The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca SklootBack-of-the-book blurb: 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.
She Is Too Fond of Books’ review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a wonderful work of nonfiction, an excellent blend of legal/ethical questions of who owns our cells after they leave our body (when taken with our permission, for example, for a biopsy) with the incredible story of Henrietta Lacks, whose own cancer cells multiplied so fast and so furiously that they have been used for years for scientific research and advancement. What makes the story more shocking/sad/distasteful, is the manner in which the cells were taken (without the permission or knowledge of Henrietta Lacks or her family), the curtain of secrecy that the doctors and researchers kept from the family for decades after Henrietta’s death, and the implicit racism in the entire tale (that is, the tale of Henrietta Lacks and her HeLa cells, not the tale that Skloot uncovers for us).
Take for example, the attitudes of two people who treated Henrietta Lacks when she presented at Johns Hopkins with what turned out to be cervical cancer. First, the attitude of Dr. Richard Wesley TeLinde, who, like many doctors of his time, saw indigent patients as only a collection of cells (p. 29):
Like many doctors of his era, TeLinde often used patients from the public wards for research, usually without their knowledge. Many scientists believed that since patients were treated for free in the public wards, it was fair to use them as research subjects as a form of payment. And as Howard Jones once wrote, “Hopkins, with its large indigent black population, had no dearth of clinical material.”
Contrast this with the observations of Mary, George Gey’s lab assistant, who was present at the autopsy of Henrietta Lacks. She saw that (p. 90):
Tumors the size of baseballs had nearly replaced her kidneys, bladder, ovaries, and uterus. And her other organs were so covered in small white tumors it looked as if someone has filled her with pearls. … Then Mary’s gaze fell on Henrietta’s feet, and she gasped: Henrietta’s toenails were covered in chipped bright red polish.
“When I saw those toenails,” Mary told me [Skloot] years later, “I nearly fainted. I thought, Oh jeez, she’s a real person. I started imagining her sitting in her bathroom painting those toenails, and it hit me for the first time that those cells we’d been working with all this time and sending all over the world, they came from a live woman. I’d never thought of it that way.”
Skloot’s research, conducted over a decade, brings the “real person” behind the HeLa cells to the public. She details the reluctance of the family to speak with her, their understandable anger when they question why labs benefit financially by selling HeLa cells while her family remains at the poverty level, and asks the reader to consider if the memory of Henrietta Lacks, and those family members still living, deserve more in the way of acknowledging the ways in which research on HeLa cells have benefited us.
Skloot brings the racism question to the forefront, arguing (successfully, I’d say), that were Henrietta Lacks a white well-to-do woman with wildly reproducing cells, the story would have taken a different turn. Interestingly, in our book group discussion, one member questioned whether the dogged research Skloot performed, relentlessly phoning and visiting the Lacks family until she wore them down, was also taking advantage of them. The member wondered why if “no” didn’t really mean “no” when it was spoken by a poor black family. I’m just playing Devil’s Advocate by adding the question here – I think it’s a great point for discussion, but I so appreciate Skloot’s research and the story she is able to tell.
I found The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks to be a very readable work of non-fiction, and one that, as proven by my own book group, is very discussable! Rebecca Skloot explains the scientific aspects of the book in a way that is not too technical for the lay person to understand, but not so simply as to be patronizing to the reader. Detailed notes and an index make the book useful as a reference, as well. Recommended, especially for those interested in medicine and social history.
FTC disclosure: I bought this book at an independent bookstore. Actually, I was unable to attend the reading, so a friend picked up a signed copy for me, and I got it from her when we met another time for coffee. Win-win-win.
Excellent review — I think you’ve hit on all the important parts of the story from a social history point of view. I agree that he genetics and research parts were fairly accurate (a rarity in the popular press).
Plus it’s important to question Skloot’s actions, no matter how you feel about them. That is definitely part of the book. I have meant to look a bit deeper into the story behind the story because I’ve heard various opinions of the interaction between Skloot and the Lacks family.
I agree that was a great book club selection.
I am in three book clubs and we have all read this book, and it is never a dull moment with it. I usually get in trouble when I have questions about the authors methods, but like Candace says it is an important aspect to discuss, especially since she put herself and her story into the book.
I’ve been seeing reviews pop up for this book all over the place and am really intrigued. It’s definitely one that I am hoping to read in the near future. It seems such a shocking story, I had no idea before seeing reviews out there that doctors took cells like that. I mean, I know there were experiments done on humans, but wow. There’s always more coming to light.
Great review – you really hit on all the important points of this book!
You didn’t disclose who paid for the coffee…
I so want to read this book and thank you for your wonderful review! It sounds as though this is the perfect non-fiction read for me: detailed, but still accessible. I also find it sad that Henrietta was used in such a way, without even consenting to having her sells taken. I can’t wait to read this one!!
Your review, as always, is fantastic! There is a lot to discuss in this book. I think the way the Lacks family was treated after the fact was awful, but I did enjoy the book.
Great review.. I definitely plan to read this one!
Beth F – the book group I was in previously (my CT life) read almost exclusively nonfiction; things like NICKELED AND DIMED, the Malcolm Gladwell books, Jill Ker Conway’s memoirs …. I’m going to suggest HELA to them.
