Select language, opens an overlay

Comments (159)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 159 items
Sep 26, 2023HermioneA rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I love it when I read a book and come away feeling wiser and more knowledgeable about historical events which have shaped the world we live in today. This is one such book - a book from which I found myself recounting some of the…
Jul 21, 2023racerkate rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I found this book very interesting and a good deal frustrating, which was its intention, and I appreciate a book that makes me feel things. There were a few times where the author's voice was a bit distracting for me, but I appreciated how…
Jun 01, 2023WritingInStone rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It was very well written and researched and Skloot obviously put her heart and soul into the entire project, giving up her personal life to complete it. The book by Ron Lacks, son of Lawrence Lacks and…
May 24, 2023
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about how the cells of Henrietta Lacks are unfairly used without permission from the Lacks family. I highly recommend this book because it teaches you the history of the cells that have been used in…
Aug 12, 2022dsyz rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
First biography finished. Very engaging and made me want to keep reading, insightful and sad also.
May 13, 2022ryner rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
In the early 1950s, Henrietta Lacks, a young Black mother in Maryland, was diagnosed with and ultimately succumbed to an aggressive type of cervical cancer. Without her or her family's knowledge or permission, doctors took a sample of the…
Apr 20, 2022chenww128 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book is very informative and intriguing at the beginning, however, it becomes redundant/too slow for my taste in the middle. But very educational regardless
Mar 27, 2022kwsmith rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
In 1951, a poor African American woman named Henrietta Lacks died after a terrible battle with an aggressive cancer. During her treatment, doctors took samples of her tumors and discovered that her cells possessed an extremely valuable…
Nov 17, 2021zipread rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The story is amazing. In 1951, a poor “coloured woman” died of cancer. It was a not too uncommon practice to take some cells from the deceased for research. In most cases these cells died within a dew days making them of little use for…
Jul 15, 2021
This is a riveting story of one woman, her family and her contributions to science. This was a difficult read given the lack of ethics in previous years and highlights several events throughout history which have lead many minorities to…
Jun 15, 2021
Per Kim: “May not be as cheerful as you wanted, but so well written and lots to talk about”
Jun 09, 2021MGBustillo rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Even years after it's initial publication, this is a must read for medical professionals who might miss the human story behind every medical breakthrough.
May 23, 2021
Pretty sure this is the most depressing book I've ever read. Scientists and doctors mistreating patients, family members abusing each other. Stick to the movie if you just want the basic facts.
May 12, 2021Manuel rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The general public is unaware of the existence of Henrietta Lacks, yet her life, or more exactly, her cells, have been vital in vaccinations against many diseases including polio. Henrietta was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix and…
Jan 28, 2021Anita_Dickey rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
i read this book to fulfil the goal read a book by or about a journalist (2020 popsugar challenge), it was a thought provoking book. half memoir half science half self discovery. before reading this book i had no idea what hela cells…
Nov 09, 2020jaglowgla82 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Wow! absolutely loved this book. Before the book was adapted into a movie, my co-worker told me about this book and how it was on her reading shelf. I've heard a few things here and there about Henrietta Lack. I'm glad I picked up this…
Jul 06, 2020gurleen03 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” by Rebecca Skloot is a biography that delves into the unique life of Henrietta Lacks, whose cancer cells remain in use in hospitals till today. Rebecca Skloot, the author, did all the research of…
Jul 01, 2020IndyPL_BethP rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
In the past sixty years, science has found cures for many diseases, and provided great medical advances. The polio vaccine, gene therapy, and a host of other amazing breakthroughs have dazzled the world. But what was the key that made…
Jun 19, 2020kathylock rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
What a great book to read. The author did a lot of research and put together the life history of an unappreciated woman.
Jun 05, 2020violet_butterfly_8942 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was a great read. The stories of Henrietta’s life, the medical discoveries her cells were used for, and the impact that those discoveries have left on her family are woven together in a brilliant fashion. Rebecca Skloot’s writing…
May 15, 2020JANMAYS rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
did this for book club
Apr 08, 2020Commacontrol rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A well-written and researched book about a woman with cancer and what happened to her - or more specifically her cells - during treatment. Her story is astonishing and infuriating at the same time - and one her family didn't discover until…
Mar 01, 2020norma777 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Tragic, true story about how a woman's DNA was used without her permission. The impact on her and her family is heartbreaking. If you like a happy ending, the closest this comes is the scientific studies done based on her DNA. READ…
Jan 15, 2020Yenchun rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
From the title of this book, the way Rebecca repeatedly referring HeLa cell as Henrietta’s cell, and the uneducated and superstitious Lacks’ family member continually refer HeLa cell is a prove that Henrietta being alive, I have to…
Jan 14, 2020Daisybates rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
It was interesting to learn about Henrietta Lacks. If I had known more about science I would have enjoyed the book more.