Lessons in Chemistry

by Bonnie Garmus · 2022

In 1960s California, brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott refuses to be reduced to the era’s narrow expectations. When her all‑male research team at Hastings Institute dismisses her talent, a chance encounter with the equally brilliant but socially awkward Calvin Evans sparks a partnership that defies both science and society. After a personal tragedy forces her out of the lab, Elizabeth becomes the unexpected host of the beloved TV cooking show "Supper at Six." With each episode she blends recipes and rigor, teaching her audience—especially women—to question the status quo, one molecule at a time. Witty, heartfelt, and fiercely feminist, this novel follows Elizabeth’s journey from laboratory to living room, showing how curiosity, courage, and a dash of humor can rewrite the rules of both chemistry and life.