The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins and the fight for women in science

The Exceptions is a book about how a group of sixteen determined women used the power of the collective and the tools of science to inspire ongoing radical change. It is written by Bonnie Garmus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who broke the story in 1999 for The Boston Globe. The book focuses on Nancy Hopkins, a reluctant feminist who became a hero to two generations of women in science.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Bonnie Garmus, the acclaimed bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry, unveils an extraordinary untold story of how a remarkable group of sixteen determined women harnessed the power of collective action and scientific tools to ignite a lasting and profound transformation. This captivating account celebrates progress while simultaneously emphasizing the urgent need for further action. These pioneering women scientists entered the workforce in the 1960s, during a time of affirmative action, with the belief that discrimination against women had become a relic of the past and that science was a realm of pure meritocracy. However, they soon discovered that reality was far from their idealistic vision. Women were marginalized and minimized, particularly as they grew older, with their contributions often stolen and erased.

Written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who broke the groundbreaking story in 1999 for The Boston Globe, when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology admitted to discriminating against women on its faculty, The Exceptions is an intimate narrative that revolves around Nancy Hopkins, a surprisingly reluctant feminist who emerged as a hero to two generations of women in science. Through the uncovering of an erased history, we are introduced to the hidden scientists who laid the groundwork for collective change.

Weight: 626g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398520004