This book is about Joanne Simpson, the first American woman to earn a Ph.D. in meteorology. It encompasses her personal and professional life, her career prospects as a woman in science, and her pioneering contributions in understanding the tropical atmosphere. First Woman is an important book. Joanne Simpson's biography is not only the story of a woman that had to force her way through a male dominated field as well as fight her own demons, but also the story of the mentor to a generation of scientists. Fleming does her the justice that she deserves by weaving together this nuanced story of the most prominent tropical meteorologist of her generation.