I received a free copy of, The Six,by Loren Grush, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The six are: Anna Fisher, Shannon Lucid, Rhea Seddon, Kathy Sullivan, Judy Resnick, and Sally Ride, they are America's first women astronauts. I thought this book was good but I wish it had Christa McAuliffe in it, who died on the Challenger.

In 1978, the first six women were accepted into the NASA space program. This is the story of how these brilliant women dealt with the physical, mental and emotional challenges of the role of an astronaut, as well as the sexism of the era, to become major contributors to the scientific breakthroughs of the space race. Grush writes about each woman’s personal history in a way that creates an emotional connection with the reader and honors them as the American heroes they became.

What a terrific book this is! Readers interested in the history of space exploration and women in space, NASA, its first six women astronauts, and/or the space shuttle program will want to put “The Six” on their bookshelves right next to Tom Wolfe’s “The Right Stuff” and Andrew Chaiken’s “A Man on the Moon.”

Author (and veteran space reporter) Lauren Grush begins with the backgrounds of each of “The Six”—Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon—women with advanced educations and scientific or technical backgrounds who dreamed of going into space but had little hope in light of NASA’s seeming insistence that its astronauts be white-male test pilots.

All that changed as a result of the women’s movement and the political climate of the 1970s as well as the onset of the shuttle program which needed, not just pilots, but “mission specialists” capable of performing scientific and other technical tasks in space. After an exhaustive and exhausting selection process, the resulting astronaut class of 1978—called the “Thirty-five New Guy” or the “TFNG” class—came into being, including two people of color and “The Six.”

Grush goes on to detail the training the women received (including piloting high-performance jets), the missions each undertook, the significant contributions each made, the Challenger disaster (causing the death of Judy Resnik), and its investigation (in which Sally Ride played a crucial role), and finally, how the remaining five continued on with their lives. Some stayed with NASA. Some went on to other equally challenging endeavors.

It's a very well-written history comprised of clear, straightforward prose and many fascinating anecdotes. It's also very well-researched, incorporating information from a large number and wide variety of sources, including 100 hours of interviews conducted by the author. Readers will gain a clear idea of how extraordinarily talented each protagonist is (or was, in the cases of Sally Ride and Judy Resnik) and how challenging—not to mention demanding of courage, disciple, and sacrifice—it is to be a NASA astronaut.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Lauren Grush, and the publisher Scribner for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

My thanks to Loren Grush and Simon and Schuster for the ARC copy of the Six. I was totally blown away by this book. It gave great insight into a world that was conquered by six incredible women. The struggles and the challenges they went through to become astronauts were truly mind-Blowing. This book read well (it was never dry or anything like that). I really felt like I was in the NASA world learning all of their triumphs and friendships and a lot more about the newest series of astronauts to go to space. I stayed up way past bedtime reading this book and found it ended satisfactory. I highly recommend this to anyone and especially women who want to see how other women met the challenges of dealing in what was a typically male profession. These women were pioneers and I salute everyone of them.

Prepare to be captivated by "The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts" by Loren Grush, a spellbinding exploration of courage, determination, and the indomitable spirit of adventure. As an ardent space enthusiast, I found myself instantly transported back to my childhood dreams of soaring through the cosmos, fueled by the awe-inspiring tales of space travel and the magnificent space shuttle.

Grush's meticulously researched narrative takes readers on an exhilarating journey, shedding light on the extraordinary lives of the women who defied societal norms and shattered the glass ceiling to become America's first female astronauts. Their stories unfold with vivid detail, presenting personal triumphs and tribulations, intertwining with the incredible scientific breakthroughs and political landscape of the time.

The book explores the early days of NASA's space shuttle program, a period marked by uncertainty and fervor, where the vision of reaching the stars was within humanity's grasp. With a seamless blend of historical context and personal anecdotes, Grush brings to life the challenges faced by these remarkable women, from rigorous training regimes to battling entrenched prejudices.

Grush infuses the narrative with an unbridled passion for space exploration. Her infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter is palpable, and her descriptions of the space shuttle and its missions are breathtaking. With each turn of the page, I felt myself propelled into the cockpit alongside these pioneering astronauts, experiencing the thunderous roar of liftoff and the weightlessness of the vast expanse above.

Grush’s deep respect for the women at the heart of this story shines through every word, as she crafts a narrative that is both informative and inspiring. From the iconic Sally Ride to the lesser-known yet equally remarkable figures like Jerrie Cobb and Rhea Seddon, their individual journeys reflect the tenacity, intellect, and unwavering dedication required to overcome societal barriers and push the boundaries of human exploration.

