by Dava Sobel
First published 2016
In the mid-19th century, a remarkable group of women are recruited to map the heavens at the Harvard College Observatory. Though dismissed as "human computers," these pioneering astronomers make groundbreaking discoveries that upend the field. Navigating professional rivalries and gender barriers, they rise to prominence while revealing the cosmos' secrets one bright speck at a time. At the heart of this true story lies the tangled web of ambition, adversity, and wonder that drives the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Genres: biography, science, historical-fiction, 20th-century, non-fiction, astronomy, 19th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, pursuit-of-knowledge
Setting: Harvard College Observatory, Massachusetts
Period: 1800-1999, 19th century, 20th century
352 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books