Austin Taylor- Notes on Chemistry (Podcast Interview)

Not knowing the publishing rules helped Austin Taylor sell her debut, Notes on Infinity. From lab notes to spreadsheets, learn her data-driven approach.

In today’s Book Gang episode, debut author Austin Taylor joins me to discuss her dazzling new novel Notes on Infinity. This high-concept campus novel follows Zoe and Jack, two brilliant students whose late-night collaboration leads to the development of an anti-aging drug, a billion-dollar startup, and a powerful reckoning.

Austin brings a unique blend of rigor and vulnerability to her work, drawing from her dual background in chemistry and English, as well as personal experiences with chronic illness that reshaped her academic trajectory. Notes on Infinity may ask how far we’ll go to chase our dreams, but this conversation dives into how far Austin went to write them.

In this insightful conversation, Austin and I discuss:

How not knowing “the rules” of publishing gave her the freedom to query an ambitious debut.
The thoughtful strategies she used to distill complex scientific ideas without losing her novel’s credibility—or alienating readers.
The importance of chronic illness representation and how her own health challenges added urgency and emotional authenticity to the story.

BONUS BOOK LIST:

This week, I’m sharing a companion list of 32 Unforgettable Campus Novels With All the Drama—from ivy-draped secrets to heady student-faculty dynamics to the unsettling thrill of starting over. If Notes on Infinity sparked something for you, these book titles will keep the conversation going.

Notes on Infinity Book Summary

A singular, extraordinary debut about Zoe and Jack, Harvard students who find themselves propelled into the intoxicating biotech startup world when they announce they’ve discovered the cure for aging. A different kind of love story where the thirst for achievement consumes and the stakes are forever.

Zoe, the daughter of an MIT professor who grew up in her brother’s shadow, can envision her future anew at Harvard. Jack, a boy in Zoe’s organic chemistry class with unruly hair and a gleam of competitiveness, matches her intellect and curiosity with every breath. When Jack refers Zoe for a position in a prestigious professor’s lab, the two become entwined as colleagues, staying up late to discuss scientific ideas. They find themselves on the cusp of a breakthrough: the promise of immortality through a novel antiaging drug.

Zoe and Jack set off on their new project in secret. Finding encouraging results, they bring their work to an investor, drop out of Harvard, and form a startup. But after the money, the magazine covers, and the national news stories detailing their success, Zoe and Jack receive a startling accusation that threatens to destroy both the company they built and their partnership.

A captivating novel about young love, the allure of immortality, and the recklessness that can come with early success, Notes on Infinity asks: How far would you go to achieve your dreams?

Meet Austin Taylor

Austin Taylor graduated from Harvard University in 2021 with a joint degree in chemistry and English. Notes on Infinity is inspired in part by her academic work and the pressure-cooker atmosphere of elite science programs. She has worked in science policy and public speaking coaching and is a private pilot, registered Maine guide, and bassist. She lives and writes in her home state of Maine.

How a Chemistry Major Wrote a High-Stakes Debut

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BONUS BOOK LIST: 32 Unforgettable Campus Novels

Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor

CRISPR

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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