The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By: Rebecca Skloot

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Bahni Turpin

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Number one New York Times best seller.

Now a major motion picture from HBO® starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne.

One of the “most influential” (CNN), “defining” (Lit Hub), and “best” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) books of the decade.

One of essence’s 50 most impactful Black books of the past 50 years.

Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review, Entertainment Weekly, O: The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Financial Times, New York, Independent (UK), Times (UK), Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Globe, and Mail.

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells - taken without her knowledge - became one of the most important tools in medicine: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, which are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than 60 years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than 20 years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family - past and present - is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family - especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah. Deborah was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Had they killed her to harvest her cells? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance? Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

©2010 Rebecca Skloot (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

Winner of The Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for nonfiction

"The story of modern medicine and bioethics - and, indeed, race relations - is refracted beautifully, and movingly.” (Entertainment Weekly)

"Writing with a novelist's artistry, a biologist's expertise, and the zeal of an investigative reporter, Skloot tells a truly astonishing story of racism and poverty, science and conscience, spirituality and family driven by a galvanizing inquiry into the sanctity of the body and the very nature of the life force." (

Booklist)

A Must-read for scientists and doctors

This is a very interesting and engrossing story of the most important cells in the history of medical science and the lives, tragedies and injustices interwoven into their history. As a doctor (and a Gynecologist at that) who started as a Microbiologist and worked with cell culture (albeit, not HELA) I'm startled that the history of these cells was so absent in my training. There are disturbing parts in the story of Henrietta and her family, to be sure, but this well-told, intriguing book does not dwell unnecessarily on the dark past, but uses it as a lens through which to view the ethics and importance of medical research in the past, present and future.
Well worth your time to read (or listen to)!

Beautifully written and narrated

Where does The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably one of the best books I read.
An amazing science story, interlaced with the biographical memoirs of the Lacks family. It takes the reader to the dark years of racial segregation ( and not so long ago that is!) and the advent of cellular cultures and science. Touches to interesting issues such as bioethics, informed consent, tissue culture finances, patents... You'll find yourself amazed, horrified, saddened and delighted at the same time. Amazing.

Wow!

What did you love best about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

I stumbled onto this story while researching something else, and I can't describe the amazement that her story is not widely known in the mainstream society. I shake my head and wonder why not even during Black History Month there is never any real effort to spotlight her story and contributions. The narrating was great and the writing was awesome. The only draw back is it seems to me Rebecca skloot profited monetarily while handing crumbs to Henrietta's family I would like more follow up of them today

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A little angry...thought provoking

Excellent

Would you listen to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks again? Why?

Yes-- I'm afraid I missed something.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

bioethics-- it really opened my eyes to questions without answers

Which scene was your favorite?

The physician who told his patient with atibodies against hepatitis that his blood is valuable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was fascinating. I work at a research hospital so most of what the story was about was close to home.

Great book!

I've been trying to read this book for years now, and it has certainly lived up to my expectations! Very interesting story, told in a great way.

The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks

loved it! Very informative. A great piece of medical history. I am encouraging my daughters and friends to read this book!

Outstanding book and performance

What made the experience of listening to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks the most enjoyable?

I selected this book at random, no recommendations from anyone, just thought it would be interesting and I'll give it a try.Wow! A jackpot. The story was incredible. The performance was a masterpiece. Reading the book will rob you of the audible dialects and the emotions within. LISTENING to this particular book will sell you on joining an audio book club. I fought back tears many times listening to the words of Lacks family. The explanation of science is very, very good. The writing and attention to detail is magnificent. I even listened to every word after the book was done, in the discussions and interview with author, which I usually speed through if listen or read at all. This author, Rebecca Skloot, deserves huge recognition for this feat. My hat is off to her and my heart goes out to the Lacks family.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

The progression and discovery of the science, the voices, mostly the family history-Debra at the end of the book.

Have you listened to any of Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I will remember those names. Perfect performances.

Any additional comments?

No matter what your background is, listen to this book. I considerer it the best I have read in years, It is the truth, a story, and an education. It has questions and discussions of ethics in medicine and research; fascinating. I will listen to it again. I will never forget who Henrietta Lacks is for the rest of my life.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

An important story that is well researched and told by a masterful writer.
If I was able to, I would have listened to the Audible presentation in one sitting .

Stunning! I'm in shock and awe and disbelief

What made the experience of listening to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks the most enjoyable?

This book was a wildcard for me; I'm not interested in science or scientific development or African American biographies or histories. I purchase audio books for riveting entertainment during tedious weight loss walks - I want distraction and immersion, I care nothing for 'high brow' or 'well rounded' audible libraries. Well, what a stunning change this book was. Life really is stranger than fiction and I'm still stunned that the cells of a single diseased women have been used, without permission all over the world, billions of times. That sounds so dry, and I really can't do this story justice except to tell you that although the cover looks boring, this book is stunning. I listened in disbelief as the story unfolded and at times wept for the simple naivety of this woman and the struggle of her family in continuing generations. This is a story that MUST be heard by everyone, it IS historical but is also of our present time. I think it should be mandatory reading for all college students, I know I've over used the word, but I'm stunned. On so many levels, I'm just sitting here STUNNED.

What other book might you compare The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to and why?

The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. That audio book is similar in that it is presented by a narrator who is also the 'investigator'. Again, The Orchid Thief was a wild card book for me and I was quickly drawn in and fascinated by a wealth of knowledge I would have never sought out or even considered interesting. In that regard, both these books have a strong bond of dropping extraordinary facts in the telling of a engaging story. You feel as if you are at the centre of eavesdropping a series of events. I actually purchased an orchid after this audio book and have become a keen fanciest, so be warned that it might have such an effect on you. In regards to the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, I have a new found understanding of the prevalent and blatant human disregard in the field of medical science that I had never considered was a part of our modern day practices before outside the realm of unethical Nazi medical testing stories.

Science, human interresst and an answer.

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.