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Summary: Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel
*Print version available!
Explore the essence of the No. 1 Global bestseller, Lessons in A Novel, through this comprehensive summary created to aid readers in their understanding and experience, with insightful additions and page references to the original. This little book highlights the best of this combustive novel in brevity!
In the narrow-minded 1960s, Elizabeth Zott is a sharp-witted and deeply undervalued chemist among her male colleagues. After being unfairly fired, she hesitantly becomes the host of a cooking show targeted at the average housewife, Supper at Six. Only she doesn’t set out to pleasantly smile and make cocktails, but rather to introduce her female audience to the world of science and chemistry.
Her journey starts when she meets her chemical and romantic match, Calvin Evans. Together they navigate the rocky terrain of scientific research, relationships, cumbersome coworkers, and rowing until their love story is prematurely cut short, and Elizabeth and their intelligent dog, Six-thirty, are left to pick up the pieces.
However, there are things that even the brilliant Elizabeth doesn’t know about her significant other, as secrets and mysteries start to unravel from his haunted past. Unbeknownst to her, another surprise that he had left for her is just on the way.
Suddenly, she’s fired from the only field of work she’d ever prided herself in and left at an impasse. Until she meets Walter, an anxious producer with an impending deadline to find a TV star, which he does—in Elizabeth. Her show, Supper at Six, captivates America with science-based nutritional meals and strict chemistry lessons but also infuriates the close-minded populace and the show’s executive producer.
Having dealt with being spoken over and unrecognized her entire life, especially in her groundbreaking chemical research, she has always prevailed in the face of adversity. But this time, it’ll take more than sheer will and self-determination to overcome her severe depression.
With the help of her unlikely found family consisting of Walter, her neighbor, a coxswain, her literate dog, and a minister, she must find the strength to start each day anew and prove, with scientific precision, that all who’ve doubted her are wrong.
Will she make it out in one piece?
Lessons in A Novel is a riveting tale of female empowerment and brevity – perfect for all audiences.
This is an unofficial, third-party summary of Lessons in A Novel. It has been independently created and is free of plagiarism. Please note that it is NOT the original book. It is by no means meant to be a replacement for Bonnie Garmus' work. Any readers are sincerely urged to support the creator, Bonnie Garmus, by reading the original book for the full experience..
Explore the essence of the No. 1 Global bestseller, Lessons in A Novel, through this comprehensive summary created to aid readers in their understanding and experience, with insightful additions and page references to the original. This little book highlights the best of this combustive novel in brevity!
In the narrow-minded 1960s, Elizabeth Zott is a sharp-witted and deeply undervalued chemist among her male colleagues. After being unfairly fired, she hesitantly becomes the host of a cooking show targeted at the average housewife, Supper at Six. Only she doesn’t set out to pleasantly smile and make cocktails, but rather to introduce her female audience to the world of science and chemistry.
Her journey starts when she meets her chemical and romantic match, Calvin Evans. Together they navigate the rocky terrain of scientific research, relationships, cumbersome coworkers, and rowing until their love story is prematurely cut short, and Elizabeth and their intelligent dog, Six-thirty, are left to pick up the pieces.
However, there are things that even the brilliant Elizabeth doesn’t know about her significant other, as secrets and mysteries start to unravel from his haunted past. Unbeknownst to her, another surprise that he had left for her is just on the way.
Suddenly, she’s fired from the only field of work she’d ever prided herself in and left at an impasse. Until she meets Walter, an anxious producer with an impending deadline to find a TV star, which he does—in Elizabeth. Her show, Supper at Six, captivates America with science-based nutritional meals and strict chemistry lessons but also infuriates the close-minded populace and the show’s executive producer.
Having dealt with being spoken over and unrecognized her entire life, especially in her groundbreaking chemical research, she has always prevailed in the face of adversity. But this time, it’ll take more than sheer will and self-determination to overcome her severe depression.
With the help of her unlikely found family consisting of Walter, her neighbor, a coxswain, her literate dog, and a minister, she must find the strength to start each day anew and prove, with scientific precision, that all who’ve doubted her are wrong.
