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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
What an amazing book! Fascinating! I am in shock of my years studying science, that I was not aware of the story behind HeLa cells. Great book for medical ethics debates and discussions.
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Incredible story. For something that so many people take for granted (HeLa cells that is), it a great tribute to read about the woman they originated from.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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tense
medium-paced
This is one of the most riveting non-fiction books I've ever read. I actually carried it around with me everywhere and read it every spare moment. Besides the fascinating medical history, there's a lot of grappling with medical ethics, and the medical ethics of sixty years ago, and how they intersect with race, poverty, and education (or the lack of it). Through all these issues, Skloot maintains a sharp focus on the human side of the story in Henrietta and her family, especially her daughter. In Skloot's hands, all the big issues boil down to a family who is deeply bereft, and then kept in the dark about their loved one's legacy by the medical establishment. I really admire how Skloot opens herself so much to the Lacks family, how deeply she allows herself to empathize and how much she takes their story to heart, while still managing to portray the doctors in a balanced, even sympathetic way.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Henrietta Lacks died of cancer, but her cells still live on today and are an important part of medical research. Neither she nor her family have benefitted from this research, and in fact, most of the medical personnel in the book took outrageous advantage of her and her family. I have recently read news articles about medical advances that have mentioned the HeLa cells, I enjoyed this book, but the author factored too much in the story for my taste.
emotional
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medium-paced
I was told this book was amazing by practically every person in the world it seemed like. So I started it...a year ago. I finally forced myself to finish it. I did find it a little hard to get into, but that is probably me and my not wanting to give into the hype of it, after all Oprah was making it into a movie. I was wrong to drag my feet, it is 100% worth all the hype and then some. The science, which I thought would be boring was actually VERY interesting and quite insightful. The human side of the story was riveting!! Her poor family and all they endured, from some cells! You'd think they were overreacting if someone just told you about it, but you couldn't be more wrong. The way their mother, her cancer, her cells, and her legacy effected the entire family is still being felt today. I urge everyone to read this book, chances are you are already familiar with Henrietta and her cells.
Great story that needed to be told! Found the writing a bit meandering, but still a very good book. Glad I read it!