Lessons in Chemistry

By: Bonnie Garmus

Narrated by: Miranda Raison

Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Includes an exclusive author interview with Pandora Sykes.

Your ability to change everything - including yourself - starts here.

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.

But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take 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.

Meet the unconventional, uncompromising Elizabeth Zott.

©2022 Bonnie Garmus (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Lessons in Chemistry is a vibrant and original story of hope and staying true to yourself. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant and brimming with life and generosity and courage." (Rachel Joyce) 

"A book that sparks joy with every page." (Elizabeth Day) 

Loved it!

Loved the narrator, she really bought the story to life. Beautifully written book, funny and entertaining.

Don’t hesitate - outstanding!

What a wonderful, thought provoking, enjoyable listen… I will buy this book to read again and have on my bookshelf. Beautifully crafted, brilliantly performed and now I can’t help but look at my beautiful dog and wonder what’s going through his mind. Loved it!

Splendid!

A brilliantly crafted, narrated book. I have not immersed myself in a book for a while so a complete treat.
The subject matter, it goes without saying was so relevant and needs to be explored over and over again

An absolute gem

What a beautifully-crafted and woven story - one I know will stay with me for a long time. Garmus is masterful. Loved the narration, too. Such a pleasure to listen to!

A fascinating read.

Such a novel, novel. Beautifully written and read. Very happy to listen to the interview with the author and learn it is being made into a mini- series.

Empowering!

Loved the narrators voice!
Very insightful to see firsthand life as a woman in the 50’s & 60’s navigating life, love, career & friendships. Very grateful for woman like Elizabeth Zolt pushing the boundaries, and I feel empowered by her character to take a moment for myself and ensure I’m also prioritising/looking after myself. Will be recommending to everyone xx

Wonderful listening experience

I really enjoyed the reader and the story both. I felt like Elisabeth Zott was a real, historical person come to live.

A book to remember

What a lovely book.

A story of an incredibly strong woman who against all odds pursues her dreams and the life she wants to live.

I think that even now in 2023 (damn it, time flies…) many women still at times feel that not all opportunities are opened to them. Simply because of their sex.
Well imagine living during times where having a career, being unmarried and smarter than all men combined was not considered an opportunity, but a massive no go.

Elizabeth Zoth, the protagonist of this wonderul book could not care less and instead of giving up, she decides to fight not only for her freedom and her career, but for all women out there who are tired of being codependent housewifes.

A wonderfully written feministic piece that trully has it all. Big love and even bigger recommendation.

I loved the books

And I am going to read it with my students. Inspired and inspiring. Thank you.

Enjoyed this book very much...

the narrator was great... spot on!
I miss 6:30 ... what a mind....
characters all very convincing... was wondering if this story is based on real events and people...
I'm looking forward to more books by this wonderful author.

I laughed and cried. A masterpiece.

I absolutely loved this book on so many levels. For sure it satisfied my feelings of injustice in our patriarchal society, it’s nailed to the mast for all to experience… but it’s a great tale too. Loveable characters and original plot. All round winner.

One of the best audio books!

Truly an amazing story. Very moving with great characters and an usual theme. Loved Six-thirty! I want to read more by this author but this is her first novel! Will definitely be subscribing to Apple TV to watch the series when it’s made!

Disappointing

After such glowing reviews, I thought this had to be good, but I found it tedious. It’s an interesting subject but what ought to feel significant felt lightweight and twee in places. The author can clearly write, but the main character did not engage me or feel believable. I got half-way and couldn’t face another 4 hours of listening, so abandoned it.

Brilliant - tell your friends

This book should be essential listening for all especially men 😀. It is set in the 50’s but the situations it covers haven’t really changed for lots of women or disadvantaged groups . A lot of the lines are laugh out loud hilarious but there are also shocking scenes . Also a surreal dog and precocious child which you just roll with even though a tad unbelievable . All in all a joyous experience . Save it for a long journey or gardening! ☀️👍

Had me at the first page.

An excellent book, that I just couldn’t stop listening to! Sad, funny, and tragic, you can’t help but love Elizabeth Zot, Mad, Harriet, Wakely, Dr Mason, Mr Pine and even Miss Frask, but Six-Thirty steals the book!
I defy you not to enjoy this wonderful story.

So well read by Miranda Raison, I need to find other books read by her!

Deserves every success

Absolutely loved everything about this. Original and engaging, totally enjoyable. Beautifully drawn characters, quotable lines, lovely language. Amazing for a debut, I wish there were more from Ms Garmus.
Don’t miss it.

Just didn’t feel believable

I just don’t understand all the rave reviews. I didn’t find the characters in this book believable and I think that’s why I didn’t really engage with the story. Nor did I find it funny. Too many horrendous things happened to our heroine, the impact of which was dealt with in a very superficial way.
I felt it wasn’t so much a feminist book as an anti-men book. The men were bad, or if they weren’t bad they were spineless.

Dull and clichéd story

If I say that the talking dog was the most appealing and believable character, you'll get a sense of how shallow the human characters were. This is too good Vs bad, female Vs male. No nuance whatsoever. Not comedic as sometimes billed, just rather bland.
The scenes with the talking dog were honestly the high spots!

Don't believe the hype

Good narration, and I wanted to like it after all the glowing reviews, but it laboured the point of Elizabeth's logic until it became tedious. The neatly wrapped up ending was dull too.

Total garbage

Rubbish story. I thought this would be interesting but it is absolutely rubbish. Don’t bother