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)

Only interesting science story I've ever heard

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

Research on hela cells for bio led me to this amazing story.

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

None specifically but I felt like there was more to hear. I was sad the book ended. I wanted to keep learning about her.

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

No. This was my first and it superceeded all expectations.

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

Yes. It broke my heart, but I didn't want it to end. I truely loved it.

Any additional comments?

This book made me see science differently. And once I started looking at cells in a microscope I was hooked. I don't think there is anything more beautiful.And EVERY single time I think about Henretta.

We Don't Die, We Multiply

Would you consider the audio edition of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to be better than the print version?

I do not know that the printed version to compare it. I so immensely enjoyed the audio book during gym workout and drives to / from work. The story was riveting, the pace was perfect.

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

When Rebecca told Deb to "f*ck off". Finally showing her anger made me trust Rebecca more.

What does Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Movement. Synchronized movement. Hearing their voices caused me to recall where I was in the story easily.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Moments when Rebecca confessed that she had not eaten meat in over a decade (I think) but upon being offered it with the Lacks family, she did. Moments when Rebecca confessed that she had never held nor read from the Bible. Moments when Rebecca is frozen in time as she witness Ministry of the Holy Spirit minister to Deb and falls upon her to bear the bearden. Each of these times when Rebecca opened hershelf up ot the unususl.

Interestung important story.

I suggest anyone curios about genetics and the injustice and exploitation possible should read this. Good narrative delivery

Compelling story, will give this book as gifts

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

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

Which character – as performed by Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin – was your favorite?

Very appropriate choices.

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

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.

Any additional comments?

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.

Excellent Book

What an incredible story. As another reviewer said, it is easy to forget that this is a true story and not fictional.

Interesting story, well written and performed

What happened to Henrietta Lacks sounds like sci-fi: it is perhaps one of the most interesting science-related real stories. It's a challenging task because there are so many aspects that need to be included for the general audience to understand in depth, but the author did a good job. This book interweaves perspectives of cellular biology, medical patent history and African American culture in a crafted way that was understandable and eye-opening for me. The author went back and forth between the history of Henrietta, the history of medical patent, and her journey of researching the story in an organized chronological fashion. She's knows her stuff and she told it well. Having a female African American narrator also really helped give the characters voices and made it a great listening experience.

henrierra lacks unjustice

Once again I am shocked at human treatment of others. Henrietta should have received better care for her cancer. The Lacks family should have been compensated for the injustice or at least got permission and. an explanation of what was being done with her cells, and the impact they would have on humanity. I pray she is at peace.

So glad this story was written!

Loved it! I was not expecting to feel the range of emotions while reading. I feel like I know Henrietta and Deborah. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the science behind the story and the discoveries that would follow into a story that everyone would want to hear!

Must read for folks in medical field

eye opening and amazing! working at a genomics field company I'll be recommending this to all.

I wish I had listened to this years ago.

This was an incredible story that left me in tears at times. Very well paced, great voice work, and the care and respect given to capturing the Lacks family’s story was very moving. I finished this in three afternoons. It was just that good.