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Lessons in Chemistry

By: Bonnie Garmus
Narrated by: Miranda Raison
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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. Forced to resign, she reluctantly signs on as the host of a cooking show, Supper at Six. But her revolutionary approach to cooking, fuelled by scientific and rational commentary, grabs the attention of a nation.

Soon, a legion of overlooked housewives find themselves daring to change the status quo. One molecule at a time.

©2022 Bonnie Garmus (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

‘Laugh-out-loud funny and brimming with life, generosity and courage’ RACHEL JOYCE

'A novel that sparks joy with every page' ELIZABETH DAY

'I loved Lessons in Chemistry and am devastated to have finished it!' NIGELLA LAWSON

What listeners say about Lessons in Chemistry

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Delightful book

From the first chapter I enjoyed this book and right through to the conclusion. I am glad there was an interview with the author at the end as I was so sad the book had finished. The story is a harsh reminder of life in the 1950"s for women and orphans (oh how far we have come!) . I grew to love all of the characters that surrounded Elizzabeth Zott and was compelled to know what happens to her every step. I don't want to spoil this book but to say if you pick it up it won't disappoint.

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11 people found this helpful

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A wonderful read

I enjoyed this book very much. Hooked from start to finish. Very well written, engaging story with wonderful characters.

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6 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good book but pushing an agenda

I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters of this book. However I hate when an author is blatantly and obviously pushing an agenda (whatever it may be) coated as a story/character. This one being anti religion. Like we get it you’re clearly an atheist, nobody cares, it wasn’t necessary for her to constantly be pushing this anti god narrative into the story. The character can be an atheist without having to preach it all the time. The plot was not religious so it wasn’t necessary and it just made the book into another propaganda machine. Really put a stain on the storyline.

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4 people found this helpful

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Brilliant read

This book is one of the best I have listened to for years. Inspiring. Heartbreaking. Infuriating and galvanising. Recommend highly.

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4 people found this helpful

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Brilliant!

Absolutely loved this book. Every woman and daughter should read. A triumph from a debut writer.

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4 people found this helpful

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Incredibly anti Catholic

Anti Catholic/Christian. Disappointed. A woke author after the $ and not the truth. Wasted my money.

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3 people found this helpful

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An exceptional book

Bonnie Garmus has written a book that has changed how I look at the world and it makes me want to be better. I would love to read more about Elizabeth Zott, her family, friends and the adorable 630. Thank you for this wonderful book. And the narrator, Miranda Raison brought the story to life - thank you for your interpretation. I am heading out to buy it for my daughter.

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3 people found this helpful

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OMG!!!A MUST Read!

The storyline grabbed me IMMEDIATELY! It was live at first sight. All the chemicals AND stars aligned. Elizabeth Zott is my kind of single-minded, determined and focused woman. The narration topped it! Fantastic.

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  • GLC
  • 23-01-2023

Absolutely loved!

This would not have been a book I'd normally choose, but it was recommended by a friend and I'm so glad she did. What a wonderfully written and performed story. I'm not surprised it is now in development as an Apple series. I'll be keenly wsiring on Bonnie Garmus's next book!

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wonderful book

A stunning portrayal of identity, society and love in all its complexity. Wonderful narration too.

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  • Web_mistress
  • 30-07-2022

Had to return, didn't manage even half of it

Nice description, great reviews but I totally missed what was funny. Coming from over 100 years of egalitarian culture, I found the treatment of female scientists, working women in general and smart young girls, as described in the book, disgusting and tragic. Background story took so long that I just got so bored with bullying and tragedies that could not take it any longer. Maybe it is funny later on, but I did not get there. Nothing bad about performance, but performance cannot save the story.

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  • Lia
  • 24-10-2023

Chemistry lessons and so much more!

Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. This story tackles some big issues of the early 1960s in a male dominated workforce - sexism, sexual abuse, and operating outside “the norm”. Two social outcasts meet and a strong bond develops between them. But they have to face the judgment and abuse of society.

I loved the characters in this book. They were well developed and full of unique personalities. This group of misfits captured my heart - an obsessed and brilliant scientist, an unwed mother, an unhappy housewife, a precocious child, a minister with an open mind, a struggling single dad, and an amazing dog.

Through everything, the story reminds us of the bonds we form and that we never know what someone is or has gone through. This book could have been such a downer, but thanks to the characters, it was full of humor and hope. This is a must-listen!

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Rowena Williams
  • 21-09-2023

Heartwarming and heartbreaking

Loved this book, it was both heart warming and heart breaking.
The characters were 3 dimensional and original.
Reading this book you realize how far society has come yet how we still have a way to go.
I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.
Also really good narration on the audiobook

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  • Anonymous User
  • 01-12-2022

Loved it!

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

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  • JLM
  • 12-11-2022

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!

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  • Catherine
  • 05-12-2023

Great story line

Really enjoyed this boo. A great story line, not predictable. Enjoyable, interesting and loved the intellectual character that’s admiring

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  • Susan Elisabeth Hursey
  • 01-12-2023

Brilliantly original

An extraordinary book that keeps you on your toes and challenges the values of its time as never before. Can’t wait for another book by Garmus

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  • Manu
  • 11-11-2023

Fresh, acid and entertaining

A fresh and entertaining reading. It’s been a while since I had such a good time with a novel. The characters are so well developed that you will fall in love with them, or at least with most of them. And the narrator does a very good job!

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  • Jessica trusler
  • 02-11-2023

A keeper! Great book!

One of the best books I have ever read and listened to -
I think everyone should read this - changed my life

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  • goki
  • 02-11-2023

Great story, great performance

I enjoyed every bit of it. The story was amazing and even inspiring to rethink our everyday life. As for the performance, it was quite nice to listen to it with good acting for each character. The narration was easy to listen to overall.

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  • Nicola
  • 21-04-2022

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.

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36 people found this helpful

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  • M. Knight
  • 15-07-2022

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.

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  • RogerD
  • 04-10-2022

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.

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  • Mark S
  • 13-04-2022

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!

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  • Allium
  • 10-04-2022

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! ☀️👍

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  • Shelley L
  • 24-07-2022

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!

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  • Maryam
  • 09-01-2023

No! Just no!

Could not finish it! Every chapter hurt my intelligence and brain so much I had to stop half way! Terrible, unbelievable, and boring portrayal of women and their professional life in 1950s. All of the stereotypes out there,
ALL OF THEM, put together as a story. This hurts feminism so much it's just wrong!

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  • Michelle
  • 11-05-2022

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!

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  • DIANE PEARCE
  • 09-05-2022

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.

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10 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Mrsratbag
  • 12-12-2022

Utterly lacking nuance

I’m afraid I couldn’t finish this book, the storyline is lacking any nuance whatsoever, it’s like being repeatedly hit over the head with a feminist hammer which it turns out that despite being a staunch feminist, I do not like.

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9 people found this helpful

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