19 Books to Read if You Loved Lessons in Chemistry

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist and fierce feminist. 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.

But life, like science, is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America's most beloved cooking show. Elizabeth's unusual approach to cooking 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 challenge the status quo.

Lessons in Chemistry, the bestselling novel by Bonnie Garmus provides the basis for the new series Apple+ series starring Brie Larson. It's a great read! If you're looking for more like that, we've got recommendations for you.

What to read next

Here are twelve witty, heartfelt novels infused with themes of female independence, healing from heartbreak, and finding love when you least expect it.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Like Elizabeth Zott's dog, 6:30, a keenly intelligent nonhuman animal is at the center of this moving novel. Here, it happens to be a giant Pacific octopus. When Marcellus forms a bond with a widow who works the night shift at the aquarium where he lives, he solves the decades-old mystery of her missing son.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Friends and collaborators Sam and Sadie haven't even graduated college when they create their first blockbuster video game. But even their staggering success won't protect them from loss and betrayal. Like Elizabeth, the brilliant Sadie struggles with being underestimated and discounted by her male counterparts.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Biologist Olive Smith doesn't believe in the possibility of lasting love. But after staging a fake relationship with a colleague to satisfy her best friend, she is surprised to find that it is her own heart under the microscope. Olive is another rational scientist like Elizabeth Zott who isn't looking for love, but it finds her anyway.

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

This novel shares the themes of science and grief found in Lessons of Chemistry. Ever since her brother died of a heroin overdose, Gifty has been determined to understand the nature of addiction. But as she turns to science to try and unlock the mystery of her family's loss, she finds she must first heal herself.

Half Life by Jillian Cantor

This unusual novel reimagines the pioneering, passionate life of Marie Curie using a parallel structure to create two alternative timelines: one that mirrors her real life as a trailblazing physicist and another that explores the consequences for Marie and for science if she'd found herself on a different path.

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Norway, 1617: When all of the men in Maren's coastal Norwegian village die in a sudden storm, the women left behind must learn to do jobs that have traditionally been prohibited. But their independence sows rumors of witchcraft in this haunting ode to quietly defiant women.

The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev

In this story featuring three generations of hilarious, unconventional women, Cullie is a young tech star faced with losing her business if she can't deliver the dating app her investors expect. The only problem? She's never been on a date. Luckily, she has the help of her unforgettable mother and grandmother.

The Women's Room by Marilyn French

This provocative feminist classic changed the world when it came out in 1977. It is the story of Mira, a 1950s housewife who divorces her loathsome husband and returns to graduate school. Based loosely on the author's own experiences, the book offers context for the patriarchal societal norms of the time.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Hidden Figures gets a sci-fi twist in this alternate reality tale about a huge meteorite crashing into the U.S. East Coast in 1952. As the earth becomes increasingly inhospitable, mankind races to accelerate efforts to colonize space. Elma is a pilot and mathematician fighting to earn her place in this endeavor.

The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen

This riveting true story is based on the life of Dorothy Horstmann, the doctor who discovered the key to stopping polio. Rising from a humble background, Dorothy was often the only woman in the room. But in the face of this terrifying disease that was killing and paralyzing children, she was a woman on a mission.

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict

This novel shares the little-known tale of Rosalind Franklin, a British chemist whose work was central to understanding the structure of DNA. Like Elizabeth, her world-changing contributions were often credited to the men around her, many of whom refused to work alongside her.

Chemistry by Weike Wang

The quirky, overworked narrator at the center of this smart, funny coming-of-age story is on the cusp of achieving her dreams as she studies for a PhD in Chemistry. Along with that, her successful supportive boyfriend has proposed. But instead of feeling hopeful, she is wracked with ambivalence.  

Great science books for non-scientists

Elizabeth Zott taught her viewers that science was a part of their everyday lives and that understanding it would bring them power, independence, and success. If this message resonates with you, here are seven excellent books for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of the science that affects us all.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat

This seems like exactly the kind of cookbook Elizabeth would have written as it focuses on the scientific elements behind making good food. Mastering the use of these four key elements will transform how you prep, cook, and think about food.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

To understand what it means to be human, one must study how biology and history have shaped us. From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, the author demonstrates the ways in which plants and animals can serve as our most important teachers.

The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Offering a vibrant vision of the cosmos that is grounded in Black feminist traditions, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein starts with the idea that we all have a basic right to know and love the night sky and comprehend the wonders of the universe.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? In a busy world, it is difficult to fully contemplate these questions, but this volume offers a brilliantly succinct and witty overview.

Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard

Gain a better understanding of trees and the way they interact with each other and the world around them. At the center of it all? The Mother Tree cares for the forest in profound ways that could help guide families and society in general.

Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik

Most of the objects around us are man-made. We don’t question what materials it holds or how it functions. Full of fascinating stories, this book will help you understand the relevance of the objects and things around you.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon