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Sign up todayLessons in Chemistry
A Novel
Length
11 hours 55 minutes
Language
English
Narrators
Miranda Raison, Bonnie Garmus & Pandora Sykes
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“Lessons in Chemistry is a story of Elizabeth Zott: a brilliant female chemist in a man’s lab during the early 1960’s. She continuously faces challenges with grace and intellect. She rather begrudgingly hosts a cooking show which causes a ripple effect of women standing up for themselves, knowing their worth, and seeking higher education and pay. This quirky fictional book certainly challenges us not to just accept the 'status quo' and reach higher!”
— Becky • Cherry Street Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Elizabeth Zott and her passion for science ”
— Angela • Little Bean Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Love love LOVED this book! Our one-of-a-kind Read & Run Audiobook Club selected this book for our inaugural group, and we all enjoyed it tremendously. Elizabeth Zott is a force to be reckoned with, Bonnie Garmus's writing is dry, witty, and refreshing, and the story has some fantastic twists and turns that keep you on your toes to the very end. A fantastic feminist commentary on how far we've come as a society and where we're still stuck today. Highly recommend!”
— Sari • Verb Bookstore
Bookseller recommendation
“Loved this book! I laughed out loud, I cried, and it made my blood boil. Elizabeth Zott is one of a kind. I wish she was real and I could travel back in time to watch Supper at Six! Expertly narrated by Miranda Raison.”
— Kristine • Buttonwood Books and Toys
Bookseller recommendation
“Lessons in Chemistry is a nearly-subversive feminist story wrapped in a delightful package of unlikely love, heart-rending loss, and how to make one’s way through life as a round peg that doesn’t even try to fit in to a square hole. This novel had me thinking hard about the women of my mother’s 1950s and 60s generation, women who often were confined to the role of 'homemaker' – or if they did work, were the bookkeepers instead of the mathematicians, the secretaries instead of the lawyers. How much brain power was kept on the back burner until feminists started speaking up and demanding equality? How much brain power is still being wasted? Lessons in Chemistry left me thinking about how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.”
— Claire • Honest Dog Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Character-driven and quirky, this book made me angry at what Elizabeth faces, yet at the same time, the fact that she faces it with such aplomb that it also filled me with joy to witness her journey. Reading this one at the same time as When Women Were Dragons made me wonder if Elizabeth would be dragoning pretty soon ;) but this one is set in the real world, where instead she used her very human, very brilliant brain to challenge the status quo. ”
— Stacy • The Curious Cat Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“Formidable Elizabeth Zott will capture your heart as she, Six-Thirty, Mad and others did me. It’s 1960 and Elizabeth is a woman in a man’s field – she experiences sexism, inequality, and abuse. I found this heartwarming, fun, with a sense of intelligent humor, and full of charm and hope.”
— Karin • Bookworm of Edwards
Bookseller recommendation
“Talented scientist Elizabeth Zott is thwarted at every turn in the male-dominated science world of the 1950s. But Elizabeth will not let anything stop her. Armed with a Number Two pencil piercing her bun, she is determined to complete her research project and enlighten women about the importance of science (even if it appears to be a cooking show for housewives). Equal parts charming and wise, Bonnie Garmus’s novel is making many more best-of lists than mine and features the best dog character since Winn Dixie.”
— Sarah • A Great Good Place for Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Protagonist Elizabeth Zott's confrontations with 1960s patriarchy will resonate with women who lived it, but how she gets by while staying true to herself will inspire women of all ages. Read it — and give copies to all your friends!”
— Ellen Klein • Hooray for Books!
Bookseller recommendation
“I loved this book so much that I read the hard cover and listened to the audio 2x!”
— Jane • Rediscovered Books
Bookseller recommendation
“I was furious at the abject injustices that rained down on Elizabeth Zott, an unconventional and brilliant chemist who bucks traditional behaviors expected of women in the 1960s. But after she was forced into a socially acceptable position, I cheered her irrepressible resilience as she turned that conventional role into a wildly successful beacon of independent thinking and action. ”
— Belinda • Quail Ridge Books
Bookseller recommendation
“I loved Elizabeth Zott! She's a quirky, dynamic, headstrong heroine who is, above all else, a brilliant chemist. She struggles to be taken seriously but refuses to bow to the expectations and societal norms for women in the sixties. The story is funny, profound, entertaining, brazenly feminist, and Elizabeth has the BEST dog ever, Six-Thirty! You don't want to miss this wonderful debut novel!”
