Structure

Hidden Figures consists of a prologue, 23 chapters, and an epilogue. The epilogue and prologue provide insight from the author on the reasons for writing the book and a bit about the process of researching the topic. The chapters are both numbered and titled.

The timeline of the book primarily moves forward from the early 1940s to the 1960s. However, there is some backward movement in time when the author provides information regarding the background of one of the individuals she writes about. For example, Shetterly writes about the childhood and education of several of the African American women she focuses on.

Perspective

Hidden Figures is written in third person and in the past tense. The style is of a reporting nature that provides a great deal of information about the time period and the historical events that impacted the lives of the women who worked at Langley...