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Cover of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Biography & Memoir· United States

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Rebecca Skloot
Aggregate Editorial Score44/100
Goodreads Choice Award
Published 2010381 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Few works of biography & memoir have earned the sustained critical attention that The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010) by Rebecca Skloot continues to receive. Skloot investigates the HeLa cells—taken from an African American cancer patient in 1951 without her consent and grown in labs ever since—and the family she left behind. A fascinating exploration of race, medical ethics, and the commodification of the human body. Themes of race, medical ethics, consent run through the work. The book has received recognition from Goodreads Choice Award 2010.

Book Details

AuthorRebecca Skloot
Published2010
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages381
Category✍️ Biography & Memoir
ISBN9781400052189
Editorial Score44/100
About the Category

✍️ Biography & Memoir

True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

Explore all Biography & Memoir books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2010, Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a work of biography & memoir that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with race, medical ethics, consent, science gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Among its recognitions: Goodreads Choice Award 2010. With an editorial score of 44/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. Readers coming to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of race, medical ethics, consent, science is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at. Rebecca Skloot's role in the literature of United States is well established. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Goodreads Choice Award
notable · global
201018
✍️
About the Author
Rebecca Skloot
United States
View Author →

Rebecca Skloot is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of biography memoir.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks about?

Skloot investigates the HeLa cells—taken from an African American cancer patient in 1951 without her consent and grown in labs ever since—and the family she left behind. A fascinating exploration of race, medical ethics, and the commodification of the human body.

Who wrote The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was written by Rebecca Skloot, from United States. First published in 2010.

What awards has The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks won?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks has received the following awards and honours: Goodreads Choice Award 2010.

Is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks worth reading?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 18/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in race, medical ethics, consent.

Where can I buy The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

You can buy The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is classified as Biography & Memoir. True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

What country is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks from?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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