"The Six" is an homage to the wonders of space travel, written for those who have long been fascinated by the boundless mysteries that lie beyond our blue planet. Grush's dedication to accuracy and her ability to seamlessly blend scientific detail with a compelling narrative will leave readers feeling awestruck and deeply moved. Her book reminds us that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, the human spirit can transcend boundaries and soar to unimaginable heights.

For anyone who has ever gazed at the stars and dreamed of what lies beyond, "The Six" is an absolute must-read. Loren Grush has crafted an extraordinary tribute to these unsung heroes, giving voice to their remarkable achievements and reigniting the flame of curiosity within us all. Embark on this thrilling adventure and allow yourself to be swept away by the triumphs, challenges, and ultimate legacy of America's first women astronauts.

Very interesting women, but this book could use another pass by a good copy editor, as the author's writing isn't as smooth as it should be. (Yes, I know she has multiple accolades, but we can all use another editor.) Really - why say "She would do something" when she did do it? Then in the rest of the paragraph use simply past tense, as that sentence should? If the language hadn't been so distracting, I'd have given this book 4 or 5 stars.

A fascinating look at these six women astronauts.so well written so informative.I found their stories so interesting so involving will be recommending.#netgalley #scribnerbooks

"The Six" is one of the most emotionally powerful, moving, and informative books I have ever read about NASA, the Shuttle Program, and the lives of those involved.

There are always huge pieces of information of which the public is unaware about their space heroes - the astronauts, CAPCOMs, and every other person involved in the lengthy and intense process of putting together and eventually launching a space mission. Loren Grush's factual narrative grants readers a unique, behind the scenes look at what life is like as a NASA astronaut, how complicated chasing one's dreams can be, and how a singular moment in time can influence decades to come.

"The Six" is so important - not just so that names other than the usuals can be remembered, but so that the public can truly know what it is like to face nearly impossible odds and still come out on top. These six women were driven not by the need for fame or recognition, but for the need to know, to learn more about the world around us...and beyond us. These scientific pioneers helped change NASA as an entire organization, thereby paving the way for humanity to learn about and explore space as we do today.

Finally, this book is proof that despite impossible odds, victory is possible through imagination, hard work, determination, and perseverence. I would absolutely recommend this book to space enthusiasts, people in STEM fields, and even go as far as to suggest that it should be required/recommended reading for college students, to show that through diversity and evolution of practices, we move forward.

I found this book highly inspiring and cannot help but wish that more of the Six were as recognizable by name as Sally Ride. Each was, and remains, to this day, important for so many reasons - but at the end of the day, anything really is possible if you work hard enough and believe in your dreams.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to immerse myself in such a phenomenal book, and thank you to Loren Grush for writing it. The Six's story must be told, and Grush had done them proud with this narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and the amazing publisher for the ARC of this title! I am so grateful to be auto-approved for this title!
I look forward to reading and reviewing. More to come!

I finished this book the morning they announced the Artemis astronauts! I am so excited we are going back to space. These incredible six led the way. Such a powerful book and a must read for all. My only suggestion.....print out the Cast of Characters in the beginning. It will make more the reading much more enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the sneak peek in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about the first female astronauts, both their lives and their experiences working for NASA. A few of these ladies I had never really heard of before, so it was interesting to learn about their stories. A lot of books about NASA and space exploration don't really give a lot of attention to the female crewmembers (both in space and on the ground) and their contributions. The author focuses on six different woman, all of whom have a fascinating story to tell, and interweaves a discussion of how deeply sexist NASA and media coverage at the time was. My biggest complaint about the book is the narration style, it often felt more like reading a novel and the author would often speculate scenes from the pov of the women she was discussing. It was jarring at times, especially when switching from these types of scenes to a more straightforward, factual narration when filling in details.

When I read Lynn Sherr's excellent biography of Sally Ride, I came across a picture of the first six women included in NASA"s astronaut program. "What an amazing book (or movie) that would be," I thought to myself. When I saw the deal announcement several years ago that a book was in the works about these six incredible women, I was super excited, and was ecstatic when a review copy showed up on NetGalley!

Grush's biography of these six intelligent, courageous, and determined women is everything I hoped it would be--packed with fantastic stories and insights. These women fought skepticism, ridicule, and ignorance from both those inside NASA, the media, and the general public, but also inspired scores of people. This is a must read for everyone who enjoys science history, space exploration, and women's history.

Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well-written and in-depth look at the first female astronauts. I enjoyed every minute of this book and its behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of these women.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.