The memoir focuses on the theme of misogyny in the sciences throughout Jahren’s entire life. Even before she embarks on her career, she notes: “My desire to become a scientist was founded upon deep instinct and nothing more; I never heard a single story about a living female scientist, never met one or even saw one on television” (18). Jahren must look to her own instincts and drive in order to advance herself as a female inthis male-dominated field. Even when Jahren does begin doing significant work in the field, many men still doubt her. When she attends conferences, she is “trapped with pasty middle-aged men who regarded [her] as they would a mangy stray that had slipped through an open basement window” (129). Just because of her gender, other male scientists do not take her seriously.

In addition to the generally misogynistic attitude, Jahren also encounters more overt instances of sexism. When she works at Georgia Tech, she has to avoid a “creepy post doc” who seems “particularly menacing toward the odd female who stumbled into his orbit” (70). Because of him, Jahren has to take pains to protect himself from his unwanted advances just because she is a woman.