71 pages • 2 hours read
Rebecca SklootThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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 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.