Do not believe the title of this book. Jahren has a dog, but he isn’t a Labrador. (Coco is actually a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.) But read it anyway! You’ll learn so much.
There’s the harsh reality of how scientists procure funding, which Jahren explains eloquently. You’ll learn what a scientist does in the field, and how, with a dash of why. And how red tape can render that work all for naught. You’ll learn what true friendship looks like, and you might understand mental illness a little bit better.
Not to mention the trees, their leaves, and how they grow, drink, survive and reproduce. Best? You'll learn this without realizing you are learning it. Jahren’s storytelling leads you through the forest by the hand as a gifted teacher would a curious child.
Even though Lab Girl is quite different from The Big Tiny and Wild, it is somehow reminiscent of both and I suspect those who enjoyed them will appreciate Jahren’s journey.