Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

132 reviews

jbro12's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death, Racism, Medical trauma, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, and Child abuse

maybephasing's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Medical content

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse

hhwanghyunjin's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

I recently finished "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and I have to say, it is one of the most fascinating and thought-provoking books I have read in a long time. The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951 and used in scientific research that led to many groundbreaking discoveries, including the polio vaccine.

The author, Rebecca Skloot, does an excellent job of weaving together the story of Henrietta and her family with the larger scientific and ethical issues surrounding the use of human tissues in research. Skloot's writing is clear and engaging, and she manages to make complex scientific concepts accessible to the layperson.

What really sets this book apart, however, is its deeply human element. Skloot's relationship with Henrietta's daughter, Deborah, and the Lacks family is a major part of the book, and it is clear that Skloot cares deeply about telling their story with sensitivity and respect. As a history teacher, I appreciate how Skloot situates Henrietta's story within the broader context of medical experimentation on African Americans throughout history.

Overall, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of medicine, ethics, or social justice. I cannot recommend it highly enough. 5/5 stars.


"If you want to see your grandmother alive, you need to come home right now." - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, p. 74.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma and Cancer

Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Incest and Cursing

saskiahill's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Fascinating and moving

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Cancer

Moderate: Addiction, Slavery, Racism, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide and Incest

deenene's review against another edition

emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence

Moderate: Racism

rishel's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Medical trauma, and Medical content

Moderate: Racism

cheyrohm's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Cancer

Moderate: Racism and Violence

spicewitch's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Incest, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail

kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Racism, Death, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Child abuse

Minor: Incest, Physical abuse, Slavery, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Murder

franmoldaschl's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Terminal illness, Child death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Racism