— Polly • The Hickory Stick Bookshop
#1 GLOBAL BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 6 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.
BONNIE GARMUS is a copywriter and creative director who has worked widely in the fields of technology, medicine, and education. She’s an open-water swimmer, a rower, and mother to two pretty amazing daughters. Born in California and most recently from Seattle, she currently lives in London with her husband and her dog, 99.
BONNIE GARMUS is a copywriter and creative director who has worked widely in the fields of technology, medicine, and education. She’s an open-water swimmer, a rower, and mother to two pretty amazing daughters. Born in California and most recently from Seattle, she currently lives in London with her husband and her dog, 99.
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Reviews
GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Elle, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads, Bookpage, KirkusONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Bustle, Real Simple, Parade, CNN, Today, E! News, Library Journal
“In Garmus’s debut novel, a frustrated chemist finds herself at the helm of a cooking show that sparks a revolution. Welcome to the 1960s, where a woman’s arsenal of tools was often limited to the kitchen—and where Elizabeth Zott is hellbent on overturning the status quo one meal at a time.”
—The New York Times
"Strikingly relevant...Darkly funny and poignant...Lessons in Chemistry’s excellent experiment [is] quirky and heartwarming."
—The Atlantic
"The most delightful novel I read this year—fresh and surprising—was Lessons in Chemistry: a fish-out-of-water story about a feminist hero who never stops pushing for what’s right. (I laughed out loud!)"
—Philip Galanes, The New York Times
“Elizabeth Zott is going to be an important character to a lot of people . . . Absolute chemistry.”
—Scott Simon, NPR
"An irresistible buoyancy, along with a deliberately sharp bite. Garmus’s novel focuses on a female scientist whose ambitions are impeded—and then rerouted—by a world not yet ready for her."
—Frank Bruni, The New York Times
"[Garmus] delivers an assured voice, an indelible heroine and relatable love stories...At the center of the novel is Elizabeth Zott, a gifted research chemist, absurdly self-assured and immune to social convention...Elizabeth is a feminist and modern thinker […] in a world nowhere ready for her mind, character or ambition...[Garmus] charm[s]. She’s created an indelible assemblage of stubborn, idiosyncratic characters. She’s given us a comic novel at precisely the moment we crave one.”
—Washington Post
“Feminism is the catalyst that makes [Lessons in Chemistry] fizz like hydrochloric acid on limestone. Elizabeth Zott does not have ‘moxie’; she has courage. She is not a ‘girl boss’ or a ‘lady chemist’; she’s a groundbreaker and an expert in abiogenesis...To file Elizabeth Zott among the pink razors of the book world is to miss the sharpness of Garmus’s message. Lessons in Chemistry will make you wonder about all the real-life women born ahead of their time—women who were sidelined, ignored and worse because they weren’t as resourceful, determined and lucky as Elizabeth Zott. She’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how far we still have to go.”
—New York Times Book Review
“Between the outrageous sexism and the bitter misfortune that thwart our heroine at every turn, this may not sound like a comic novel, but it is. Full of charm, energy and hope—and featuring a really great dog—it’s one to savor.”
—People Magazine
"Darkly funny and poignant, Lessons in Chemistry paints an extraordinary portrait of an unusual life in 1960s California...Irresistible, a gorgeous tribute to resilience and the many types of love that sustain us."
—Oprah Daily
“A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way.”
—BuzzFeed
"It's the world versus Elizabeth Zott, an extraordinary woman determined to live on her own terms, and I had no trouble choosing a side. Lessons in Chemistry is a page-turning and highly satisfying tale: zippy, zesty, and Zotty."
—Maggie Shipstead, author of Great Circle
"Lessons in Chemistry is a breath of fresh air—a witty, propulsive, and refreshingly hopeful novel populated with singular characters. This book is an utter delight—wry, warm, and compulsively readable."
—Claire Lombardo, author of The Most Fun We Ever Had
"On par with Beth Harmon of The Queen’s Gambit, Elizabeth Zott swept me away with her intellect, honesty, and unapologetic selfhood. Lessons in Chemistry is a story for all the smart girls who refuse to dumb themselves down despite a culture that demands otherwise. Though a creation of the 50s & 60s, Zott is a feminist icon for our time."
—Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch
“A fun, feminist charmer, Bonnie Garmus’s novel Lessons in Chemistry follows singular single mother Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in a man’s world—1960s America—as she becomes an unlikely cooking-show host and the role model her daughter deserves.”
—Martha Stewart Living
“[A] delightful debut...Elizabeth Zott, Garmus’ unflappable heroine, is no cheerily lilting [Julia] Child...[Garmus] skillfully moves her narrative forward and backward, filling in the empty spaces in Elizabeth’s story. It’s a novel full of dark moments...and yet Lessons in Chemistry feels richly funny...Elizabeth Zott is a unique heroine, and you find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional: A lot of us—perhaps even Julia Child—might have enjoyed watching ‘Supper at Six.’”
—The Seattle Times
“Lessons in Chemistry catalyzes science, cooking, and humor…Elizabeth [Zott]—determined, practical, uncompromising—shines brightest.”
—Christian Science Monitor
“[Garmus] presents a rollicking feminist tale full of humor and hope even as she doesn’t shy away from life’s ugliness. Clever and sharp, Lessons in Chemistry has a winning formula.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Find this runaway hit where history meets humor. The book follows a chemist in the 1960s who doesn’t get the respect she deserves. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes the host of a famous cooking show. With her platform, she encourages viewers to push the boundaries the same way she did at work."
—Today.com
"A bold, smart, and often hilarious look at the value of so-called women's work."
—Real Simple
“Garmus tells a familiar story in a completely original voice in her delightful debut novel...Zott is an unforgettable protagonist, logical and literal and utterly herself...The novel deftly mixes comedy and tragedy, with only one very clear villain: the patriarchal culture of mid-20th century America, the days of which are numbered because of women like Zott...For those who admire a confident, bone-dry, and hilarious authorial voice, this novel achieves the difficult task of being both sharply satirical and heartwarming at the same time.”
—Historical Novels Review
“If you can imagine Julia Child channeling a little bit of Lucille Ball, and all of the science edginess of Madame Curie, then you’ll have a really good idea of the humor and the wit and the warmth that just shine through this entire novel.”
—Minnesota Public Radio News
"I loved it and am devastated to have finished it."
—Nigella Lawson, author of Cook, Eat, Repeat
“Garmus’ writing is extraordinary, and her insightful commentaries on life, religion, bigotry, misogyny and stupidity result in passages that are absolutely worth sharing...Be prepared to laugh, grieve, and root for Elizabeth."
—BookReporter
“[An] energetic debut...A more adorable plea for rationalism and gender equality would be hard to find.”
—Kirkus (starred review)
"Indefatigable and formidable, Elizabeth pushes the bounds of how women and their work are perceived in this thoroughly engaging debut novel."
—Booklist
"Like a woman-centric “Mad Men”...A witty and sharp dramedy about resilience and found families...Readers won’t be able to get enough of Elizabeth and her makeshift family. Lessons in Chemistry is a story to return to again and again.”
—BookPage
“While the novel focuses on serious themes of misogyny, feminism, family, and self-worth, it never gets didactic. The characters are rich and original, the story sarcastic and humorous, and the novel with all its twists and turns, difficult to put down. Zott is aloof and amazing, rational and revolutionary. Like Garmus, you may even find yourself channeling Elizabeth, asking ‘Now what would Elizabeth Zott do?’”
—LA Daily News
"A smart, funny, big-hearted debut combining chemical elements into what seems a winning formula—one whose breakneck pace and gently ironic tone should appeal to readers of literary-commercial hits by American authors such as Katherine Heiny, Emma Straub and Curtis Sittenfeld."
—Sunday Times (UK)
"Elizabeth Zott is the smart, fierce star of Garmus’s witty debut…Brilliant."
—Mail on Sunday (UK)
"The enchanting story of Elizabeth Zott never belittles the offence of sexism, but neither - miraculously - does it ever take you more than a few sentences away from a smile, a chuckle, or a laugh out loud. Bonnie Garmus’ gift is to expose the sting and injustice of being a woman in a man’s world with a feather light touch that keeps our spirits buoyant and our hearts strong. I honestly don’t know how she does it. This is a remarkable book by a remarkable writer."
—Jo Browning Roe, author of A Terrible Kindness
"A fabulous novel. Compelling, satisfying, a real page-turner."
—Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to Be Cheerful Expand reviews