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bibliophobe 's review for:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by Rebecca Skloot
Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951. Dr. George Gey took her cancer cells without permission and used them in his scientific experiments. Her cells became the first ones to be replicated in a lab and then subsequently distributed to scientists and researchers around the world. From her cells we were able to develop the polio vaccine, gene mapping, and learn the effects of radiation and toxic substances on cells. We also were able to begin to research cancer, aids, gravitational effects on the body, and an innumerable variety of other scientific studies.
In this book Rebecca Skloot explores the hardships that faced people of color during the mid-1900’s and up through today. She weaves two tales: the story of the Lacks family and the story of Henrietta’s cells. Both stories take you down the path of wrestling with the ethical issues involved with medicine in the past, present, and future.
This book was eye opening for me and helped me to better understand the issues of our day. This book is important as it highlights the horrors of bad scientific ethics and how they played out in the Tuskegee Trials, Henrietta’s Story, and modern-day. In exploring these paths, Skloot brings to light many truths that are left out of history books and have helped to create some of the divides that plague our country.
If you’re worried that reading a book about science and history will be boring and uneventful, set those concerns aside and pick up this book. It’s riveting, engaging, and will have you examining your own motives. You will undoubtedly find yourself changed by this book.
To see more reviews check out my blog: This Sporadic Life
In this book Rebecca Skloot explores the hardships that faced people of color during the mid-1900’s and up through today. She weaves two tales: the story of the Lacks family and the story of Henrietta’s cells. Both stories take you down the path of wrestling with the ethical issues involved with medicine in the past, present, and future.
This book was eye opening for me and helped me to better understand the issues of our day. This book is important as it highlights the horrors of bad scientific ethics and how they played out in the Tuskegee Trials, Henrietta’s Story, and modern-day. In exploring these paths, Skloot brings to light many truths that are left out of history books and have helped to create some of the divides that plague our country.
If you’re worried that reading a book about science and history will be boring and uneventful, set those concerns aside and pick up this book. It’s riveting, engaging, and will have you examining your own motives. You will undoubtedly find yourself changed by this book.
To see more reviews check out my blog: This Sporadic Life