Allison

Allison asked Bonnie Garmus:

I loved this novel. With her intelligence, lack of filter, and social awkwardness Elizabeth struck me as being somewhere on the spectrum. Was this your intent or just my interpretation? My son is studying chemical engineering in Boston and reports about half of his classmates are female which I find very encouraging. Thanks for sharing the stories of the women who blazed trails for us!

Bonnie Garmus Many people believe Elizabeth is on the spectrum--which I love, because the truth is, I based her on the tenets of stoicism as written by Marcus Aurelius. Those tenets include being a rationalist, embracing logic, and being self-motivated, as well as taking responsibility for one's own behavior. I often feel that we talk about being on the spectrum in a negative way, but I don't see it that way. Some of the world's greatest thinkers have been on the spectrum--Einstein, Mozart, Leonardo da Vinci, Greta Thunberg to name a few.

More Answered Questions

Janeymo

Janeymo asked Bonnie Garmus:

Firstly, I’m a HUGE fan of Lessons in Chemistry! The book was fabulous (I’m not so sure about the TV adaptation, honestly, I think Sixthirty lost his voice) I had a thought just now in a completely different context. I am a fan of Elizabeth Zimmermann - an icon of the knitting world (yes, that is a thing!) is there any of Zimmermann in your Zott, or is the initials and similarity in life outlook purely accidental?

Amanda Giles

Amanda Giles asked Bonnie Garmus:

I absolutely loved your book! I've chosen it for our local book club. I'm looking forward to hearing their views. Thanks so much for such an interesting, intelligent, enjoyable story. In the interview at the end of the audible version you mention a story with adult Mad. Is this something you plan to write?

M A Spiro

M A Spiro asked Bonnie Garmus:

The fact that you are a copywriter (I'm a science/PR writer) and this is your debut gives me hope there's still a chance I'll write that book that's been simmering on the back Bunsen burner of my brain. I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry thoroughly. I wish I'd been more like Elizabeth Zott in my early professional attempt to become a laboratory scientist. Are you happy with the Apple TV adaptation?

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