This book offered a variety of concepts to paint the entire picture of the discovery of the HELA cells, both personal and industrial/medical. Delivering the complete personal story of Henrietta Lacks and her descendants, their struggles, challenges, and continued participation of their own discoveries, as well as the medical industrial side of the development and distribution of HELA cells and all competing interests. Great book, good narrator.

I enjoyed the diversity and variety it offered. Instead of just telling the family's personal story, it included details of the medical and industrial side of the cells and how they came about along with competition in the field. It really gave the story a complete feel.

It felt sincere and original. As if they were both the characters from the book.

Yes! I wanted the entire story. When I paused it, I still continued to ponder the story!

I spent 7 years in research (albiet in the secretarial field) and had no idea who Harriet Lax was. Found her story riviting and the author fearless.

They were very easy to follow.

Deboray was the most intersting but the woman writing the book was to be admired; she was fearless and undaunting.

Nothing; she covered it all.

Very long.

I have not read the print version

Among the memorable passages was the point at which Henrietta's daughter learns that it is her mother's cancer cells, not healthy ones, that have become immortal.

Debra

While I needed to take a break from the topic at times, due to wanting to absorb all that had been presented, it was very compelling and the author's style leads the reader/listener seamlessly forward.

unlike many books, this is one I will probably listen to, or read in print, again.

The first time I heard about HeLa cells, I got curious.
That is one thing I and Rebecca Skloot, the author have in common.

I wanted to know who Henrietta Lacks was.
I did some of the same steps Rebecca did, but few things made sense.
And then, I found this book.
It was written in a loving, caring way.
It was about the human sides and the science and the times and race.
I loved it.
It told me what I wanted to know, and things I never knew.

This book has enriched my life and answered so many questions.

Thank you, Rebecca.
Thank you, Lacks family..
And last but not least, thank you, Henrietta.
What we did to you was wrong, and you paid us back with so much kindness, even after death.

This is one of the more intriguing books, and ideal for audio listening since the concepts were deep and I could re-wind and even have my husband sit in the chapters about the science and legal history. Fun and very intriguing book, with a lot to chew on. You could read it over and over again and still learn!

No, way to thick and thought provoking!

Enjoyed the whole book and learned a lot. A look of a part of history that I never knew. Written so that you could understand the science and the people. Highly recommend!

The brilliant way that Rebecca Skloot wove together a journalistic (detached) narration of the story with her own coming of age (as a professional) story, the story of cancer research and treatment, description of racial tensions and poverty in Baltimore and in medicine...and the story of the resilient Lacks family. How did she do that?!

Debra. Passionate, determined, resilient, funny, careful...

Perfect accents. Consistency within characters that made it easy to navigate the book & stay focused on the amazing story. It was like hearing a play.

Yes, Debra's rape & the scene where the Austrian doctor shows Henrietta's cells to her grown children.

"Read" this!

I'm not a big fan of biography or nonfiction, however, this was different. The science and story were amazing! I not only enjoyed the book, I also learned about Henrietta's history, and how we have advanced so much in our medical research because of her and her brave family.

I have already listened to it twice. So much interesting information expertly crafted.

Very appropriate choices.

I was amazed. I've worked with HeLa cells for many years and yet never knew the story behind the cells other than how the book starts out.

In the hard copy of the book, there are pictures. I wish that the audio version had thought to include these pictures as a supplementary file to go with the book. That would be my criticism but that is not a flaw in the book or the reading, but in audible's marketing plan.

Very well written book, it kept my interest in spite of material that could have been very dry. I think everyone should read this book.