Power in Numbers

Talithia Williams has done an amazing job with this book by bringing to attention so many awe-inspiring women, whose power of will and background in mathematics lead them to have such astounding contribution in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields and not only. Whether their work was/is in pure or applied mathematics, their contribution to science and society is remarkable.

The author herself has a Ph.D. in Statistics, is an advocate for engaging more women in engineering and science and was the first African-American woman to achieve tenure at Harvey Mudd College.

The book is divided in three parts: I - The Pioneers, II - From Code Breaking to Rocket Science and III - Modern Math Mavens, detailing the careers and achievements of thirty women scientists, with brief mention of few others.

I must admit, to my shame, that I only knew about three of the women depicted in here, and that knowledge was more than brief. But it’s never too late to learn (and that is one among many reasons I love to read).

We get to know them not only through the author’s words but also from pictures that enrich the enjoyment of reading this book. Their stories are not only touching but also very inspiring and I was deeply moved by the photos of these women being awarded for their contributions. Because most of them had to struggle hard to achieve their dreams. However, through sheer determination, support from family and teachers and their undeterred will, they succeeded.

Many of them were/are not only mathematicians, but artists as well, and successfully combine the two, as well as projected the math knowledge in medicine, genetics, biology and many other fields. How I wish I had read this when I was 18 and stupid…

I can’t recommend this book enough. Not only you will learn about all these wonderful and inspiring women, but you’ll also enlarge your knowledge of how many practical contributions in various other fields applied mathematics have. It’s one of the best books in popularizing science and as a biography as well that I read so far.

Goodreads Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.

Although I have never been a math-minded person, I still enjoy learning about some aspects of math, including mathematicians. This book includes brief biographies of 30 women mathematicians throughout history who have defied the harsh barriers put up against them in the math world and built successful and influential careers in mathematics. I especially enjoyed the first section which focused on many of the women pioneers of math, all of whom figured out vital formulas and/or theories that are now basis for higher level concepts. The second section focused on women who helped in the Space Race by using their math and computer expertise, while the third focused on modern day women who have continued to break barriers. There is a huge amount of diversity in this book as well, making it all the more inspiring to a wider audience of younger (and even some older readers).

That being said it was definitely geared towards readers who are already interested in STEM and understand some more advanced concepts, but who may not be sure if they can do anything with their passion once they graduate high school. For those of us who aren’t STEM-inclined, it’s still an inspiring and interesting read, but might be a bit of skim-read in sections where the math explanations come into play. It could have been made even more accessible had a glossary been included (there still may be, seeing as I read an advanced copy), to clarify many of the concepts and terms casually mentioned throughout.

It definitely made me more interested to learn more about some of the pioneers in the math field, those who came up with vital formulas and proofs that are still used as bases for concepts today. The formatting of the book is also very visually pleasing and the biographies are incredibly informative, but they aren’t overly long (most are about 3-4 pages). The bibliography is also very extensive.

I felt it was still too technical in its terminology of explaining many of the theories for it to be widely appealing to both math and non-math minded individuals. However, I would definitely still recommend it as a good book for those who are of the former, especially those who are interested in history as well!

I really loved reading this book. The author presents short biographies with wonderful photographs and illustrations of women who made math their passion. The book begins with the Pioneers, then includes the code breakers and rocket scientists and ends with Modern Mathematicians. Some of these names will be familiar but many will not. The book is very easy to read and offers a fascinating look at these creative Women. Enjoy

Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics by Tabitha Williams is a full-color, non fiction book that takes a look at the forgotten influence of women in the development of mathematics over the last two thousand years. The book is divided in three parts: I - The Pioneers, II - From Code Breaking to Rocket Science and III - Modern Math Mavens, detailing the careers and achievements of thirty women scientists, with brief mentions of few others. The book brings mathematic powerhouses like astronomer-philosopher Hypatia, theoretical physicist Emmy Noether, and rocket scientist Annie Easley to life for readers and helps us understand that trailblazing women have always existed, we just do not always know their stories unless we take the time to discover them.

Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics is a wonderful and long overdue book. I thought I knew a great deal about the women that have helped shape the world of technology, science, and mathematics. However, this book showed me that I only knew a small number of the women that made such huge impacts on the world. I learned about some women I had never heard of, and learned more about some that I though I knew much more about. Anyone that thinks they cannot make an impact, or that a particular field is not for them because of prejudice or culture, I urge you to read the book. The pictures included with the text about these dynamic women make them more real, and helps the reader connect with them and relate their own lives to those of these women- giving them the inspiration to forge their own path.

Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics is an inspirational and informative book. I hope that it encourages others to follow their dreams, and to do the work they love regardless of what society and culture might tell them.

Shorter profiles are my favorite way to introduce people to historical figures. By giving us five to ten pages of history and influence we're able to appreciate an overview and determine which figures we want to explore in greater detail. And what better way to inspire girls to innovate in STEM fields than to give them a host of brilliant women to model their lives after. Yes, we need to show them how cool STEM subjects are but we also need to show them that they have heroes already in the field.