The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks cover art

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

A True Story of Scientific Discovery, Questionable Ethics, and a Family's Fight for Truth

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By: Rebecca Skloot
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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About this listen

A heartbreaking account of a medical miracle: how one woman’s cells – taken without her knowledge – have saved countless lives. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a true story of race, class, injustice and exploitation.

‘No dead woman has done more for the living . . . A fascinating, harrowing, necessary book.’ – Hilary Mantel, Guardian

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. Born a poor black tobacco farmer, her cancer cells – taken without her knowledge – became a multimillion-dollar industry and one of the most important tools in medicine. Yet Henrietta’s family did not learn of her ‘immortality’ until more than twenty years after her death, with devastating consequences . . .

Rebecca Skloot’s moving account is the story of the life, and afterlife, of one woman who changed the medical world forever. Balancing the beauty and drama of scientific discovery with dark questions about who owns the stuff our bodies are made of, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an extraordinary journey in search of the soul and story of a real woman, whose cells live on today in all four corners of the world.

Now an HBO film starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne.

 Biological Sciences Professionals & Academics Racism & Discrimination Science Science & Technology Social Sciences True Crime Women Medical Ethics Thought-Provoking Discrimination Medicine

Critic reviews

A fascinating, harrowing, necessary book. (Hilary Mantel)
A heartbreaking account of racism and injustice.
A fine book . . . a gripping read . . . The book has deservedly been a huge bestseller in the US. It should be here, too.
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book so much! Having worked with HeLa cells during my time as a genetic researcher and never giving a second thought as to the origin of the cell line, I devoured the story of Henrietta and her family. I loved the way the author wove the story of Henrietta with the story of her cells AND the story of her researching for the book. I’m going to listen to this again for sure. Amazing read

An engaging and enlightening read

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the story was amazing. really welll told. I loved it. the accents are atrocious lol

great

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This book is not mean't to be a science book. Henrietta Lack's life may have been unremarkable, but this book is not her history - it is about the effect her HeLa cells have had on those around her. Beautifully narrated by Cassandra Campbell.

Very Good

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A great story, well read. It makes you consider many interesting and often thorny topics.

a must read book

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I found this to be one of the most intriguing and insightful stories I've come across in a very long time. It challenged my thinking about moral dilemmas in medicine along with the need to test tissue and need for progression in science. Well worth it. Fascinating!

Fantastic, captivating and so intriguing!

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