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Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Bonnie Garmus (Author, Narrator), Miranda Raison (Narrator), Pandora Sykes (Narrator),
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 292,039 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
See all formats and editions

#1 GLOBAL BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 6 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.

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 55 minutes
  2. Author
    Bonnie Garmus
  3. Narrator
    Miranda Raison, see all
  4. Audible release date
    April 5, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B09BBK79VB
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 55 minutes
Author Bonnie Garmus
Narrator Bonnie Garmus, Miranda Raison, Pandora Sykes
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 05, 2022
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B09BBK79VB
Best Sellers Rank #122 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3 in Humorous Fiction & Satire
#4 in Humorous Fiction
#6 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
292,039 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story well told, with a good ending. They also appreciate the strength and determination of the characters. Readers describe the emotional tone as poignant and wry. They find the humor crisp, never derogatory, and amusing. They praise the female protagonists as great and smart. Customers also say the book presents important messages and serious issues. Opinions are mixed on the plot, with some finding it great and heartwarming, while others say it's frenetic and predictable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
HumorLiterary aspectsFemale protagonistsIntellectual qualityEmotional tonePerseveranceAuthenticityPlot
1,497 customers mention "Humor"1,451 positive46 negative

Customers find the humor in the book crisp, never derogatory, and amusing. They also describe it as engaging, thought-provoking, and delightful. Readers also appreciate the lovely prose.

"...engaging novel written with cutting wisdom and, at times, humor both startling and refreshing...." Read more

"...the lives if women in that period, however, it does it in a very entertaining and hopeful way!!!..." Read more

"...The writing is excellent and the book flows easily. It is funny and has a lot of poignant thoughts. It not your typical book with your typical plot...." Read more

"well written, and hugely entertaining...." Read more

1,226 customers mention "Literary aspects"1,116 positive110 negative

Customers find the book well-told, crisp, and easy to read. They also love the characters and the story line keeps them reading. Readers also mention that the book flows easily and has a good ending.

"...A remarkably engaging novel written with cutting wisdom and, at times, humor both startling and refreshing...." Read more

"...I laughed out loud, felt compassion for the characters, felt understood, and, grateful as I read this book...." Read more

"...The writing is excellent and the book flows easily. It is funny and has a lot of poignant thoughts. It not your typical book with your typical plot...." Read more

"well written, and hugely entertaining...." Read more

1,157 customers mention "Female protagonists"1,074 positive83 negative

Customers find the female protagonists believable and interesting. They also say the book is a credit to strong, smart women and what they can achieve. Readers also say it's important for all genders to read to remember women's worth.

"Historical fiction, gender studies and issues, unique parenting, indomitable sense of self..." Read more

"...I laughed out loud, felt compassion for the characters, felt understood, and, grateful as I read this book...." Read more

"What a lovely story about a gifted, intelligent, and beautiful woman trying to survive in a man’s world during a time when women had no rights...." Read more

"...Elizabeth’s character was very relatable and she was constantly rising up to the occasion." Read more

1,032 customers mention "Intellectual quality"1,024 positive8 negative

Customers find the book presents important messages that women still need to hear. They say it's a great reminder to challenge stereotypes, be who you are, and support. They also say it touches on many issues, and is practical applied science. Readers also mention the style is unique and well-developed.

"Historical fiction, gender studies and issues, unique parenting, indomitable sense of self..." Read more

"well written, and hugely entertaining. This book was an accurate description of what it would be like to be a very intelligent talented woman in the..." Read more

"What a lovely story about a gifted, intelligent, and beautiful woman trying to survive in a man’s world during a time when women had no rights...." Read more

"...Funny, thought provoking, well written, unusual construction making it even more engaging." Read more

999 customers mention "Emotional tone"893 positive106 negative

Customers find the emotional tone brilliant, poignant, and incredibly sad. They also enjoy the love story between Elizabeth and Calvin. Readers say the book resonates with them on many levels and is about truth, resilience, family, and science.

"...felt compassion for the characters, felt understood, and, grateful as I read this book. I’ll be looking for more from books from Bonnie Garmus." Read more

"...It is funny and has a lot of poignant thoughts. It not your typical book with your typical plot...." Read more

"What a lovely story about a gifted, intelligent, and beautiful woman trying to survive in a man’s world during a time when women had no rights...." Read more

"...It is super fun to read enjoyable relatable...." Read more

212 customers mention "Perseverance"203 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the author's perseverance. They mention that the book relives the many struggles of women back in the day in an entertaining and hopeful way.

"...in that period, however, it does it in a very entertaining and hopeful way!!!..." Read more

"...But I had to hand it to her, Ms. Zott was strong and formidable and intelligent...." Read more

"...Now that said, I have to say that this book is supremely engineered, and by that I mean, the author sets up one straw dog after another to knock down..." Read more

"...She was extremely steadfast in her ability and creativity and the way she spoke was so candid and commanded attention...." Read more

193 customers mention "Authenticity"146 positive47 negative

Customers find the book believable, honest, and refreshing. They also say it rings true for a woman raised in the 50s and 60s.

"I quite enjoyed this book. All the characters are well drawn and believable, and sadly, the behavior of the people of the 1950s and 60s is quite..." Read more

"A wonderful book, rings so true for a woman raised in the 50s and 60s. Reminder of how far we've come and still need to go...." Read more

"...favorite novels and having grown up in the 60s and 70s it also “rang” very true." Read more

"...The story is heavily fictionalized - it’s difficult to imagine how a lone feminist woman would even come about in a society fully entrenched in..." Read more

316 customers mention "Plot"216 positive100 negative

Customers are mixed about the plot. Some find the story great with a lot of heart and chemistry, and a page turner. They say the book draws them in and is full of twists and turns. However, others say the ending became frenetic and predictable, and the characters are not empathetic enough.

"...most likely will enjoy reading this tale of deep love, tragedy and redemption." Read more

"...I think this is a great story with a lot of heart and lots of chemistry." Read more

"...It will spark conversation. The ending became somewhat frenetic for me; some parts required a suspension of belief; overall the characters stood..." Read more

"It took a bit longer than expected, but the wait was worth it! The book is like new! Thank you." Read more

Chemical Reaction Retraction
4 Stars
Chemical Reaction Retraction
Much has been said about Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry. So when my sister chose it for our book club, I was curious, albeit cautiously.Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant and beautiful chemist in mid-century California. She seems to have everything going for her, but "seems" is the operative word. Because the men she works with are awful. What's more, Elizabeth isn't like other women, or even people. Unflinchingly driven and uncompromising, she refuses to perform for anyone, to smile on demand or at all. She tells the truth, even when it's ugly -- and it often is --making her seem uncooperative, unlikeable, and cold to everyone but Nobel Prize-nominated fellow odd duck Calvin Evans. Yet at her core, Elizabeth is purely kind. Despite having suffered loss, violence, and the most egregious sexual discrimination imaginable, she believes that everyone deserves to be treated fairly. And it is this humanity that she brings to her cooking show, Supper at Six.Now, if you're wondering how a no-nonsense chemist became a TV star, then I'm right there with you. Suffice it to say that unjust events in Elizabeth's life resulted in this most unlikely of developments. And although she's less than thrilled to be working with bowls instead of beakers, she makes the show her own, taking every opportunity to educate her female audience about not just cooking but chemistry and, ultimately, change. Subversive and surprisingly entertaining, Supper at Six is a syndicated smash. To me, this is where Elizabeth blossoms, her paradoxically off-putting personality, passion for science and food, and insatiable hunger for justice commingling to enable her to connect with other women. It's exciting and inspiring and all of the things. But this is still Lessons in Chemistry, not an uplifting romp about a reluctant but charismatic performer. Because as I said in the beginning, Elizabeth Zott does not perform.There's trouble brewing at the TV station, just as there was at the lab, only worse. So some things happen, and then some more things, culminating in an ending that feels like a drop off a cliff. And although I can see how it would be satisfying for most, to me it's anticlimactic. Still, this isn't my story; it's Elizabeth Zott's. She's a scientist first and in the end, she gets what she wants and needs.Maybe understanding -- and respecting -- that is a lesson that this very unscientific but very feminist reader needed to learn.
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Top reviews from the United States

Dannan Tavona
5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing tale
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2024
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Historical fiction, gender studies and issues, unique parenting, indomitable sense of self

A remarkably engaging novel written with cutting wisdom and, at times, humor both startling and refreshing. It was satisfying that at the end, both Elizabeth and Mad found they had a forged friendships and family worthy of their honesty and insight. And they had the fortune to have one amazing dog! I wish there really had been such a television show back then. We needed it then, and could use it now.

A female chemist who was not Marie Curie? Try Rosalind Franklin.

Perfectly edited. Thoroughly enjoyed. Recommended.
5 people found this helpful
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Anne S.
5.0 out of 5 stars best book I’ve read in a very long time!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024
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As a woman who has a talent fir math and logic who grew up in the fifties and sixties I can assure the reader that most of this story accurately describes the lives if women in that period, however, it does it in a very entertaining and hopeful way!!! I laughed out loud, felt compassion for the characters, felt understood, and, grateful as I read this book. I’ll be looking for more from books from Bonnie Garmus.
11 people found this helpful
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IMAuD
4.0 out of 5 stars A Joy to read
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
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Lessons in Chemistry is a move about a smart woman in the 50s who refused to be put in her place as a wife a mother only. She had a great ability for chemistry and wanted to use that ability but was fighting in a man’s world. She was born 50 years too early.

The writing is excellent and the book flows easily. It is funny and has a lot of poignant thoughts. It not your typical book with your typical plot. The use of the “f-word” was used a little more prolifically than needed. I liked the book but was not blown away by the book hence the 4 stars.
3 people found this helpful
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PNJay
5.0 out of 5 stars couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
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well written, and hugely entertaining. This book was an accurate description of what it would be like to be a very intelligent talented woman in the 50s and 60s in America. I read it at my daughter’s recommendation. she said that she had no idea what it had been like for her grandmother and me living and growing up in those times as a female. And this book really opened her eyes to that and the disempowering male attitudes of those times. I highly recommend it.
3 people found this helpful
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A. Fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
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What a lovely story about a gifted, intelligent, and beautiful woman trying to survive in a man’s world during a time when women had no rights. Elizabeth, a chemist, meets the love of her life at Hastings University where he (Calvin) is also a chemist. It wasn’t love at first sight, but one that grew out of mutual respect and friendship. Ms. Garmus weaves in intricate tale of love, loss, unfortunate circumstances, betrayals, revenge, and family. A wonderful read that I would highly recommend!
2 people found this helpful
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Mrs. Cynthia C. Roelofs
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024
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This book is brand new, came before expected. What more could a customer ask? I was looking for my next Book Club recommendation, don’t think it might be a great choice for this group, but I have loved it. Funny, thought provoking, well written, unusual construction making it even more engaging.
2 people found this helpful
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Sydni Ward
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Summer Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2024
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So I’ve seen this book float around for the last few years and have never really taken an interest in reading it. Historical fiction is my favorite genre but something about this just never captivated my attention. I recently joined a bookclub and this was the book of the month. I had about two days to read it and completed it in less than 24 hours. I can see the hype around this book. It is super fun to read enjoyable relatable. As a mother of three kids, myself And someone who is constantly pursuing education, I can see the power that is captivated in Elizabeth’s character. She constantly advocated for herself and knew that despite society had claimed for her. I love that throughout the entire book from the very beginning she had a village, which is what motherhood is truly about. It is what being a woman is about you have your people and those people role with you through the good times and the bad times. They are constantly pushing you to be the best version of yourself and they’re constantly challenging you to reflect on the parts of yourself that could change and be better. Elizabeth’s character was very relatable and she was constantly rising up to the occasion.
One person found this helpful
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chancytejana
5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons in Life
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024
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I read this so long ago that if Amazon hadn't marked it read, I would not have checked it out. Evidently things have not changed as much as I thought from one female parent/child household in the 1950's to now, as I see Elizabeth and Mad would most likely be isolated and labelled autistic. No one bothered to determine whether or not she was or had been married to determine any rights or care necessary for the two, but now there would be great concern for father parental rights which would be a large social prybar into their business, allowing the bullying to begin, after all, it sounds much more progressive than gossip, nosiness, and social climbing or jealousy.

