Lessons in Chemistry: Outsmarting antiquated conceptions of women at home and the workplace

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Women belong in the kitchen? In Lessons in Chemistry , one woman turned this antiquated edict on its head. Written by Bonnie Garmus and published last year, this fictional novel offers a refreshing take on the obstacles women faced in the workplace in the 1960s. From skepticism about her abilities and skills to other forms of casual sexism, Elizabeth Zott has nearly seen it all in the lab where she works as a chemist. While the discrimination doesn’t end there, it does put an end to her career. But the determined Zott is not to sit by and lament her fate. Instead, she uses her hard-earned knowledge to succeed elsewhere: And what better place than a cooking show to showcase her passion for chemistry as molecules and particles come together to create an explosion of flavors? This book is an enjoyable read that perfectly encapsulates humor and intelligence, leading a Guardian review to dub the novel a “rare beast.”