The Stay-In Weather Sale: 20% off select books
Used, New, and Out of Print Books - We Buy and Sell - Powell's Books
Cart |
|  my account  |  wish list  |  help   |  800-878-7323
Hello, | Login
MENU
  • Browse
    • New Arrivals
    • Bestsellers
    • Award Winners
    • Signed Preorders
    • Signed Editions
    • Digital Audio Books
    • See All Subjects
  • Used
  • Staff Picks
    • Staff Picks
    • Picks of the Month
    • Book Club Subscriptions
    • 25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books From the 21st Century
    • 25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Women to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books to Read Before You Die
  • Gifts + Gift Cards
    • Gift Cards & eGift Cards
    • Powell's Souvenirs
    • Read Rise Resist Gear
    • Journals & Notebooks
    • Games
    • Socks
  • Sell Books
    • Sell Books Online
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Find A Store
McAfee Secure

Don't Miss

  • Looking Forward Sale
  • The Stay-In Weather Sale
  • Kids' Graphic Novels Sale
  • Our 2021 TBR List
  • Books That Got Us Through 2020
  • Save 20% on OBOB Books

Visit Our Stores


Emily B.: Inauguration Reading List: 10 Books for 100 Days (0 comment)
We have put together a reading list based on President-elect Biden's publicized policy goals for his first 100 days in office...
Read More»
  • Rhianna Walton: Powell's Interview: Chang-rae Lee, author of 'My Year Abroad' (0 comment)
  • Jeremy Garber: New Literature in Translation: January 2021 Edition (1 comment)

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Rebecca Skloot
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

  • Comment on this title
  • Synopses & Reviews
  • View Video
  • Reading Group Guide
  • Award Excerpt
  • Read an Excerpt

ISBN13: 9781400052172
ISBN10: 1400052173



All Product Details

View Larger ImageView Larger Images
$28.00
New Hardcover
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Cart
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
2Local Warehouse
3Remote Warehouse

Awards

Puddlys 2011 2011 Puddly Award for Nonfiction


Staff Pick

This is an absolutely fascinating account of a line of cells that would proliferate to such a degree that they became immortal. Shaved from a tumor in a poor black woman in the 1950s, cultured without her knowledge, and grown to amazing proportions, HeLa cells would change the face of science and medicine forever. Pivotal in the search for disease obliteration, HeLa would prove invaluable because it simply would not die. Yet, Henrietta Lacks did die, in pain and obscurity, and her family knew nothing of her living cells. Posing some very serious questions on topics ranging from tissue ownership to the billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry to the mad rush for the elusive cure for cancer to the impossible cost of health insurance, Skloot has done an admirable job of research here. Ironically, Henrietta's story, if read in a novel, would seem ridiculously fantastical. Yet she lived — and her cells still do. Her story is unforgettable. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

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, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they'd weigh more than 50 million metric tons — as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the effects of the atom bomb; 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.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the "colored" ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta's small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo — to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live, and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta's family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty 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, who was devastated to learn about her mother's cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn't her children afford health insurance?

Review

"This is exactly the sort of story that books were made to tell — thorough, detailed, quietly passionate, and full of revelation." Ted Conover, author of Newjack and The Routes of Man

Review

"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 (Starred Review)

Review

"Skloot's vivid account begins with the life of Henrietta Lacks, who comes fully alive on the page...Immortal Life reads like a novel." Washington Post

Review

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a fascinating read and a ringing success. It is a well-written, carefully-researched, complex saga of medical research, bioethics, and race in America. Above all it is a human story of redemption for a family, torn by loss, and for a writer with a vision that would not let go." The Boston Globe

Review

"Riveting...raises important questions about medical ethics...It's an amazing story...Deeply chilling... Whether those uncountable HeLa cells are a miracle or a violation, Skloot tells their fascinating story at last with skill, insight and compassion." St. Petersburg Times

Review

"Henrietta Lacks, a poor married, African American mother of five, died at 31 in Baltimore from a vicious form of cervical cancer. During her treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital and after her death there in 1951, researchers harvested some of her tumor cells. This wasn't unusual. Though Lacks consented to treatment, no one asked permission to take her cells; the era's scientists considered it fair to conduct research on patients in public wards since they were being treated for free. What was unusual was what happened next." Valerie Ann Johnson, Ms. Magazine (read the entire Ms. review)

Synopsis

Skloot brilliantly weaves together the story of Henrietta Lacks — a woman whose cells have been unwittingly used for scientific research since the 1950s — with the birth of bioethics, and the dark history of experimentation on African Americans.

Synopsis

Soon to be an HBO(r) Film starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne.