Will she make it out in one piece?
Lessons in A Novel is a riveting tale of female empowerment and brevity – perfect for all audiences.
This is an unofficial, third-party summary of Lessons in A Novel. It has been independently created and is free of plagiarism. Please note that it is NOT the original book. It is by no means meant to be a replacement for Bonnie Garmus' work. Any readers are sincerely urged to support the creator, Bonnie Garmus, by reading the original book for the full experience..
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2023
52 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 2, 2025
I absolutely loved it!
There's always those books for me that have such an interesting character and Elizabeth Zott is definitely a strong willed character. Though I'm used to reading like fantasy and love when the fl have a strong warrior like persona, it's nicer seeing these types of strong willed fierce personalities in real life settings because I know it is possible to be like them.
Elizabeth Zott is a chemist and strongly believes in that, she doesn't let any men, who at the time were more patronising, get in her way.
It has a wonderful mix of seriousness where she talks about the real life experience of women at the time of rape and abuse but also has a lot of humour.
I love Elizabeth and Walters friendship,it's really cute and hilarious.
Should you read it? Yes!
There's always those books for me that have such an interesting character and Elizabeth Zott is definitely a strong willed character. Though I'm used to reading like fantasy and love when the fl have a strong warrior like persona, it's nicer seeing these types of strong willed fierce personalities in real life settings because I know it is possible to be like them.
Elizabeth Zott is a chemist and strongly believes in that, she doesn't let any men, who at the time were more patronising, get in her way.
It has a wonderful mix of seriousness where she talks about the real life experience of women at the time of rape and abuse but also has a lot of humour.
I love Elizabeth and Walters friendship,it's really cute and hilarious.
Should you read it? Yes!
Read
October 16, 2023[Audio, 2 hrs] A solid summary though I haven’t read the actual book. The author is coming to town and my mother just finished the book. We’re hoping to see her. I didn’t particularly want to dedicate the time to read the whole book but it’s very popular right now and I think seeing the author would be cool.
February 9, 2025
So cute! About woman empowerment but overall easy read.
April 29, 2025
Set in 1961, 'Lessons in Chemistry' is primarily concerned with Elizabeth Gott, her partner Calvin Evans and their rescue dog named Six-Thirty. Gott and Evens work at the Hastings Research Institute.
Both of them are quite brilliant and their relationship is a meeting of minds and a fusion of desires. The competitiveness of racing row boats consumes them and Six-Thirty becomes the focus of their unusual little family.
Evans is on track for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry but Gott has been consigned to being a lowly lab assistant due to a series of unfortunate events. Gott has had to deal with male chauvinists, rapists and misogynists, so her rise has largely stymied until she stars in 'Dinner at Six' a TV show in which she can fuse cooking with her astonishing chemistry skills.
Shifting points of view provide Six-Thirty with a chance to present a dog's POV. This is more interesting than it sounds as Elizabeth teaches him many words and expressions. Being precociously brilliant he always knows what is going down. Six-thirty is also a tad on the cynical side with an excellent sense of humour.
I really enjoyed 'Lessons in Chemistry'. The characters are well rounded and engaging and the reader gets to understand their strengths and failings. This applies also to the minor characters who are revealed in all their strengths and weaknesses.
I'm not crazy about the leap between the characters point of view as it tended to hold up the story. At the same time however Bonnie Garmus puts aside all nostalgia for the sixties era and gives us a taste of what it must have been like for women in the 50's -60's.
'Lessons in Chemistry' was made into a successful TV mini series in 2023.
December 29, 2023
I read Lessons in Chemistry a while ago in a book group and simply loved the book. So did everyone else in my book group. There is just something about the story. The struggles of a woman in a male dominated society. A dog that can talk to the reader and who provides excellent child care. It is essentially a love story that develops between two unlikely people, socially awkward people—I actually thought that Elizabeth Zott was on the autistic spectrum when I read the novel—and the jealousy and antics that ensue.
