The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in the 1950s and became one of the most important tools in medicine. The book explores the ethical issues surrounding medical research, the impact of race and class on healthcare, and the legacy of Lacks and her family. Through extensive research, Skloot highlights both the scientific significance of HeLa cells and the personal story of Lacks and her descendants.
10 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa.
The cells were like nothing anyone had ever seen.
Henrietta’s cells had a life of their own.
I wanted to know how a woman who died in poverty became the most important tool in medicine.
Her story is a story of racism in the medical community.
HeLa cells have been used in countless scientific breakthroughs.
The Lacks family was never informed about the existence of these cells.
Henrietta’s legacy is a complex mix of science and ethics.
Her cells live on, while her story remained largely untold.