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, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they d weigh more than 50 million metric tons as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. 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.
Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the colored ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.
Henrietta s family did not learn of her immortality until more than twenty 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, who was devastated to learn about her mother s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? 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."

Synopsis

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Now a major motion picture from HBO(R) starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne.

NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN

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, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they'd weigh more than 50 million metric tons--as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. 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.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the "colored" ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta's small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia--a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo--to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta's family did not learn of her "immortality" until more than twenty 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, who was devastated to learn about her mother's cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? 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.

Synopsis

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "The story of modern medicine and bioethics--and, indeed, race relations--is refracted beautifully, and movingly."--Entertainment Weekly

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM HBO(R) STARRING OPRAH WINFREY AND ROSE BYRNE - ONE OF THE "MOST INFLUENTIAL" (CNN), "DEFINING" (LITHUB), AND "BEST" (THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER) BOOKS OF THE DECADE - WINNER OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE HEARTLAND PRIZE FOR NONFICTION

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 (U.K.) - Times (U.K.) - 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 sixty 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 twenty 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.


Video


About the Author

Rebecca Skloot is an award-winning science writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; Discover; and many others. She is coeditor of The Best American Science Writing 2011 and has worked as a correspondent for NPR’s Radiolab and PBS’s Nova ScienceNOW. She was named one of five surprising leaders of 2010 by the Washington Post. Skloot's debut book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly became a New York Times bestseller. It was chosen as a best book of 2010 by more than sixty media outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, People, and the New York Times. It is being translated into more than twenty-five languages, adapted into a young reader edition, and being made into an HBO film produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball. Skloot is the founder and president of The Henrietta Lacks Foundation. She has a B.S. in biological sciences and an MFA in creative nonfiction. She has taught creative writing and science journalism at the University of Memphis, the University of Pittsburgh, and New York University. She lives in Chicago. For more information, visit her website at RebeccaSkloot.com, where you’ll find links to follow her on Twitter and Facebook. 

Reading Group Guide

1. On page xiii, Rebecca Skloot states “This is a work of nonfiction. No names have been changed, no characters invented, no events fabricated.” Consider the process Skloot went through to verify dialogue, recreate scenes, and establish facts. Imagine trying to re-create scenes such as when Henrietta discovered her tumor (page 15). What does Skloot say on pages xiii–xiv and in the notes section (page 346) about how she did this?

2. One of Henrietta’s relatives said to Skloot, “If you pretty up how people spoke and change the things they said, that’s dishonest” (page xiii). Throughout, Skloot is true to the dialect in which people spoke to her: the Lackses speak in a heavy Southern accent, and Lengauer and Hsu speak as non-native English speakers. What impact did the decision to maintain speech authenticity have on the story?

3. As much as this book is about Henrietta Lacks, it is also about Deborah learning of the mother she barely knew, while also finding out the truth about her sister, Elsie. Imagine discovering similar information about one of your family members. How would you react? What questions would you ask?

4. In a review for the New York Times, Dwight Garner writes, “Ms. Skloot is a memorable character herself. She never intrudes on the narrative, but she takes us along with her on her reporting.” How would the story have been different if she had not been a part of it? What do you think would have happened to scenes like the faith healing on page 289? Are there other scenes you can think of where her presence made a difference? Why do you think she decided to include herself in the story?

5.  Deborah shares her mother’s medical records with Skloot, but is adamant that she not copy everything. On page 284 Deborah says, “Everybody in the world got her cells, only thing we got of our mother is just them records and her Bible.” Discuss the deeper meaning behind this sentence. Think not only of her words, but also of the physical reaction she was having to delving into her mother’s and sister’s medical histories. If you were in Deborah’s situation, how would you react to someone wanting to look into your mother’s medical records?

6. This is a story with many layers. Though it’s not told chronologically, it is divided into three sections. Discuss the significance of the titles given to each part: Life, Death, and Immortality. How would the story have been different if it were told chronologically?

7. As a journalist, Skloot is careful to present the encounter between the Lacks family and the world of medicine without taking sides. Since readers bring their own experiences and opinions to the text, some may feel she took the scientists’ side, while others may feel she took the family’s side. What are your feelings about this? Does your opinion fall on one side or the other, or somewhere in the middle, and why?

8. Henrietta signed a consent form that said, “I hereby give consent to the staff of The Johns Hopkins Hospital to perform any operative procedures and under any anaesthetic either local or general that they may deem necessary in the proper surgical care and treatment of: ________” (page 31). Based on this statement, do you believe TeLinde and Gey had the right to obtain a sample from her cervix to use in their research? What information would they have had to give her for Henrietta to give informed consent? Do you think Henrietta would have given explicit consent to have a tissue sample used in medical research if she had been given all the information? Do you always thoroughly read consent forms before signing them?

