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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2010

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Book Brief

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Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2010
Book Details
Pages

381

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

Baltimore, Maryland • 1950s

Publication Year

2010

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

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Super Short Summary

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot tells the true story of Henrietta Lacks, a Black American woman whose cancer cells, taken without her consent in 1951, became the first immortal human cell line known as HeLa, contributing to significant medical advances such as the polio vaccine. The book explores the impact on her family and examines scientific ethics, racism, and poverty. The book includes discussions about medical exploitation and systemic racism.

Informative

Emotional

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.4

782,656 ratings

79%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is widely praised for its compelling narrative and detailed exploration of ethical issues in medical research. Readers commend the book's emotional depth and historical significance. However, some critics feel that the book occasionally dwells too long on tangential details, slightly detracting from its core focus.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

A reader who enjoys The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is likely fascinated by medical ethics, scientific history, and personal narratives. Comparable to readers of The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee and Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, they seek to understand complex human stories behind scientific breakthroughs.

4.4

782,656 ratings

79%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

381

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

Baltimore, Maryland • 1950s

Publication Year

2010

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

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