However, armor society fears most: drop dead beauty powered by nuclear level intelligence which link seamlessly and feed each other symbiotically will frustrate and confuse most such social efforts and will allow the growth of a different and richer fact pattern which will save their world or destroy it. I'm opting for the positive outcome myself. I met some people like this mother and child once,and while the daughter thought (wrongly) she could save the world when she grew up, the mother thought she could save her child. She was right and every day I thank her for it, bcs that is all one can do, really, and it is hard enough that very very few women besides Elizabeth and Dee will succeed. Bonnie is right and her beautiful words do work. Enjoy them, as she would be first to say they are just good practical applied science. Oh yes. And love. Read. Maybe , just maybe we can help them save the world!! Wouldn't it be fun? Www
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Julia I.
5.0 out of 5 stars Hermoso
Reviewed in Mexico on April 7, 2024
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Lo ame mucho!!! Facil de leer, senti cerca a las personajes; me hizo reír y llorar 🥲
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Julia I.
5.0 out of 5 stars Hermoso
Reviewed in Mexico on April 7, 2024
Lo ame mucho!!! Facil de leer, senti cerca a las personajes; me hizo reír y llorar 🥲
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Rainner Teixeira
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in Brazil on February 17, 2024
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There is long time that I’ve read something so impactful, interesting and profound. A book that took my attention since the first chapter and make me feel inspired by stories full of encrypted messages and important debates.
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Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars Fully deserving of its accolades
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2023
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I loved this story. I have a hard time understanding some of the criticism in the other reviews.

The prose flows easily. The dialogue has been crafted carefully to match the idiosyncrasies of each character. Their flaws, humanity, and humour come out so effortlessly - I was truly impressed.

I never believe reviews that claim a book is funny - I’ve never found them to be true. This novel is an exception, however. There are truly humorous exchanges that made me chuckle out loud (poor Walter trying to reason with Elizabeth - I could just picture the flustered, red-faced, exasperated man), as well as some EQ flaws from the most intelligent characters that are amusingly laid bare for the reader.

Despite the A+ stylistic marks, the content, plot development, and character growth are what really stick with you. It’s easy to forget in 2023 that, a mere few decades ago, women were subjected to abhorrent behaviours that were accepted as “the way things are,” with no credible recourse to justice. I love that our protagonist builds resilience throughout the story, and demonstrates gumption that so many women didn’t have the courage or opportunity to demonstrate in their day.

Let’s not forget that there are many Elizabeth Zott’s to this day still - women who get shunned, discredited, disrespected, or simply not taken seriously in their fields on a daily basis. Women who have to work much harder than men to prove themselves and “make it.” Women who are brilliant but, due to traditional family roles, had to make hard choices - the world isn’t kind to a mother who prioritizes career over housekeeping/childrearing. This book is an ode to women who have succeeded despite and in spite of.

I will be recommending this book to all my girlfriends. And I encourage you to read it - you will finish it with a renewed sense of purpose and drive, and a smile on your face.
9 people found this helpful
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Mrs Mac
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a joy. No understanding of chemistry needed!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2024
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What to say about this book, apart from it being in my Top 3 so far this year? It has one of the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. The writing is quirky, zingy, chippy and sharp. I have just finished it but feel like I want to read it again, now, straight away, because there were the bits I missed whilst desperately reading to find a happy ending, the bits I could perhaps understand better and the bits that were just a sheer joy to read. It made me laugh aloud at times. The lives of women in America in the 1950/60s are depressing, saddening and quite unbelievable in places, but their lives were replicated elsewhere in the world at the time AND continue to be replicated around the world now, today. The way men treat women…well, we don’t have to look far to see it every day in certain cultures and sections of society. Anything that champions everybody’s right to speak freely and be who they are is very ok in my book. You don’t need to understand chemistry to read this book, you just need to appreciate people and their experiences. All the characters leap out of every page. They are fully formed, articulate, you have a clear picture of who they are and what they look like. And, if you don’t quite believe them, then stop, believe and go with the flow. I’d give this book 10 stars if I could. It has blown me away. I have read several 1 star reviews and feel sad that those reviewers have clearly missed the point. It’s a love story, a story about family and how we create our own, a story about personal belief, personal achievement and a story about respect - for oneself, for each other, for different viewpoints and different lives. It’s a triumphant debut.
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Martina K
5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Buch, das man nicht weglegen kann
Reviewed in Germany on June 25, 2024
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Dieses Buch hat mich gleich ab der ersten Seite mitgenommen . Eines der besten Bücher für mich. Es ist sehr unterhaltsam, humorvoll, traurig und erfrischend sarkastisch zur Rolle der Frau in den 50er und 60er Jahren. Top!
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