Scan barcode
A review by aduqu
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.25
This book taught me a lot, both about cells and about the history of Henrietta Lacks and her family.
The book alternates between recounting the Lacks' family history, the history of HeLa cell research, and the experiences the author had with the Lacks while working on the book.
Overall, a really interesting read that manages to shed light on a lot of complex issues. I think someone who works in science or medicine would probably get more out of it than I did!
The book alternates between recounting the Lacks' family history, the history of HeLa cell research, and the experiences the author had with the Lacks while working on the book.
Overall, a really interesting read that manages to shed light on a lot of complex issues. I think someone who works in science or medicine would probably get more out of it than I did!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment