The Six

An Amazon Best History Book of 2023 A September 2023 Indie Next Pick

“Tales of the space race enshrined in American history too often center on white men and elevate machismo…Science journalist Loren Grush reclaims this place as female…Grush skillfully weaves a story that, at its heart, is about desire: not a nation’s desire to conquer space, but the longing of six women to reach heights that were forbidden to them… Like space travel itself, The Six widens our vision of what it means to belong to ‘the whole family of humankind.’” –New York Times

”[Creates] an intimacy that makes [each astronaut] utterly memorable….Grush makes it thrillingly clear: These six women rose far above such misogyny, smashing our planet’s highest ceilings as they soared.” –BookPage (starred review)“A dazzling look into the lives of the first U.S. women to venture into space….This is a story that had to be told, and Grush has told it brilliantly.” –Ashlee Vance, New York Times bestselling author of Elon Musk: Tesla, Space X, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future“A powerful, gripping, and at times heartbreaking tale of human courage in the face of impossible odds. The Six reminds us of the price that women paid to join men in space–and why these women still matter today.” –Keith O’Brien, New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls and Paradise Falls“A spirited group biography…The Six joins a growing list of books heralding women’s achievements in scientific settings where their presence was unusual or unwelcome. These include Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures and Kate Zernike’s The Exceptions, which follows the women scientists who fought for equal opportunity at MIT at the turn of the 21st. It’s hard not to feel awe for these women.” –Wall Street Journal“Engrossing…a well-rounded narrative…The Six highlights the contributions of women in science and the challenges they face.” –Booklist“One of the most important stories to come out of the space age….One can’t help but cheer for these women of destiny as their journey unfolds…Superb.” –Homer Hickam, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Rocket Boys, basis of the film October Sky“Remarkable…Grush has an important story to tell, and she tells it well. An inspiring story of the first American women to go into space, charting their own course for the horizon.” –Kirkus Reviews“Suspenseful, meticulously observed, enlightening…Lifts the curtain on the moment when Neil Armstrong’s ‘one small step for man’ expanded to encompass the talent, ambition, and perseverance of America’s first female astronauts.” –Margot Lee Shetterly, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures“Vivid…Grush paints a compelling picture of the rigors faced by these driven and accomplished women….Grush writes optimistically that the growth of the commercial space industry will bring greater opportunities for female astronauts. Whatever happens next, The Six is an important record of their achievements so far.” –The Guardian