gsroney's review against another edition
5.0
“She's the most important person in the world and her family living in poverty. If our mother is so important to science, why can't we get health insurance?” --Dale Lacks
leasummer's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best non-fiction books I've read, and I don't prefer non-fiction. It reads like my friend is sitting at the kitchen table telling me this story. I found the story of Henrietta and Deborah fascinating. I felt their pain and the injustice that their mother's cells are one of the most important things to happen to medicine and they can't afford health care. The debate over whether your cells and tissue belong to you after they leave your body and if you deserve financial compensation is likely one no one will ever be happy about, but quite fascinating. I appreciate that Rebecca Skloot wrote the story, allowing me to a highly scientific subject, and finally tell what seems to be the full story of Henrietta Lacks and her family.
miabarranco's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
hiltzmoore's review against another edition
4.0
This was very thought provoking and interesting, and read much faster than its subject might normally imply. I don't know that I necessarily bought that the family was owed money on the research, but found the ethics questions posed to be quite fascinating and eye opening. The idea that all of our tissues from blood draws to tonsilectomies can be used for scientific research was a new idea to me, and I was impressed with what has and has not changed since the 40's & 50's in regards to scientific cell research.
caseymalsam's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating! What a hard story to tell and it was told so well. I feel like I learned so much from this story, and about medical topics I never ever imagined. The intersection of race, gender, and mental health was central to this story, I find it interesting that someone asked to author to leave out the family story... So glad that didn't happen.
Well done, Rebecca Skloot.
Well done, Rebecca Skloot.
mes91's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
This is a fantastic book, there is so much to value in this, both scientific and historic. There is a great balance of more academic information regarding the Hela cells then the human story weaved into this which tells Henrietta's story and that of her family.
I highly recommend this book, despite the subject matter it was an an incredibly easy read and is such an important story.
I highly recommend this book, despite the subject matter it was an an incredibly easy read and is such an important story.
brimarshall620's review against another edition
5.0
Not just a “science” book but a look at how life is science and science is life. A beautiful investigation of family, race, ethics, and medicine. Made me ponder and think so deeply about some critical scientific principles and questions.