As a child, Aomawa Shields was always bumping into things, her neck craned up at the sky, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. A year into an astrophysics PhD program, plagued by self-doubt and discouraged by a white male professor who suggested that she - a young Black woman who also loved fashion, makeup, and the arts - didn't belong, she left astronomy and pursued acting professionally for a decade, before a day job working for NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope drew her back to the stars. Sh...

As a child, Aomawa Shields was always bumping into things, her neck craned up at the sky, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. A year into an astrophysics PhD program, plagued by self-doubt and discouraged by a white male professor who suggested that she - a young Black woman who also loved fashion, makeup, and the arts - didn't belong, she left astronomy and pursued acting professionally for a decade, before a day job working for NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope drew her back to the stars. Sh...

A stunning and inspiring memoir charting a life as an astronomer, classically-trained actor, mother, and Black woman in STEM, searching for life in the universe while building a meaningful life here on EarthAs a kid, Aomawa Shields was always bumping into things, her neck craned up at the sky, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. A year into an astrophysics PhD program, plagued by self-doubt and discouraged by a white male professor who suggested that she—a young Bla...

A transformative, practical guide to true wellness and a life of abundance and balance, from the renowned astrophysicist, TED Fellow, and working mother.What would your life look like if you allowed yourself to rest?Dr. Aomawa Shields is a lifelong overachiever. While working harder than everyone else led to career success and public accolades—from completing her six-year PhD program in five to presenting a celebrated TED Talk that has received 1.8...

A transformative, practical guide to true wellness and a life of abundance and balance, from the renowned astrophysicist, TED Fellow, and working mother.What would your life look like if you allowed yourself to rest?Dr. Aomawa Shields is a lifelong overachiever. While working harder than everyone else led to career success and public accolades—from completing her six-year PhD program in five to presenting a celebrated TED Talk that has received 1.8...

A stunning and inspiring memoir charting a life as an astronomer, classically-trained actor, mother, and Black woman in STEM, searching for life in the universe while building a meaningful life here on EarthAs a kid, Aomawa Shields was always bumping into things, her neck craned up at the sky, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. A year into an astrophysics PhD program, plagued by self-doubt and discouraged by a white male professor who suggested that she—a young Bla...