9. In 1976, when Mike Rogers’s Rolling Stone article was printed, many viewed it as a story about race (see page 197 for reference). How do you think public interpretation might have been different if the piece had been published at the time of Henrietta’s death in 1951? How is this different from the way her story is being interpreted today? How do you think Henrietta’s experiences with the medical system would have been different had she been a white woman? What about Elsie’s fate?

10. Consider Deborah’s comment on page 276: “Like I’m always telling my brothers, if you gonna go into history, you can’t do it with a hate attitude. You got to remember, times was different.” Is it possible to approach history from an objective point of view? If so, how and why is this important, especially in the context of Henrietta’s story?

11. Deborah says, “But I always have thought it was strange, if our mother cells done so much for medicine, how come her family can’t afford to see no doctors? Don’t make no sense” (page 9). Should the family be financially compensated for the HeLa cells? If so, who do you believe that money should come from? Do you feel the Lackses deserve health insurance even though they can’t afford it? How would you respond if you were in their situation?

12. Dr. McKusick directed Susan Hsu to contact Henrietta’s children for blood samples to further HeLa research; neither McKusick nor Hsu tried to get informed consent for this research. Discuss whether or not you feel this request was ethical. Further, think about John Moore and the patent that had been filed without his consent on his cells called “Mo” (page 201). How do you feel about the Supreme Court of California ruling that states when tissues are removed from your body, with or without your consent, any claim you might have had to owning them vanishes?

13. Religious faith and scientific understanding, while often at odds with each other, play important roles in the lives of the Lacks family. How does religious faith help frame the Lacks’ response to and interpretation of the scientific information they receive about HeLa? How does Skloot’s attitude towards religious faith and science evolve as a result of her relationship with the Lackses?

14. On page 261, Deborah and Zakariyya visit Lengauer’s lab and see the cells for the first time. How is their interaction with Lengauer different from the previous interactions the family had with representatives of Johns Hopkins? Why do you think it is so different? What does the way Deborah and Zakariyya interact with their mother’s cells tell you about their feelings for her?

15. Reflect upon Henrietta’s life: What challenges did she and her family face? What do you think their greatest strengths were? Consider the progression of Henrietta’s cancer in the last eight months between her diagnosis and death. How did she face death? What do you think that says about the type of person she was?


4.9 89

What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!
Average customer rating 4.9 (89 comments)