This Summary is not the novel. It is, instead, a well written narrative, shorter in length that summarizes the main events of the novel. It also analyzes some of the key happenings and helps clear up any confusion. It reads quickly. It can be helpful if you want to know more about what the story is about before embarking on the novel. It can be helpful if you want to refresh your memory about the major plot points because it was a while since you read the book. Perhaps, you just want to be conversant about the book without having read it.
This kind of summary reminds me of the old-fashioned Cliff Notes, but a more fleshed out version. The authors do a bang-up job. They leave nothing to chance. They capture every plot point and nuance. You leave with a genuine feel for the book and an understanding why the book was so popular and a best seller.
If that is the experience that you want, this book will give it to you. 5 stars.
This Summary is not the novel. It is, instead, a well written narrative, shorter in length that summarizes the main events of the novel. It also analyzes some of the key happenings and helps clear up any confusion. It reads quickly. It can be helpful if you want to know more about what the story is about before embarking on the novel. It can be helpful if you want to refresh your memory about the major plot points because it was a while since you read the book. Perhaps, you just want to be conversant about the book without having read it.
This kind of summary reminds me of the old-fashioned Cliff Notes, but a more fleshed out version. The authors do a bang-up job. They leave nothing to chance. They capture every plot point and nuance. You leave with a genuine feel for the book and an understanding why the book was so popular and a best seller.
If that is the experience that you want, this book will give it to you. 5 stars.
July 1, 2023
First time reading this format
This is what I love of discovering different books or genres, this is certainly a new world for me. Is an awesome summary as you can see one of the ones with better ratings and not disappointing. Interesting, clear, I certainly got engaged with the story. It happens to me that the book stars fast but soon the pace become slow, not this one you are running without notice between this pages.
This is what I love of discovering different books or genres, this is certainly a new world for me. Is an awesome summary as you can see one of the ones with better ratings and not disappointing. Interesting, clear, I certainly got engaged with the story. It happens to me that the book stars fast but soon the pace become slow, not this one you are running without notice between this pages.
May 17, 2023
Extremely skilled writer
Alright, I have read the original novel by Bonnie Garmus, and I must admit that this is the best summary of a book I have read so far... Alice writing skills are exceptional for this matter. I am curious of her originals, but I am not sure where to find them
Alright, I have read the original novel by Bonnie Garmus, and I must admit that this is the best summary of a book I have read so far... Alice writing skills are exceptional for this matter. I am curious of her originals, but I am not sure where to find them
April 6, 2024
To the point
This summary is to the point, which I enjoyed. I understood the plot, felt connected to the characters, and don’t think I missed a thing. I felt badly for Elizabeth and frequently appreciated I wasn’t alive during that time period. However, through it all, Elizabeth never gave up and showed resilience to her child.
This summary is to the point, which I enjoyed. I understood the plot, felt connected to the characters, and don’t think I missed a thing. I felt badly for Elizabeth and frequently appreciated I wasn’t alive during that time period. However, through it all, Elizabeth never gave up and showed resilience to her child.
May 20, 2023
Interesting
I'm intrigued. I've never read a "summary" of another novel. It engaged me enough to make me want to read the original, and that is saying something because I don't usually read sad stories. It was well researched and organized. I'm curious.
I'm intrigued. I've never read a "summary" of another novel. It engaged me enough to make me want to read the original, and that is saying something because I don't usually read sad stories. It was well researched and organized. I'm curious.
May 17, 2023
Interesting Idea
And interesting idea to summarize a more well known work. It is thorough enough that one can easily decide if they want to read the original book or not.
And interesting idea to summarize a more well known work. It is thorough enough that one can easily decide if they want to read the original book or not.
June 18, 2023
excellent
Resourceful and comprehensive, this was a helpful book. Chemistry has had mystery time before I read this and now things have had clarity on it. Needed.
Resourceful and comprehensive, this was a helpful book. Chemistry has had mystery time before I read this and now things have had clarity on it. Needed.
January 25, 2024
very good book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews