Lessons in Chemistry cover art

Lessons in Chemistry

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Lessons in Chemistry

By: Bonnie Garmus
Narrated by: Miranda Raison
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

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 Absurdist Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Romantic Comedy Biography Comedy Heartfelt

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

Brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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.

An exceptional book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A wonderful story of a strong woman in a time that was not ready for someone with beauty and brains.

Interesting, riveting, strong

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A reminder of the struggles of our mothers and grandmothers. Tightly written, whimsical at times and beautifully narrated.

Quirky, engaging characters

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book reminds you of how bad things for women and why things had to change, both for men and women. I was a child watching my female relatives fight the system at that time and then myself in the 80’s trying to be an engineer. It made my angry, sad and happy. Great book.

Why feminism?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I will be re-listening to this soon. There is so much in it - humour, sorrow, frustration, anger, love... I couldn't stop listening.

Fantastic! I loved everything about it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I heard about this on the ABC Bookclub page that I follow on Facebook and the comments were enough to tempt me. So glad that I gave into temptation.
Made me laugh and gasp. Dealt with serious issues like embedded misogyny and explored Science vs Religion, but not with a sledge hammer. Balanced and engaging.
Loved the use of multiple voices.
Elements of the plot were deliberately contrived but deliciously so.
Not surprised to hear in the author’s interview at the end that it’s already been translated into over thirty languages.
One of my favourite reads of the year. Up there with Sarah Winman’s Still Life

What An Unexpected Gem

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Elizabeth Zott is unapologetically intelligent, driven and confident. Not fashionable attributes for the 60s. Her experiences and achievements endear the reader. Again, a book that empowers the reader to think and learn. My favourite type.

The glass ceiling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Interesting, engaging, fascinating story beautifully written. The characters are believable and brought to life cleverly. The story captures the frustrations, indignities and unfair treatment of women at that time. A fantastic story that captured my interest early and kept it to the last page. I eagerly await a new story from this author.

Fabulous read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Totally drawn along right to the end. Enjoyed the wisdom and the peek back in time to the struggle for women

Delightfully engaging

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.