`
JaneEyre , January 02, 2013 (view all comments by JaneEyre)
A powerful book, with a strong sense of justice.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(4 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Jorge de la Cova , January 02, 2013 (view all comments by Jorge de la Cova)
Fascinating story! I was astounded about what few rights a human being's family had with respect to the disposition of their loved one's cells.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(4 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Derianna , January 01, 2013
I found this book to be one of the best in the last decade. I am very interested in medical non fiction. I don't think anyone could not be powerfully moved by the story of Ms Lacks and the injustices she experienced from those who so benefitted.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
JessMama , August 07, 2012 (view all comments by JessMama)
Fantastic, I could not put it down. Ms. Skloot did a wonderful job showing the life and legacy of this remarkable women. Even without her massive contribution to science Mrs. Lacks and her family's story is a compelling read. I uber recommend this book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Catherine Malcolm , February 26, 2012 (view all comments by Catherine Malcolm)
How does Rebecca Skloot make a history of cell development so entertaining?! Learning the background of bioethics is valuable and easy to read about because of the controversies among all people involved. The true life relatives of Henrietta are a difficult family to investigate. They endured many letdowns and mysteries trying to unravel the story about their famous kin.Rebecca Skloot was amazingly persistent in gaining their trust.She is a storyteller who draws you in to the family views.No civil rights or public awareness or cell donation for research initially creates outrage in any readers' mind. Henrietta Lacks,the HeLa cell donor, was responsible for incredible progress in medical research starting in 1951. Billions of her cells multiply each day yet the Lacks family cannot afford health care. Ripping yarn.Non-fiction we all need to know.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
lkhofer , January 25, 2012
A wonderful blend of science and personal narrative of a single woman's unknowing contribution and its' far reaching effects.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
sandman , January 23, 2012
This book gets top marks for being engaging, carefully researched and presenting complex science in easy to understand language. The people of the story are described with compassion. It is a fascinating history lesson that has touched most peoples lives since the HeLa cells were used for research in development of many diverse new therapies. It also describes the inequality in medical treatment for Black Americans before 1960.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
rick.haines , January 02, 2012
This book takes a difficult subject and makes it both entertaining and interesting.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
JenniferLK , January 02, 2012 (view all comments by JenniferLK)
I cast my vote for this amazing read as 2012 Puddly Award. It reads like a novel, but has intrigue, suspense, and is the most real & sincere medical drama I've ever read. You waver between admiration, pity, and outright frustration with the Lacks family. The author does as an excellent job explaining the biology and medicine as she does the humanity. Great read!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Chele , January 01, 2012
Quite possibly one of the best books I have EVER read! An easy read,even for non-scientific types...a MUST read for anyone!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
hockeyfan22 , January 01, 2012
Wonderfully written and very scientifically accurate.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Tapper , January 01, 2012
An amazing story, well-told, readable.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Jessica Moore , January 01, 2012 (view all comments by Jessica Moore)
This book moved my mind and my heart. In reading Skloot's adventures with the Lacks family, the researchers, and other players in Henrietta's story I felt I was a member of the Lacks family and seeking the truth about the HeLa cells. Learning about the evolution of cell cultivation, the history of medical care for the black community in the 50s, and a very personal story of a single woman was life changing. I am familiar with the communities that tell the story of Henrietta so I was able to picture the places and the people along the journey told by Skloot. An amazing story!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Ryan Prather , January 01, 2012
Puddly Award!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
KeepMoving , January 01, 2012
This is a truly monumental work. It is so well written that it reads like a novel, but it delivers enormous amounts of scientific, political and sociological content. My understanding of mid-century America was stretched and deepened. Moreover, the book ends on a note of redemption, and with an invitation to positive action.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
doubletom , January 01, 2012 (view all comments by doubletom)
A fascinating book about tumor cells.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
DianeG , January 29, 2011
Such a pleasure to read well-researched and well-written non-fiction, particularly in the scientific realm. Congratulations to the author and the Lacks family. The book really demonstrates the power of ignorance to get in the way of both decision making and emotional stability and the author did her share to educate both the scientists and the family. And she demonstrates that with humility rather than self-satisfaction. Reads like fiction but I learned so much. I would like to see all college students read this.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
daynarose , January 28, 2011
I really like the way this book balances complicated science with biography with personal memoir. I found the fact that this woman's cells, harvested without her knowledge in 1951 when she was dying of cervical cancer, are used all over the world and continue to be involved in medical testing of all kinds. The fact that her family is so dramatically affected by it is kind of hard to believe in the beginning, but by the author getting to know them and digging into their lives after Henrietta's death, it starts to become more understandable. For them to know that their mother's cells are being used so prolifically sort of drives them crazy - I've never before understood (as much as I can understand from a book) the sort of Southern, spiritual, very poor life that this family lives. Plus, I'm not really a science buff, so to read relatively simple, completely absorbing descriptions of how genes were first mapped, among many other things, is pretty amazing.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(7 of 13 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Emily Barry , January 28, 2011 (view all comments by Emily Barry)
I enjoyed this book immensely. I fell in love with all of the characters and felt as if I knew them. I found the author commendable for having dedicated her life to this family, the story, and to the publishing of the book. The topic was extremely interesting, knowing scientists solved all these medical dilemmas from a few rapid multiplying cells. I couldn't put this book down, definitely my favorite of 2010!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(6 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
mjantzi , January 26, 2011 (view all comments by mjantzi)
This is a great book not only about a growing problem with science research, but it also gives interesting insight into the condition of living in black America in the 50s. The author does an excellent job of mixing Henrietta's personal life with the contribution her cells have made to science. Great book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Amy O , January 24, 2011 (view all comments by Amy O)
This book was not only compelling but utterly fascinating as well. I never knew anything about immortal cells before reading this. What a page-turner!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
annieb319 , January 24, 2011
An eye-opening look at the abuse of patients in the name of medical research.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
deborah sue , January 16, 2011
"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot reveals the story behind the mysterious and virulent cancer cells, nicknamed "hela" by scientists. Her curiosity aroused in a science class many years ago, the author took a personal interest in finding out who "hela" was and how her cells became invaluable to science after Henrietta Lacks died. We meet the Lacks family and hear their views on this remarkable and accidental event. Ms. Skloot shows us the state of American medicine some fifty years ago and its impact on low income minority patients. The book is written clearly enough for the layperson to understand most of the science and theories discussed by researchers. A fascinating behind the scenes look at the intersection where medicine and science meet.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Antonette , January 14, 2011 (view all comments by Antonette)
A fascinating story, but I feel that the language is far too casual. The author uses lots of contractions which to my ear do not fit with the weightiness of the subject matter. I do not have the book with me so cannot offer an example, but I have read some of what I consider sloppy writing to my husband and he agreed. Worth reading, but the author needed an old-fashioned hands-on editor.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
ksiegle , January 13, 2011
Absolutely absorbing. This account of social and personal tragedy tied to a medical miracle is one of the most fascinating tales I've ever read. Tactfully and honestly reconstructed by the author, the book touches on almost every aspect and implication of the astounding events surrounding the life, death, and afterlife of Henrietta Lacks. Most importanly, it encourages further thought and research while remaining an entirely satisfying read. Highly, highly recommended.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
MoonHowler , January 13, 2011 (view all comments by MoonHowler)
Henrietta Lacks, a poor African American woman, died of a particularly virulent cancer in 1951. Diseased cells harvested during her diagnosis and treatment were later found to be unique. The medical researchers used some of those cells (without the knowledge of her family) to develop treatments that have touched the lives of many (if not every) American. Skloot describes for the reader not just the value of Henrietta's cells, but the lives of her husband and children after her death.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
njgill , January 10, 2011 (view all comments by njgill)
A fascinating look at medical research beginning in the mid-20th century and following both the scientific and the familial ramifications resulting from attitudes that were common at the time and that were based on education, race, and gender.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Viveca , January 08, 2011 (view all comments by Viveca )
No matter what your interest -- history, dysfunctional families, science, medicine, journalism, and many others -- this book addresses it -- and reading it just might make you a better human being.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
ahsparks , January 08, 2011
Fascinating and engrossing, I've been amazed at the intricacies the author captures about each of the Lacks family members. A reminder of the value of education and and how it influences one's ability to engage or fear the world. (I don't think that's the author's point--just a lesson learned for me).

