Why ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ Appeals

I’m generally wary of buzzy novels because my taste in fiction is selective. But when I heard Lessons in Chemistry was the 2022 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year, I was intrigued. Later, when I read this New York Times article, “Beneath Its Pink Cover, ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ Offers a Story About Power,” I was poised to hit the purchase button. A writer friend ended up buying the book for me on Amazon after I asked her how she liked it.

Protagonist Elizabeth Zott, a chemist grappling with sexism in the science field in the 1950s, is fired from her laboratory job for being pregnant, then asked to host a TV cooking show named “Supper at Six.” Once on air, she also dispenses chemistry lessons and life wisdom to her largely female audience.

As Elizabeth is signing off, she guides her audience to apply these principles in life: “Whenever you start doubting yourself … whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change — and change is what we’re chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others’ opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion.”

The New York Times piece, for its part, highlighted the novel’s transformative effect on readers. A quote from Lessons’ author Bonnie Garmus caught my eye:

“ ‘People have quit their jobs and gone back to school or people have gotten divorced because they recognize themselves,’ Garmus said. ‘Sometimes I want to say, You know it’s fiction, right? But on the other hand, it was what I was trying to get across. You can really do what you need to do. You just have to dig in really hard and not expect it to be very easy.’ ”

I really enjoyed the novel, though I didn’t agree with all the views espoused. For example, I don’t think science and religion are at odds. But I do think we need to amplify fiction that challenges our stubborn thought patterns and spurs us to lead more fulfilling lives. For that, I give Lessons in Chemistry an A.