I am a middle school math teacher and I read chapters from this book to my students. Mathematics can seem so abstract and the stories of real mathematicians adds flesh to the topic. Both women and men are in the book, which allow me to demonstrate that women can excel in math and the sciences. My students ask me to read stories. I guess that means they recommend the book.The stories tell about not only some of the amazing things these great people did, but also contains anecdotes that show their humanness. Newton was forgetful. Noerter's students at Bryn Mawr protected her from traffic. Students develop strong opinions on Sophie Germain's wisdom at staying up at night to study mathematics, in an unheated room in the winter. Were her parents really watching out for her? Notable historic events are woven into the stories, such as the burning of the library in Alexandria.These are human stories for anyone who is a teen or older. (The chapter on Galois bummed out my students.)