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
bah195 , January 08, 2011
I'm not a non-fiction reader but this book gripped me from the first pages. I've recommended this book to all my friends.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
altissima , January 06, 2011
An amazing book. Not only fascinating content, but beautiful writing.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Lorillake , January 06, 2011
This was the best book I've read in a couple of years. I generally read fiction, but this nonfiction book - part history, part science, part memoir, part mystery, part biography - was every bit as good as fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
JJM , January 05, 2011
This is a beautifully written book about a forgotten women whose cancer cells have been of immeasurable value to scientific research. Skloot weaves together the story of the Lacks family, the science of the HeLa cell line and the issue of the tangled ethical implications in one of the most readable books of the year.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Renee Hirshfield , January 05, 2011 (view all comments by Renee Hirshfield)
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS exemplifies the best in scientific exploration, historical perspective, you-are-there reportage, and compelling narrative drive. Once I started reading about Henrietta Lacks and her lifesaving, ever-replicating cells known as HeLa, I could not bear to stop. What's more, my ex-husband—who doesn't read many books in a given year—picked up my copy and finished it in one sitting. Author Rebecca Skloot is a science writer who not only brings complex genetic concepts and ethical issues to life but also has the courage to recognize and reveal that sometimes enormous personal wrongs are perpetrated in the name of medical progress.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
G Marie , January 04, 2011
This book is one of those works that makes you think on many levels and about many aspects of US History and the history and ethics of medicine in this country. First, is the obvious medical history of these cell lines that have made a difference in the lives of many people and made the reputations of several scientists. Second, it is about race relations and discirimination of the worst kind, flavored by physician and scientist views of people of color who are poor as less than human with few (if any) rights. Third, I found myself wondering about the ethics and motivations of the author--was she trying to help the family of Henrietta Lacks or is she yet another person who is taking advantage of them for her own reputation and claim to fame? The ethical condundra disclosed by and represented by this book are many, with twists and turns that can teach us all about the need for protection of people in medical research and for having the highest standards in that research. As a health researcher myself, I am confident that all but a very small percentage of health researchers place the health and welfare of those who participate in their research above the science itself. We cannot advance without the type of research portrayed in this book, but we certainly can do a better job than was done in this important case study of medical ethics. So I ask other readers of this critical work--should the author be commended for exposing a lapse in medical ethics or should we chastise her for pushing herself onto a family that suffered much, received little, and never were recompensed for Ms. Lacks unknowing contributions to medical science?

