hummingbird ink

Synopsis: Chemist Elizabeth Zott isn’t your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there’s no such thing as an average woman. 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 Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with Elizabeth. True chemistry results.

But, like science, life is unpredictable. This 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, 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.

“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.”

My Thoughts: I listened to this on audiobook and thought the narrator was fantastic in her delivery. I spent many afternoons walking my neighborhood with my dog, Bowser, listening to Lessons in Chemistry. My initial reaction when I finished this book was, “Aw, that was cute.” After letting it marinate in my mind for a few days, I had some thoughts that led me to give it 3/5 stars.

I loved Mad, Elizabeth’s daughter, and 6:30 is the best dog ever. The concept of this story is lighthearted enough to give you a good chuckle but also examine a darker reality of the time. I enjoy reading books from that period but wouldn’t want to live in that era.

The sexism, blatant SA, and just straight-up misogyny that existed back then were horrendous. And this was written from the view of a smart, beautiful, and white character. This doesn’t even touch what other women experienced.

“Sometimes I think,” she said slowly, “that if a man were to spend a day being a woman in America, he wouldn’t make it past noon.”

I recently had a conversation with my mom about this, who also read and loved the book. Her experience working in the 1980s and beyond was disturbingly similar to the stories shared in the book. It’s disheartening to realize that these stories are not unique to us but rather a shared experience for women everywhere.

I believe this book provides an excellent opportunity to start a conversation about the past, present, and future of women’s experiences in the workplace. There’s still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all women are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.