Lab Girl

Hope Jahren is a geobiologist, and the book details her research focusing on paleobotany and the chemical analysis of fossilized plants. She specifically focuses on studying how trees and ancient forests have historically interacted with changes in the Earth's climate.

Aside from her plant research, the book is heavily anchored by her deep, decades-long friendship and working partnership with her lab manager, Bill Hagopian. She details how they built multiple laboratories together, moving across the country while maintaining a devoted professional bond.

Yes, the memoir candidly discusses Jahren's life with severe bipolar disorder, which was formally diagnosed when she was a young student. She recounts her struggles with manic episodes and severe depression, and how her relentless focus on science provided a crucial grounding mechanism.

The memoir was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim. It went on to win the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography and was selected as one of the best books of the year by numerous publications.