“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot Abridged

In the groundbreaking book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” Rebecca Skloot unravels the extraordinary story of a poor African American woman whose cells revolutionized medical science, raising profound ethical questions about consent, race, and the commercialization of human tissue.

An image of Henrietta Lacks, a strong, resilient woman whose cells changed the course of medical history.

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is a captivating nonfiction narrative that explores the life, legacy, and ethical implications surrounding the immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks, a poor African American woman whose cells, known as HeLa cells, have been used in countless medical breakthroughs since her death in 1951.

Author Rebecca Skloot delves into the history of Henrietta’s life, her family’s struggles, and the scientific community’s exploitation of her cells without her or her family’s knowledge or consent.

The book traces the journey of Skloot as she becomes fascinated with the story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells.

Skloot skillfully weaves her own personal narrative with the history of medical research, introducing readers to the world of cell culture…