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Christina Stephenson , January 04, 2011
I bought this book for our library collection and every patron who has checked it out has told me how much they were surprised and touched by it. One patron who does not normally read non-fiction picked up the book on my recommendation. When she returned it, she said that she was very touched by the story of how one seemingly unremarkable person has made such a deep and lasting impact on the lives of thousands, if not millions of people.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Rebecca Swayze , January 04, 2011
I was fascinated cover to cover by this book. It takes a rather dry subject and interweaves it with the story of this family who have been left in the dark in a multitude of ways. I went into it thinking I would just feel sorry for Henrietta's family and their lack of knowledge on what had happened to their Mother, but in the end I really understood their plight. The twists and turns of the plot really leave a lot of social and ethical questions that keep you thinking long after you've finished reading. This was definitely my favorite book this year.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Angela Gorden , January 03, 2011
Very inspiring and informative story. Very balanced mix of heart-wrenching family story and great science reporting. Unforgettable.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
doubletom , January 03, 2011 (view all comments by doubletom)
Great book for the person who knows nothing about in vitro cell usage and the history behind one of the most prolific cancer cell lines.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
cynthiac , January 03, 2011
This was a fascinating book about one person and her connection with humanity. It reinforces my belief that everyone has an interesting story. The author did a superb job of pulling all the facts together while preserving histories, emotions and personalities of those involved in the story.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Jasmine , January 03, 2011 (view all comments by Jasmine)
I can't stop thinking about this book since I've read it, and I've bought it for three people, and recommended it to many more. It's about science, and medicine, and race, and class, and history, and people, and it's the only nonfiction book that I've ever read that I couldn't put down and stayed up until 1 am to finish. Completely absorbing, well written, and a fascinating story.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
janeerwin , January 03, 2011
The story of the Lacks family is fascinating on its own, but the author also includes scientific breakthroughs, current events, and cultual touchstones for a full picture of Henrietta's life and death, the continued existence of her cells, and the effect of it all on her family, researchers, and the world. Kudos to Skloot for her perseverance, research, and excellent writing.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
ev0lucion , January 03, 2011
Covers the issues around the creation of the HeLa cells very well. Covers the scientific aspects well and the social aspects in depth as well. A fascinating book and very difficult to put down. I'd recommend it for both those interested in the history of cell culture and those interested in medical ethics and its effects on the public.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
SlowReader , January 03, 2011
Great book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
babygrandsue , January 03, 2011
A must read for everyone (along with Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea).

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Sally Gawne , January 03, 2011 (view all comments by Sally Gawne)
A very enlightened view of the Research Lab.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Deborah Diers , January 03, 2011 (view all comments by Deborah Diers)
This is part mystery, part science, part human drama and totally rewarding. I consider it a must-read on so many levels. Have recommended this over and over again this year to young and old and haven't found one person who didn't agree that it is an amazing book.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
thebookist , January 02, 2011
If you're in a book club this book will generate never-ending discussion topics. Very stimulating and moving.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Jocelyn Tutak , January 02, 2011
A fantastic non-fiction book, well-written, thoughtful and entertaining. I enthusiastically recommend this book to any reader; Rebecca Skloot does a fantastic job of explaining the more esoteric or technical aspects of the story, and creates an entirely compelling book. It's the best book I read this year!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Debbi , January 02, 2011 (view all comments by Debbi)
Science for the layperson but it offers SO much more. Skloot's research was impeccable and this reads like incredibly good literary fiction... hard to put down. I work in a high school library and continue to recommend "Immortal Life" to my friends as well as our staff and students. Top of my list for 2010! Hats off to the author.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
avid , January 02, 2011 (view all comments by avid)
A non-fiction page turner.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
freeda16 , January 02, 2011
I loved this book because it put a face on HeLa cells which really have saved many lives.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
a2ae , January 02, 2011
This book is a good read, following two stories - one medical/scientific and one human.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
pdxmws , January 02, 2011
Terrific book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Rebecca Wright , January 02, 2011
Excellent well written book. I couldn't put the book down and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a captivating non-fiction topic to read. A very big thank you to my librarian for recommending it!!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
linda.bub , January 02, 2011 (view all comments by linda.bub)
It was fascinating! Outside of the medical world, we had no idea about the HeLa cells. They have done so much for medicine. It's a shame they were taken illegally but a miracle to have been so productive and useful. Rebeca Skloot should be commended for her extensive (long) research and her focus and friendship with the family. Rebecca Skloot devoted her life for many years for this book. It was worth it! Her interest became my interest.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
ksrne , January 02, 2011
best nonficition book of 2010

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
wandaz , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by wandaz)
I used to work in medical researach but I never knew about the human line of tissue culture. The book was informative as well as an eye opener for the HeLa line. I never worked with it but I sure had experience making other tissue cultures for viral research. Where would research be today if the Johns Hopkins"s doctor had not shared the line with other researchers?

