The World's Best Book Summaries
Who is Hidden Figures‘ Katherine Johnson? What was her career like, and what did she do at NASA? Hidden Figures‘ Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who worked at NASA during the height of space travel. Katherine’s contributions helped make space travel possible, but she also contributed to her field and made lasting discoveries, cementing her legacy at NASA.
What’s witness tampering? How was this tactic used during the Osage murder trials? Witness tampering is an attempt to prevent or influence a witness’s testimony. Often, the goal is to keep the witness from telling the truth, therefore influencing the outcome of the case. Keep reading to learn how witness tampering factored in the Osage murder trials.
Who were the first black women in NASA? What contributions did they make to space travel? Amongst some of the first black women in NASA were Hidden Figures characters Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson. Dorothy was one of the first black women in NASA, as she was hired during the war. The other two women joined later. With their many talented colleagues, they proudly worked in their roles, and they helped pave the way forward for other black women.
How did guardianship laws allow people to commit theft? What role did they play in the Osage Reign of Terror? Guardianship laws declared some adult Osage Tribe members incompetent so that “guardians” could control their money. This arrangement ultimately played a role in an unthinkable tragedy. Read more to learn about guardianship laws and the Osage murders.
How were Jim Crow segregation laws felt by the employees of NASA in the pre-Civil Rights era? How did the women of Hidden Figures work to enact change? In Hidden Figures, not even the brilliant mathematicians at NASA were spared from Jim Crow segregation. In the middle of the segregated south, the women of Hidden Figures worked to solve the problems of space exploration, and spent their lives advocating for change both at and outside of NASA.
What was the Friendship 7 mission, and what was its significance? Did the women of Hidden Figures have anything to do with the Friendship 7 launch? Katherine Johnson was a part of the Space Task Force, which was responsible for the Friendship 7 Mission. In fact, John Glenn, Friendship 7 astronaut, personally relied on Katherine’s mathematical skills to ensure his safety. Read more about the Friendship 7 Mission and Katherine Johnson’s contributions.
What’s the history of the forced assimilation of Native Americans? Did it play a role in the Osage murders of the 1920s? Forced assimilation was a system that stripped Native Americans of their lands and culture. The practice contributed to the conspiracy to rob the Osage of their material wealth, and it ultimately led to many murders. Continue reading to learn about the forced assimilation of the Osage people.
What are share buybacks? Are stock buybacks good for a company? A share buyback is when a company uses some of its cash flow to buy back stocks on the open market. This can have several benefits, and was a key part of what made the Outsider CEOs successful. Read about why companies would make share repurchases, and some key examples.
What was the Space Task Group? What role did it play in the first manned space missions, and in getting to the moon? The Space Task Group was formed in 1958 and was a working group with the goal of achieving human spaceflight. Singularly focused on its goal, the Space Task Group included many brilliant minds, including Katherine Johnson of Hidden Figures. Keep reading to find out more about the Space Task Group, and Katherine Johnson’s contributions.
Have you heard of the law of attraction, and that it’s the secret to getting the life you want? Do you know how to use the secret? The Secret, a book by Rhonda Byrne, outlines a process where you can use the law of attraction to harness your thoughts and feelings into real-life change. Sounds great, right? You must be wondering how to use the secret- keep reading to find out.