Books Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Author)

"Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant and determined chemist navigating the male-dominated world of 1960s Southern California. After being sexually assaulted and expelled from her doctoral program, Elizabeth takes a position as a lab technician at the Hastings Research Institute, where she meets fellow scientist Calvin Evans. They develop a close relationship, but after Calvin dies suddenly in an accident, Elizabeth faces discrimination at work due to her pregnancy and is ultimately fired.

Refusing to give up, Elizabeth transforms her kitchen into a lab where she continues her research into abiogenesis—the origins of life—while raising her daughter, Madeline. She is eventually offered a surprising role as the host of a cooking show, which she uses as a platform to empower women and share her scientific knowledge with a wider audience. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth confronts sexism, plagiarism, and workplace politics, while building a supportive community around her.