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Robert LeHew , January 01, 2011
A riveting bit of sad American history that should have come to light years ago. Well researched and brilliantly brought out.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
nootkagirl , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by nootkagirl)
This is just an amazing story of both the medical/biological history of the Hela cells and the author's long saga to get this family's story told. It is so well written and gripping that you can't stop reading it. It is my nominee for favorite book of the year.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
David Combe , January 01, 2011
Brilliant examination of the intersection of poverty, science, history, medicine and racism in the middle of the 20th century.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Reading Jess , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by Reading Jess)
This was definitely one of my favorite books of 2010. I first heard about it during an interview on NPR's "Fresh Air" (and I can I just say that Terry Gross an is amazing interviewer?) It was one of those interviews where you stayed in the car for an extra 45 minutes so you didn't miss a single word. I immediately placed the book on hold from the library; it wasn't even ordered yet! Once I had it in my hands, it didn't leave. So engrossing, fascinating, and shocking. Skloot's extensive research, and the lengths she traveled to achieve it, are quite impressive. I would recommend this to anyone, even if they are not nonfiction lovers.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
bon2mic , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by bon2mic)
My favorite book of 2010. A discussion of race/science/class as fascinating social history.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
supercybermonkey , January 01, 2011
Fantastic book that is both entertaining and educational. Enjoyed this while I was reading it and all of these months later, it still resonates. Of all of the books I have read, this is one I just have no criticism for. Do yourself a favor and spend some time with Henrietta.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Mohi , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by Mohi)
Brings the ethical problems of medical research to the forefront.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
senugent6 , January 01, 2011
The best book of 2010!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
barblarney , January 01, 2011
Skloot provides the reader with a concise history of the medical advances made from the cells of a biopsy/pathology sample taken from a black woman, with advanced cervical cancer, treated at Johns Hopkins circa 1950s. A must read for any healthcare provider, worker, or patient interested in bioethics and informed consent.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
nlg , January 01, 2011
An amazing story. This is an account of a woman who has contributed and will continue to contribute to medical science without ever knowing it. It is very readable which makes it even more remarkable.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Travel Lady , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by Travel Lady)
This is a fascinating book dealing with medicine, ethics, consent and more. Henrietta Lacks was a poor African American from the tobacco fields of Virginia who died very young from cancer in 1951. A sample of her cancerous tissue was taken without her knowledge or consent and ended up as HeLa cells, which led to many medical breakthoughs. Meanwhile, her family continued to live in poverty and poor health. A moving story with lots of questions to be asked and discussed.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
MizLoo , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by MizLoo)
Race, class, science, social utility, fairness, love, God, illness, family, health and everything interesting, except warfare, touches on the fascinating true case of feisty, fearless, lovable Henrietta Lacks. Riveting. This book has scientific and historical rigor, wonderful writing, clear exposition of complex cell biology and fabulous, well-drawn characters. How eawsy it is to misunderstand one another; how hard to do the right thing. A wonderful book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
donnamight , January 01, 2011
A moving, poignant human story and a wonderful narrative of American history and science that illuminates a significant, current moral conundrum. Very well written

