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A review by luluwoohoo
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
A powerful and informative book that reveals the very human story behind one of science's greatest discoveries.
This is really two books in one: a story detailing the discovery of HeLa cells and their continued impact on science today, and the story of Henrietta herself and that of her family. I found the balance of these two stories good, though the end dragged a little once all of the science itself was out of the way. I appreciated the way both subject matters were handled, and that due credit was attributed to the Lacks family who suffered so much and gained so little from Henrietta's unfortunate circumstances.
The book invites questions regarding ethics and morals from several perspectives, namely examining the lack of consent sought or given throughout decades of research on Henrietta's cells and the blood of her descendents. The lack of fiscal, emotional or historical recognition for one of science's biggest breakthroughs is heartbreaking to read about, as is the generational turmoil the Lacks family can't seem to escape from.
I'm very grateful that one of the most important women in science has finally been immortalised, as her cells have been, through the lens of a compassionate and generous narrator. Kloots honours Henrietta and her family beautifully, and doesn't hold back on any uncomfortable details in doing so. This is a must read for anyone interested in science, history, ethics and legal quandaries - it's a mind boggling situation from all vantage points!
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
A powerful and informative book that reveals the very human story behind one of science's greatest discoveries.
This is really two books in one: a story detailing the discovery of HeLa cells and their continued impact on science today, and the story of Henrietta herself and that of her family. I found the balance of these two stories good, though the end dragged a little once all of the science itself was out of the way. I appreciated the way both subject matters were handled, and that due credit was attributed to the Lacks family who suffered so much and gained so little from Henrietta's unfortunate circumstances.
The book invites questions regarding ethics and morals from several perspectives, namely examining the lack of consent sought or given throughout decades of research on Henrietta's cells and the blood of her descendents. The lack of fiscal, emotional or historical recognition for one of science's biggest breakthroughs is heartbreaking to read about, as is the generational turmoil the Lacks family can't seem to escape from.
I'm very grateful that one of the most important women in science has finally been immortalised, as her cells have been, through the lens of a compassionate and generous narrator. Kloots honours Henrietta and her family beautifully, and doesn't hold back on any uncomfortable details in doing so. This is a must read for anyone interested in science, history, ethics and legal quandaries - it's a mind boggling situation from all vantage points!
"Them doctors say her cells is so important and did all this and that to help people. But it didn't do no good for her, and it don't do no good for us. If me and my sister need something, we can't even go see a doctor cause we can't afford it. Only people that can get any good from my mother cells is the people that got money, and whoever sellin them cells - they get rich off our mother and we got nothing."