I was hooked from the opening — there are few things as engaging as a speaker who is genuinely passionate about their topic, and in this case listening to the author-narrated audiobook was definitely a plus. As a female student interested in STEM, I had a vague idea of the challenges faced by women scientists, but this book really illustrates the point.

The mix of personal anecdotes with plant observations/facts/theories kept things interesting, though at times the abruptness (or lack) of transition made the narrative feel scattered. Especially since the timeline doesn't seem to be totally chronological; I'm pretty sure Jahren mentions her child quite early on, though her marriage/pregnancy aren't discussed until much closer to the end. I love that she doesn't feel the need to label her exact relationship with Bill, that it's enough to know that they are close but not romantically or sexually entangled.

All in all, I really enjoyed this narrative, which is greater than the sum of its parts.

content warnings:

Spoiler

sexism & misogyny, manic-depressive episodes and self-harm, on-page car crash

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CONVERSION: 10.67 / 15 = 4 stars

Prose: 7 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 8 / 10
Credibility: 10 / 10
Organization / Structure: 6 / 10

Emotional Impact / Interest: 5 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 5 / 5