lived a careful middle class life, singing in her church choir, and raising three daughters. Her first husband died of an inoperable brain tumor short of his 40th birthday, and she was a single parent until marrying her second husband three years later.
After the Hidden Figures movie brought her to the attention of the general public, she received many honors, including having two buildings named after her on the Langley Research Center in Hampton. In 2015 President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She died in 2020 at the age of 101.
Johnson’s father taught her that no one else was better than her but that she was no better than anyone else. This lesson stood her in good stead throughout her life, giving her confidence when her position as a black girl/woman might have left her intimidated. When her older siblings were old enough for high school, the family moved to Institute, West Virginia so they could attend the high school that was operated by West Virginia State College, a historically black school. (Mr. Coleman had to move back to White Sulfur because he couldn’t find work in Institute.)
Katherine began high school at age 10 and college at age 14. During her time there she had several important mentors and took every math class that was available. One of these mentors developed a special class just for her to pursue higher level math and encouraged her to become a research mathematician. She graduated at at 18 with a degree in math and French and got her first job at a black high school in Virginia.
In Virginia she met and married her first husband. Not long after that she was recruited by her college mentors to attend West Virginia University as one of the first three blacks to enter the graduate school there. She left school after one year, having become pregnant with her first daughter. She and her husband moved to Newport News to pursue job opportunities there. From 1958 to 1986 she worked at NASA as a “human computer,” at first in a pool of black women mathematicians. She calculated trajectories, launch windows, and return paths for manned and unmanned space flight, beginning with the Mercury Project, working on trajectories for the Apollo 10 moon landing, and continuing through the Space Shuttle program. During this time she published 26 papers on her research, becoming the first woman to be listed on a published paper there.
The movie Hidden Figures, based on her life and the lives of several of her female colleagues, has a scene where just once a day she crosses the entire campus at Langley to use the restroom. The reality is much more interesting. Johnson sometimes used the few colored restrooms, but she also ignored them discretely as well. She did not eat in the segregated cafeteria, instead choosing to eat at her desk. She stood up for herself in getting work assignments, participating in editorial meetings, and also in getting her work published. At the same time she lived a careful middle class life, singing in her church choir, and raising three daughters. Her first husband died of an inoperable brain tumor short of his 40th birthday, and she was a single parent until marrying her second husband three years later.
After the Hidden Figures movie brought her to the attention of the general public, she received many honors, including having two buildings named after her on the Langley Research Center in Hampton. In 2015 President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She died in 2020 at the age of 101.
March 2, 2025
It is funny how I got introduced to the story of Katherine Johnson. I had just begun my journey as a research student at IIT Bombay. Once, a colleague shared a conversation she had with our professor. She was trying to change topic from an arid, technical conversation into a friendly one by mentioning some latest movies. And, to her surprise, our advisor suggested her the movie 'Hidden Figures'.
I used to check out his suggestions seriously, may it be about books, movies or eateries. So, I decided to go home and watch it the same night. And boy, what a movie it was! I still consider the scene where Katherine's boss destroys the 'colored restroom' sign board as one of the most impressionable scenes I have ever watched.
Because of this headstart, I was pretty excited about the book. And, the experience of reading the book was very intimate. I felt like sitting on a chair next to a granny's bed, listening to the old tales of her struggles, determination, love, happiness and hard-earned success. The one feeling that stood out throughout the book was that of gratitude. While she was always confident about her prodigal talent, she tells her story gratefully acknowleding the stroke of good luck -- of being in the right places at the right times -- which supercharged her hard work and perseverance. The book, written at a grand old age of 100, at which time memories of most people blur like reflections in old copper vessels, captures the brilliance of Katherine Johnson's intellect. While trying to narrate her own story, she also gives an evolving history of the movements against racial segregation in the USA. It was pretty much like the movie Forrest Gump, albeit with a superintelligent protagonist, who would play an integral part in one of the most prolific human endeavours ever!
This was the first book that I completed reading this year and I am very glad that I chose this one. It was written in very simple language using short sentences. I can imagine how the author must have expected young, African-American girls and boys to be the targeted audience, drawing inspiration and wisdom from her life and experiences. Her journey, carrying forward the aspirations of her family and teachers, hold a lot of inspiration, not just for children, but for everyone!
Book worth gifting young minds!!
I used to check out his suggestions seriously, may it be about books, movies or eateries. So, I decided to go home and watch it the same night. And boy, what a movie it was! I still consider the scene where Katherine's boss destroys the 'colored restroom' sign board as one of the most impressionable scenes I have ever watched.
Because of this headstart, I was pretty excited about the book. And, the experience of reading the book was very intimate. I felt like sitting on a chair next to a granny's bed, listening to the old tales of her struggles, determination, love, happiness and hard-earned success. The one feeling that stood out throughout the book was that of gratitude. While she was always confident about her prodigal talent, she tells her story gratefully acknowleding the stroke of good luck -- of being in the right places at the right times -- which supercharged her hard work and perseverance. The book, written at a grand old age of 100, at which time memories of most people blur like reflections in old copper vessels, captures the brilliance of Katherine Johnson's intellect. While trying to narrate her own story, she also gives an evolving history of the movements against racial segregation in the USA. It was pretty much like the movie Forrest Gump, albeit with a superintelligent protagonist, who would play an integral part in one of the most prolific human endeavours ever!
This was the first book that I completed reading this year and I am very glad that I chose this one. It was written in very simple language using short sentences. I can imagine how the author must have expected young, African-American girls and boys to be the targeted audience, drawing inspiration and wisdom from her life and experiences. Her journey, carrying forward the aspirations of her family and teachers, hold a lot of inspiration, not just for children, but for everyone!
Book worth gifting young minds!!
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