About the Author

Lindy Elkins-Tanton is a world-renowned planetary scientist and member of the National Academy of Sciences. She is the principal investigator of the NASA Psyche mission, and director of the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. Previously, she was vice president at Arizona State University, director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution for Science, and faculty at MIT. Among her major original research achievements are the discovery that the Siberian flood basalts caused the end-Permian extinction, the revelation that rocky planets are born wet, and the concept of "drip volcanism." Asteroid (8252) Elkins-Tanton is named for her.

Reviews

"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"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"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"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)"Covers wide-ranging personal and professional terrain with depth and insight." - Nautilus"Wonderful. ... [A] sometimes harrowing, often heroic, and adventurous chronicle." - Planetary Radio"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)"Elkins-Tanton explores ways to create better, more inclusive disciplines through curiosity, generosity, and collaboration." - Booklist"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"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)"A captivating story about an exceptional career and a remarkable life." - Ars Technica"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"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