#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells — taken without her knowledge in 1951 — became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. Henrietta’s cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually … billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t afford health insurance. This phenomenal New York Times bestseller tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew.
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I used to teach nursing students. I referred to this book all the time. Its a case study in how our health system has changed and why we have a lot of the rules we now have to ensure patient’s safety and patient’s rights.
A mind blowing story about a real person who changed all of our lives.
Henrietta lacks contributed to millions of us without her knowledge.
What one lady did for all the people in the world helps keep us safe. It’s all about a petri dish & one woman
great story
Info everyone should know.
It was.a very interesting read. I highly recommend it to readers.
This book is riveting. I heard about it and thought it would be interesting but not sure if I could get through since it was about science. However, the author brought many interesting characters from Henrietta’s family that enhanced the story. Once you start, you cant put it down. Highly recommended.
Great story of a woman who was taken advantage by a noncaring hospital
True story
Everyone who has cancer or knows someone who has had cancer, or has taken the polio vaccine should read this book. Really. It should be required reading. I can’t believe I never knew about this important part of our health care history.
This is one of the best re-tellings of both the multi-generational effects of poverty , disease and sexual abuse of an African American family, that also helped me, an older white woman, better understand the origins of mistrust many African-Americans seem to have for both the medical and white communities.
Unprecedented In its scope and implications for our society. Do we even own our bodies?
Fascinating and interesting read.
A rather heartbreaking true story of a family wronged by the medical community in the name of seeking cures in a time before current medical standards of care and privacy. The good that has come from the bad that was done leaves a reader thinking hard about what is and what is not acceptable.
One of the best books I’ve ever read – we all need to read this one. Learned so much, puzzling but informative. Will remember it long after you finish reading it.
Amazing book, loved all of it.
Fascinating. About medical science and discoveries. And poor treatment of patients, as well.
Henrietta Lacks…an incredible woman who everyone should know about
A must read. Can’t believe what I read. So crazy things like that happen.
Well written book about how this woman’s cell line came to be used in scientific research for MANY years. This was not anything I had ever thought about. There were many details so a few parts were a little hard to slog through, but this book was eye-opening. I highly recommend it.