A Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Woman A Memoir
A Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Woman A Memoir by Lindy Elkins-Tanton is a reprint edition published by HarperCollins Publishers on September 5, 2023. This 272-page memoir offers a unique perspective from one of the leading planetary scientists, blending personal experiences with insights into the beauty of science. Elkins-Tanton reflects on her journey through exploration on Earth and in space, while also delving into themes of loss and personal resilience.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines Elkins-Tanton’s childhood challenges with her passion for science, illustrating how scientific inquiry can serve as a means of healing. The memoir takes the audience from the Siberian tundra to the depths of space, highlighting her role as Principal Investigator of NASA’s Psyche mission. Through her experiences, Elkins-Tanton emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions and listening to the answers, ultimately revealing how exploration can lead to deeper understanding and meaning in life.
Official synopsis Publisher
From one of the world’s leading planetary scientists, a luminous memoir of exploration on Earth, in space, and within oneself–equal parts ode to the beauty of science, meditation on loss, and roadmap for personal resilience
“Fierce, absorbing, and ultimately inspiring.” –ELIZABETH KOLBERT
“[A] riveting book, beautifully written.” –Washington Post
Named a Best Book of the Year by Christian Science Monitor and Science News
Deep in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, three times farther from the sun than the Earth is, orbits a massive asteroid called (16) Psyche. It is one of the largest objects in the belt, potentially containing the equivalent of the world’s total economy in metals, though they cannot be brought back to Earth. But (16) Psyche has the potential to unlock something even more valuable: the story of how planets form, and how our planet formed. Soon we will find out, thanks to the extraordinary work of Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the Principal Investigator of NASA’s $800 million Psyche mission, and the second woman ever to be awarded a major NASA space exploration contract.
The journey that brought her to this place is extraordinary. Amid a childhood of terrible trauma, Elkins-Tanton fell in love with science as a means of healing and consolation. But still she wondered, was forced to wonder: as a woman, was science “for her”? In answering that question, she takes us from the wilds of the Siberian tundra to the furthest reaches of outer space, from the Mayo Clinic, where Elkins-Tanton battled ovarian cancer while writing the Psyche proposal, to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where her team brought that proposal to life.
A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman is a beautifully-constructed memoir that explores how a philosophy of life can be built from the tools of scientific inquiry. It teaches us how to approach difficult problems by asking the right questions and truly listening to the answers–and how we may find meaning through exploring the wonders of the universe around us.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “A Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Woman A Memoir” about?
Who is the author of “A Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Woman A Memoir”?
When was “A Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Woman A Memoir” published?
What is the ISBN for “A Portrait of the Scientist As a Young Woman A Memoir”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