Nicole – I agree that Skloot’s story became part of the Lacks’ family story; there’s no separating the reseach from her efforts. I’m so glad the story is told, but if I take a “the ends justifies the means” attitude, does that make me as disrespectful/self-serving as the original lab researchers? You’ve certainly given me something to think about, and I’m not sure what the answer is!
Amy – what was just as surprising to me is that once cells leave our body (now, like for a biopsy), you have to opt out of any further experiments done on your cells … Yes, read it!
Swapna – It’s been over a month since I read the book, so these were more general thoughts (like what I’d tell a friend), so I’m glad it hit the highlights
rhapsody – LOL! we each paid for our own. I had my usual chai latte (with extra spice),and was disappointed by a dry berry scone.
zibilee – very readable, very discussable. I’d love to hear your thougts after you read it.
Kathy – Oh, yes, the continued lies and deceit made the original transgression that much more painful. (p.s. your comments always give me a pick-me-up!)
JoAnn – I don’t know anyone who has disliked it, although, as I mention, Skloot’s methodology has definitely been questioned.
I just finished the book. Like you this is a book club discussion. There will be great debate and topics to discuss. But, I feel like I want to cry I won’t be able to attend. I could not put it down it kept me captivated. I am a nursing student. This kept my interest. The unfortunate thing, there was not any regulation back then so scientist could do basically what they wanted. There are probably more people that this happened to then we care to think about. Pretty sad, especially what hit me was the sypillis study. Knowing that there was a treatment and the scientists did not do anything. The other is there are plenty of studies now a days that are kept secret. Mainly because the scientist find a miraculous discovery and don’t tell anyone untill the finish their experiments by than time many people could have benefited from the discovery. I don’t mean to get on a role but when a hot discussion starts I can’t stop. Especially when it comes to morality and medical ethics. I will be writing my review soon. Thank you for your post very interesting.
I so need a book club…I would’ve loved to have discussed this in person with a group of people. There’s just so much to think about, including, as you all have said, Skloot’s underlying intent. At first I didn’t think much of it, but in retrospect, at times she did seem to treat the family as children who needed to be educated on what was good for them.
Soft Drink I do agree with what you said about the author’s intent. That was back of my mind also, but I thought I was just reading into it. You brought up a great point. I read this for my book club. You brought up a good discussion point. Too bad I won’t be there. I will suggest the question to the moderator for this month.
Now I am starting to wonder why she is bringing Henrietta’s grandchildren along on the book tour. I posed a thought to the author about other patients going through the same thing she must not like the question and I never heard from her. Is she bringing them because she actually has concern or for more publicity and spectacle. I am just playing devil’s advocate. I am not saying she is right or wrong. Just something to think about.
Although I haven’t read this book, I’ve read enough reviews to know the basic outline of what it is about and was telling my mom about it recently during a discussion we were having about stem cell research and related issues. I’m hoping she’ll buy it, read it and then send it to me.
Just put my post up if you are interested.
I think this would have been a great book club book — there are so many ethical questions both about what happened to Henrietta and her family, and what the ongoing issues in medical ethics are. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and that the book club had a lot to talk about!
I’m really looking forward to reading this one. I’m glad to see another glowing review of it!
Carolina Gal – thanks for your Comments! Although I think the point asking us to look at Skloot’s research methods (and to discuss how/why this may/not be similar to the original research) is an interesting one, and it certainly led to great discussion, I personally am not questioning Skloot’s motivations. I think her research and this book have brought deserved attention to Henrietta Lacks, and her family will benefit.
There is, however, the possibility that I feel this way in order to justify the validity of the research I’ve been doing. In unearthing census records, marriage and birth records, etc., I’ve dug up a few skeletons in my family closet. I’m sure there are some who would prefer that I leave that door closed.
Thanks for the link to your review; I’m sorry you weren’t able to attend your own book group’s discussion of HENRIETTA LACKS.
Softdrink – it’s a tough question, isn’t it? I love the book group discussions because I’m often able to see a point that I hadn’t uncovered in my own reading.
Jenners – You’ve got great plans for adding books to your library – the weight-loss reward system, your mother’s acquisitions … I like the way you think!
Kim – our book group never lacks for something to talk about
Carrie – I’ll look for your thoughts after you read the book!
It’s horrifying! True, the use of those cells helped a lot of people but I still don’t like the idea of using someone’s body like that when they haven’t consented. Reminds me of those bodysnatchers who would steal bodies off the streets or out of graves to experiment on.
I can’t wait to read this one!
Should no have been no? That’s an interesting question. But I think even if Henrietta/her family isn’t black, I suspect Skloot would still keep trying.
Great review btw!
Mine is here – definitely one of the best books I’d read.
http://mentalfoodie.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-immortal-life-of-henrietta.html
I think your review is really awesome. It contained all the important aspects of this book.
The story’s most incredible because of the chance find that the researcher came across in the protagonist’s cells. Her cells, it turns out, were taken from her without her consent or knowledge, and her kin only found out when the researchers needed more of them, and so consulted them about submitting to cell samplings. No one else in her family had these immortal cells that Lacks had, which went on to accomplish some of the most important research and findings in medical history (polio vaccine, important AIDS work, etc.).
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