"Lindy Elkins-Tanton has led a fascinating life, full of wonder and discovery and also pain and loss. Her memoir, A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman, is fierce, absorbing, and ultimately inspiring." – Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction
"A riveting book, beautifully written...With a brave candor, Elkins-Tanton examines all aspects of her experiences–personal and professional, the good and the bad–to plumb the very meaning of her life...[Provides] a ringside seat to the discomforts and thrills of a geological expedition." – Washington Post
"A deeply personal and enlightening book of one amazing woman's leadership and teachings in science and self-discovery." – Col. Chris Hadfield, former Commander of the International Space Station and #1 Bestselling Author of An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
"The principal investigator of NASA's Psyche mission lays bare the challenges and rewards of succeeding as a woman in a male-dominated field and how the sublime beauty of the universe brought her strength and solace. ... Enthralling and inspiring. ... A fearless, riveting, and galvanizing book from a star in the U.S. space program." – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Elkins-Tanton shines in her ability to render the process of scientific discovery in eloquent prose. ... A wonderful paean to the beauty of scientific exploration."
– Publishers Weekly
"[A] beautiful and inspiring memoir." – Christian Science Monitor (Best Books of the Year)
"A captivating story about an exceptional career and a remarkable life." – Ars Technica
"A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman is an inspiring tale of grit and grace, and a captivating study of leadership in changing times. Lindy Elkins-Tanton is a talented storyteller with a story that must be told. More than a memoir of how we explore other worlds, she has written an insightful narrative of how we live on this one. It is one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written." – DAVID W. BROWN, author of The Mission
"Wonderful. ... [A] sometimes harrowing, often heroic, and adventurous chronicle." – Planetary Radio
"Covers wide-ranging personal and professional terrain with depth and insight." – Nautilus
"Engaging. ... This memoir chronicles the journey of one woman in science but is also a rallying cry to make academia a more supportive and diverse workplace so that the research community can better address the societal and scientific challenges of the 21st century." – Science
"Engaging and candid. ... Spotlights the challenges and successes of being a woman in a male-dominated field. ... With wide appeal to a wide audience, this work provides a closer look at the human side of science." – Library Journal
"Elkins-Tanton explores ways to create better, more inclusive disciplines through curiosity, generosity, and collaboration." – Booklist
"It would be easy to recommend A Portrait as inspiration for others who have wondered if science is for them, but perhaps the book is more valuable as a source of insight for those who have never asked that question themselves." – Nature
"Moving. ... [Elkins-Tanton's] struggles with childhood trauma and sexism in her career lay bare the barriers that many women in science still face." – Science News (A Best Book of the Year)