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
amacd , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by amacd)
My husband & I listened to this book in the car and it made a long trip pass quickly. I also borrowed it from a friend to reread it, and I have recommended it to countless people this past year. It is so well researched and written, and is an excellent book choice for reading groups. The moral and ethical issues are provocative and disturbing, and will haunt you long after you finish the book. Grab it - you won't be sorry.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
vfeatherstone , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by vfeatherstone)
This is an unforgettable book. Rebecca Skloot conveys the material in a compelling manner; she recognizes the way this story presents an intersection of microcosm and macrocosm, personal and global, with historical and contemporary relevance. Of all the books I've read this year, this one is my top recommendation.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Andrea Ferguson , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by Andrea Ferguson)
While providing the reader with a well-written and fascinating exploration of the HeLa cells, Skloot adds emotional depth and true human interest with her beautiful telling of the lives of Henrietta and her family, all of whom exist disconnected from and by the scientists whose research the HeLa cells engendered. Though filled with scientific information and psychological and sociological insight into both the scientists and the Lacks family, the book is as un-putdownable as the best page-turning thriller.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Sarah Redd , January 01, 2011
Fantastic book. Discusses science and ethics with a compelling human interest angle. I assigned this book to my intro biology class and everyone loved it. Extremely relevant.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
readinginwashington , January 01, 2011
The perfect blend of science, history and storytelling.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
blarson , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by blarson)
Skloot does an amazing job of combining the medical facts with the family dynamics; a fine example of the moral dilemma that has faced all people of all times.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Mary-Margaret , January 01, 2011
An excellent example of truth is stranger than fiction. It was written factually with a generous helping of emotion.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Yvette Robertson , January 01, 2011
The fact that this story was told at all is amazing. Rebecca Skloot did a wonderful job.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Sandra Lambert , January 01, 2011
Intimate, involved, rigorously investigated - this is how history should be written.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Clover88 , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by Clover88)
Henrietta Lacks, a poor, African American patient at Johns Hopkins, had cancer cells that were taken in the 1950s and have been used to do scientific research ever since. I was impressed by Skool's clear-headed description of the science and political issues of the situation, and also by her empathy and sense of conscience for all those involved, including the doctors and the Lacks family. It reminded me of Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down in its even-handed yet caring approach.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
JcarolS , January 01, 2011
Here is a book anyone can enjoy, written by a young and talented home-grown author. It is a fascinating story about one person's most prominent contributions to scientific research, and the story of her family that so deservedly needed to be told.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
JVMu1999 , January 01, 2011
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a life changing book. It tells the story of a poor, unknown woman whose death has gone on to save millions of lives. And no one ever knew. This book tells two stories, the story of Henrietta's cells that continued to live after her death and have been used in every medical breakthrough since 1951. Medicines created to treat AIDS, cancer, polio, and everything in between were found using her cells. The other story is that of Henrietta the woman, the devoted mother of 5 children and their life of poverty. Her cells were sold for millions and millions of dollars, but her family never saw a dime. Before Rebecca Skloot, no one had taken the time to explain to Henrietta's family what had happened and why their mother was so important. We meet incredible people, especially Henrietta's daughter, Deborah, who helps Skloot learn about her family while Skloot informs Deborah of her mother's impact on the world. This book reads like a novel, the parts about science are easy to follow and very interesting. Even more engrossing are the stories of Lacks' family. Once you start, you will not be able to put this book down and it will forever change your view of medical history and every pill you take.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
elenaleslie , January 01, 2011
Non-fiction storytelling at its' best.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
bhunting , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by bhunting)
The story of the cells that may have helped you overcome a disease and about the woman who unknowingly provided them. This is a story of medicine at its best and worst and about our country at its best and worst.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Andrea Cumbo , January 01, 2011 (view all comments by Andrea Cumbo)
Impeccably researched and beautifully written.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Rachel Coker , December 05, 2010 (view all comments by Rachel Coker)
Compelling science combined with a compelling human story. I'm not usually a fan of writers injecting themselves into the stories they're telling, but Rebecca Skloot pulls it off beautifully here. I appreciate that she didn't shy away from the details that placed her subjects in a less-than-flattering light, even as she became a closer and closer friend to them. She's also completely honest about the portions of the story where the truth has been lost or possibly embellished over time. The book made me reconsider what I thought I knew about bioethics and intellectual property. You need to have some interest in scientific discovery to propel you through the book, but you absolutely don't need to be a biologist to appreciate the story.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
David Prete , January 25, 2010
I agree with everything Mr. Floyd Skloot said in his review. I'd also like to add that while the book deals with tangible truths about scientific research, cells, and medicine, it also fairly presents the cases of religious faith, bio ethics, and the afterlife. It takes a truly gifted writer and determined reporter to pull off all of that in one book. And you dont have to be the author's boyfriend to see that.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(11 of 16 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Floyd Skloot , January 25, 2010
This book does everything that narrative nonfiction should do: it reports a previously unknown story with rigor and depth, it tells a story that grips the reader, it develops characters and scene using the literary techniques customarily the province of fiction, it reveals the writer's passion and commitment in a way that doesn't clog the reading experience, and it deals with important interdisciplinary issues. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a beautifully conceived and written book. You don't need to be her father to realize that.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(23 of 28 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

View all 89 comments


Product Details

ISBN:
9781400052172
Binding:
Hardcover
Publication date:
02/02/2010
Publisher:
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Pages:
369
Height:
1.45IN
Width:
6.44IN
Thickness:
1.50
Number of Units:
1
Illustration:
Yes
Copyright Year:
2010
UPC Code:
2801400052174
Author:
Rebecca Skloot
Author:
Rebecca Skloot
Subject:
Cell culture
Subject:
Medical ethics
Subject:
History
Subject:
Health and Medicine-History of Medicine

Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$28.00
New Hardcover
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
2Local Warehouse
3Remote Warehouse

More copies of this ISBN

  • Signed, Used, Hardcover, $50.00
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

  • Help
  • Guarantee
  • My Account
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Security
  • Wish List
  • Partners
  • Contact Us
  • Shipping
  • Sitemap
  • © 2021 POWELLS.COM Terms

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##