Based on your book
by Bonnie Garmus
#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.
10 recommendations
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Like Elizabeth Zott, Evelyn Hugo is a formidable woman navigating a male-dominated industry in the mid-20th century. Both books feature a sharp, witty narrative voice and explore the sacrifices women make to achieve professional success and personal autonomy.
Fans who loved the perspective of Six-Thirty the dog will appreciate the charming and observant voice of Marcellus the octopus. This novel shares a similar heartwarming yet poignant tone, focusing on found family and the unexpected connections that help people heal.
This non-fiction account provides the real-life historical context for women like Elizabeth Zott who fought systemic sexism and racism in STEM. It captures the same intellectual rigor and inspiring resilience found in Lessons in Chemistry.
by Jojo Moyes
Set in the Depression era, this story follows a group of women who defy social norms to bring books to rural communities. It mirrors the themes of female sisterhood, the pursuit of knowledge, and the fight against small-minded prejudice.
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Eleanor shares Elizabeth Zott’s literal-mindedness and social awkwardness, viewing the world through a unique, often humorous lens. Both characters undergo significant personal growth as they learn to navigate past trauma and open up to others.
This novel explores a decades-long creative and professional partnership, echoing the intellectual chemistry between Elizabeth and Calvin. It delves deeply into the complexities of work, love, and the pursuit of excellence in a specialized field.
by Hope Jahren
A memoir by a geobiologist that reads with the same passion for science and discovery as Garmus’s fiction. It provides a raw and honest look at the challenges of being a woman in the laboratory and the beauty of the natural world.
by Kate Quinn
Featuring dual timelines and fierce female protagonists, this book highlights women’s contributions to history that are often overlooked. It matches the high-stakes tension and the theme of women reclaiming their narratives against all odds.
While set in mythology, Circe is a character very much like Elizabeth Zott: a woman who uses her technical expertise (witchcraft) to assert her independence in a world ruled by men. It is a beautifully written story of self-discovery and defiance.
by Delia Owens
The protagonist, Kya, is a self-taught naturalist who survives on the fringes of society, much like Elizabeth Zott exists on the fringes of the scientific establishment. Both books celebrate the intersection of science, nature, and female independence.
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