Lessons in Chemistry

A Novel

By: Bonnie Garmus

Narrated by: Miranda Raison, Bonnie Garmus, Pandora Sykes

#1 GLOBAL BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD • Meet Elizabeth Zott: “a gifted research chemist, absurdly self-assured and immune to social convention” (The Washington Post) in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show. • STREAM ON APPLE TV+

This novel is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel” (The New York Times Book Review) and “witty, sometimes hilarious...the Catch-22 of early feminism” (Stephen King, via Twitter).

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.

A would that I had lived my life more like this.

A delight to listen to. I am 82 and cannot go back and relive my ml life but if I could, this novel would be a guide. Delicious, and thought provoming. was smart enough to reach HS chemistry but not BOLD enough to teach even higher.

Loved this book

I recommend this book to all women who love a good seriously themed but lightly told story, whoever were required to neglect any part of themselves to have a place in our patriarchal society. Empowering, truthful, entertaining and warm. And to men brave enough to weigh their own complicity in the not so subtle lowering or diminishing of the intellectual power of the full half or more of our species' potential.

Incredible story and well written!

I am so happy that I read this book it is such a unique story and so wonderfully written. I am very thankful that I was lucky enough to read this book. I highly recommend it to anyone!

Loved

Very good read. Loved the characters and story line. Learned about rowing which was interesting.

Engaging from start to finish.

I nearly failed chemistry. but this book had me riveted from the start. Elizabeth Zott is a great character!