The Exceptions narrates the remarkable journey of sixteen women scientists at MIT who spearheaded a groundbreaking movement for equality in science. It centers on the story of Nancy Hopkins, whose conviction transformed her from a promising molecular geneticist to a torchbearer for women's rights in scientific academia. Hopkins and her peers began their careers in the wake of affirmative action, believing gender discrimination to be obsolete, only to encounter subtle yet persistent biases. As they aged, their professional contributions were often sidelined or usurped by male counterparts. When MIT publicly acknowledged its bias against its female faculty, it prompted a widespread examination of sexism in science. Kate Zernike, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, presents an intricate narrative that weaves together personal struggles, scientific innovation, and the collective power that instigated a movement. The Exceptions acts as both an exposition of hidden prejudices in academia and a celebration of the indomitable spirit that redefined women's roles in the pursuit of scientific truth.