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‘I got mad and started this book’: 21 Questions with Bonnie Garmus￼

Image of Bonnie Garmus next to a cover of her book Lessons in Chemistry

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Bonnie Garmus interview: ‘I had to teach myself chemistry from a 1950s textbook’

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Bonnie Garmus

Witty, sometimes hilarious, angry, and often surreal. It's the CATCH-22 of early feminism.

A beautiful, sharp, funny and dark modern classic. Sparkling with charm, heart and wonderfully wicked wit. I adored it

THE FUNNY AND INSPIRING, MULTI-AWARD-WINNING BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD, now a major Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson 
 
A Book of the Year for: Guardian, Times, Sunday Times, New York Times, Good House Keeping, Woman & Home, Stylist, TLS Oprah Daily, Newsweek, Mail on Sunday, NPR, India Knight, Hay Festival, Waterstones, Amazon, Books Are My Bag, and many more! 
 
'The most charming, life-enhancing novel’ Sunday Times 
'Funny, thought-provoking and stylish' Guardian 
‘The best book I've read recently. I loved it’ - SARA COX, BBC 2 Between the Covers 
‘Everyone needs to read this’ 5-star reader review 
___________ 
 
A woman ahead of her time. 
But exactly right for ours 
 
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, she 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. Except for one: Calvin Evans, the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-Prize-nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with - of all things - her mind. 
 
Like science, life is unpredictable. Forced to leave her job at the institute, Elizabeth Zott soon finds herself 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. One molecule at a time. 
__________ 
 
A New York Times ‘Top 100 Best Books of the 21st Century’ Reader's Pick 
 
Author of the Year at the British Book Awards 
Author of the Year, Waterstones 
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel Award 
Winner of the Books are My Bag Reader's Choice Award 
Winner of the Books are My Bag Breakthrough Author Award 
Shortlisted for the HWA Crown Award 
 
PRAISE FOR LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY: 
 
'Laugh-out-loud funny and brimming with life, generosity and courage' Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of The Homemade God 
 
‘Full of humour, heartbreak and characters who feel like real people’ Red Magazine 
 
‘Page-turning and highly satisfying’ – Maggie Shipstead, bestselling author of Great Circle 
 
'I loved Lessons in Chemistry and am devastated to have finished it!' Nigella Lawson 
 
'A novel that sparks joy with every page' Elizabeth Day, bestselling author of Magpie 
 
'Witty and sometimes hilarious ... the Catch-22 of early feminism' Stephen King 
 
‘A beautiful, sharp, funny and dark modern classic. I adored it' Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of All the Colours of the Dark 
 
‘The best book that I have read this year – a funny, warm, unique book’ 5-star reader review 
 
‘Witty, poignant, clever, brilliantly plotted…believe the hype’ 5-star reader review 
 
‘Funny, honest and heart-wrenching this book had me hooked until the end.’ 5-star reader review 
 
 
Lessons in Chemistry has sold over 8 million copies worldwide across all formats, People, January 2025 
 
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Bonnie Garmus

Praise for Lessons in Chemistry

Witty, sometimes hilarious, angry, and often surreal. It's the CATCH-22 of early feminism.

A beautiful, sharp, funny and dark modern classic. Sparkling with charm, heart and wonderfully wicked wit. I adored it

Articles featuring Bonnie Garmus

Complex heroines you can’t help but root for

The best books about friendships

The best Penguin Podcast episodes for aspiring writers

‘I got mad and started this book’: 21 Questions with Bonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus interview: ‘I had to teach myself chemistry from a 1950s textbook’

The best debut fiction to read this spring

Books that feel like a warm hug

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Praise for Lessons in Chemistry

Witty, sometimes hilarious, angry, and often surreal. It's the CATCH-22 of early feminism.

A beautiful, sharp, funny and dark modern classic. Sparkling with charm, heart and wonderfully wicked wit. I adored it

Articles featuring Bonnie Garmus

Complex heroines you can’t help but root for

The best books about friendships

The best Penguin Podcast episodes for aspiring writers

‘I got mad and started this book’: 21 Questions with Bonnie Garmus￼

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter

‘I got mad and started this book’: 21 Questions with Bonnie Garmus