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Quick answer: Good discussion questions for Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus focus on Elizabeth Zott’s ambition, sexism in 1960s science, her partnership with Calvin Evans, unconventional motherhood and why her cooking show inspires women. Below are 18 questions grouped by theme, plus a spoiler-free summary.
Quick facts
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Published: 2022
Setting: Southern California, early 1960s
Adaptation: 2023 Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson
Content note: sexual assault, workplace sexism and grief
Lessons in Chemistry was one of the biggest book club hits of recent years, and it’s easy to see why. It’s funny, angry, heartfelt and packed with themes to discuss, from sexism in science to motherhood, grief and what it means to live by your own rules. This guide includes a spoiler-free summary, a quick look at the main characters and themes, and 18 discussion questions grouped by theme. The questions contain spoilers, so save them for meeting night.
Table of Contents
Spoiler-Free Summary
It’s the early 1960s, and Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist at the Hastings Research Institute in Southern California, where her male colleagues treat her as a secretary at best. She meets Calvin Evans, the institute’s star scientist, and the two form an unusual, deeply equal bond. A few years later, Elizabeth finds herself a single mother and, to her own surprise, the host of Supper at Six, a TV cooking show. Instead of following the script, she teaches chemistry and tells her mostly female viewers that they are capable of far more than society allows. It’s a story about ambition, rowing, an extraordinarily smart dog named Six-Thirty and the power of refusing to be underestimated.
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Main Characters and Themes
| Character or Theme | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Zott | A chemist who refuses to accept the limits placed on women |
| Calvin Evans | A brilliant, awkward scientist who treats Elizabeth as an equal |
| Madeline (Mad) | Elizabeth’s precocious daughter, curious about her family history |
| Harriet Sloane | Elizabeth’s neighbor, who becomes family |
| Walter Pine | The TV producer behind Supper at Six |
| Six-Thirty | The family dog, who narrates some chapters and learns hundreds of words |
| Sexism in science and work | How women’s talent was dismissed and stolen |
| Motherhood and family | Found family and unconventional parenting |
| Grief and resilience | Moving forward after loss |
| Chemistry as life | Science as a way to understand change |
Discussion Questions (Contains Spoilers)
Elizabeth and Ambition
- Elizabeth refuses to change who she is to fit in. Did you admire her, or find her difficult? Both?
- How does the Hastings Research Institute treat Elizabeth compared with her male colleagues? Which moments made you most angry?
- Elizabeth says that cooking is chemistry. How does the book use science as a metaphor for life?
- Why do you think Elizabeth is so determined not to marry Calvin?
Love and Partnership
- What makes Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship different from others in the novel?
- How did Calvin’s death change the direction of the story and of Elizabeth’s life?
- Calvin’s past is slowly revealed. How did learning about it change your view of him?
Motherhood and Found Family
- How is Elizabeth’s approach to parenting different from other mothers in the 1960s?
- What role does Harriet play in Elizabeth’s and Mad’s lives?
- Mad is curious about her family tree. What does her search reveal about belonging?
- Six-Thirty narrates parts of the story. What did his perspective add?
Supper at Six and Social Change
- Why do you think Supper at Six becomes so popular with women viewers?
- Elizabeth ends each show by telling children to set the table because their mother needs a moment to herself. Why did that line resonate with viewers?
- Walter Pine changes over the course of the book. How does working with Elizabeth affect him?
- Some readers find parts of the story exaggerated or unrealistic. Did that bother you, or did it suit the book’s tone?
Big Picture
- How much has changed for women in science and the workplace since the 1960s? What hasn’t?
- Lessons in Chemistry was adapted into a TV series. If you’ve seen it, how did it compare?
- What lesson, if any, did you take away from Elizabeth’s story?
Book Club Ideas for Lessons in Chemistry
- Serve a lasagna or a casserole in honor of Supper at Six.
- Label snacks with chemical formulas, like NaCl for salty chips.
- Watch an episode of the series after discussing the book.
- Talk about real women scientists who were overlooked, like Rosalind Franklin.
Books Like Lessons in Chemistry
If your group loved it, try Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt for another warm, quirky story, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly for the real women behind the space race, or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid for another ambitious heroine.
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How to Structure Your Meeting
Start with a quick round where everyone shares their favorite Elizabeth Zott moment. Then work through two or three questions from each theme above, saving the “big picture” questions for the end. Leave a few minutes to compare the book with the series if members have watched it.
Related: the best feel-good books for book clubs and 25 discussion questions that work for any book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lessons in Chemistry about?
It follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in the early 1960s who faces sexism at work and unexpectedly becomes the host of a TV cooking show, where she teaches chemistry and inspires women viewers.
Is Lessons in Chemistry good for book clubs?
Yes. It’s readable, funny and emotional, with big themes like sexism, motherhood and grief that spark lively discussion.
Is Lessons in Chemistry appropriate for all book clubs?
It includes a sexual assault scene, workplace harassment and grief, so share a content note with your group before reading.
Who wrote Lessons in Chemistry?
Bonnie Garmus wrote Lessons in Chemistry. It was her debut novel, published in 2022.