I found this book to be fascinating. How medical science grew as a result of this previously "unknown" growth of cells which became the Hela cells. The treatment of the Lacks family was perfectly legal at that time or even thought about as a wrongdoing. Many things have been righted since. It is interesting to see how that works. As for the Lacks family, they are extremely admirable in their reaction to the the whole situation. In our "what's-in-it-for-me" society, this family is to be very blessed.

I thought the book was great. It had been mentioned by a member of my local book group a year or so ago, but I also chose to read it at this time so I could join in the online discussion. I read it in a weekend because I couldn't put it down. I found it fascinating on two levels. First, there is Henrietta's story, the story of a poor, under educated black woman who has really impacted all of our lives in some way. Second, the idea that once a doctor removes something from your body, it is no longer yours. I've always thought they disposed of anything they removed from a person as medical waste, except when you donate blood of course. So it is a bit disturbing to think that maybe part of me is out there somewhere being experimented on and I don't know about it.

I found it very engaging and thought provoking at the same time I felt sort of helpless when I realize how very little control we have over our lives even now. It led to an argument with a scientist friend of mine. I have suggested it for my book club to read in September so I am looking forward to hearing their thoughts.

I loved this book! I generally don't like to read "science" books, but found this fascinating. It has raised discussion with friends and co-workers regarding consent forms and the privacy of one's tissue. My book club is very jealous that I received this book because there is a long waiting list for it at the library.

The book was excellent. It exposed the terrible tragedy experienced by this family. Although it is technical, it is well written and easy to read. It will move you from page one until the end.
There is an implication in the book, that Henrietta, quite possibly, got substandard care because she was black. The alternate reason for her lack of diagnosis and, perhaps, improper treatment, is that those were the days when patients were kept from knowing the truth of their diagnosis because it was too frightening for them to handle. Yet, although there is evidence that she repeatedly complained, no cancer diagnosis was made until it was, abruptly, way too late and she died a painful, premature death, at 31.
I learned that experimenting on humans, without their consent, was common practice even as late as the fifties, especially, it seems, in the black population. Doctors who thought of themselves as G-dlike, believing the results of their research ultimately justified the means they used, duped their ill patients neither warning or advising them of what they planned. They were experimental subjects and had no clue.
The author's research takes us to the landscape of Henrietta's life. Sadly, while her cells afforded others who had the means, innovative treatments, her own family could not afford anything but the most basic health care.
It was hard to read about the poverty of the Lacks’ existence and reconcile it with the wealth of information her cells have helped to discover, coupled with the financial wealth, as well, that her cells have provided, for those who used them to advance their research.
At one point in the story, Rebecca more or less tells Deborah that if her book is published she will start a fund for the education of Henrietta's heirs. I wonder if she kept her promise or if she, like others, simply used the Lacks family to advance themselves and their projects.
This is a sad book with tragic circumstances but the characters are real and so the impact of the story is profound. Life knocks them down and they keep getting up, trying to rise above the scars caused by the vast deprivation and evil around them and somehow they manage to face life in a simple spiritual way, with an ability to forgive. The component of faith, makes this book's ultimate message, more beautiful. I highly recommend it.

I have not been able to finish the book yet, but what I have read so far is really good. Now that I have read all of these reviews, I know that as soon as I pick it up again, I will not be able to put it down.

This book is so very accurate to the times when polio was was affecting so many. It was really devastating! I have relatives who still remember the news stories and then the pictures of children photographed in their "iron lungs" that helped them breath and kept them alive when they were stricken with polio. Then there are memories of children with extremely heavy leg braces not able to be a part of their school activities. This book presented great information and really shows what an impact HeLa has had on helping to solve the polio epidemic and in helping society. Great book for showing the the poor way the family has been treated, perhaps we will learn from that terrible mistake. I'm very very happy to have read it!

I'm almost done with the book. I find it fascinating what happened to her cells and also to find out more about scientific research in the past. I'm troubled to read about what happened to her family though. This book is also a disturbing glimpse into what happens to families stuck in poverty.

I was a research biologist and used HeLa cells in my experiments. They are as common in laboratories as aspirin is in medicine. Many times I wondered about the origin of these cells and in particular their unusual name. I first heard about this book when the author was interviewed on NPR and of course I immediately downloaded the book on my e-reader. This book is terrific! Not only does it tell the story of the HeLa cells but also describes how difficult scientific research was at that time. Henrietta' s life and her family's life make this book one of the best non-fiction I've read in a long time.

I thought this book was fascinating. I got to wondering if any of my tissues had been used in research, since I had cancer twenty years ago. This books certainly brings up many moral and ethical issues. I think it is shameful nothing has been done to honor Henrietta Lacks except for this book.

I found it interesting, although it was slow reading. I was not aware of the Hela experiments, much less where the cells originated and the family involved.

I was a research biologist and used HeLa cells in my research and I often wondered how this cell line had such an unusual name. Now I know. This is a great book for many reasons. It beautifully described the difficulties of cell research and it told a marvelous story of Henrietta and her family. The book read like fiction. I love it and recommended it to all my friends.

I only learned of HeLa cells from this book. Rebecca Skloot educated me about the science of the HeLa cells, introduced me to many of the passionate and motivated people involved from the scientific community, and brought me with her into the Lacks family. I experienced a spectrum of emotions, from anger and fear, agony and disgust, to pride and hope. I applaud Rebecca Skloot for her detail, drive, brave honesty and skillful writing, but mostly for being non-judgmental so that I, the reader, could consider what I was learning and experiencing from so many perspectives: the clinical personnel, the scientific community and its beneficiaries, the Lacks family, Henrietta's survivors, and Henrietta. I now list this as one of my favorite books.

This is a wonderful medical "detective story." Ever since I read "Eleven Blue Men" eons ago in college, I've been interested in these kinds of issues. Certainly brings up some serious medical ethics questions. Our book group will discuss it in September (we meet every other month) and I'm looking forward to the comments.

I love reading a book that makes me want to know more about the subject, the people, the history, etc. This book was so interesting and made me want that additional information more than any other book I've read in a long time. I found Adam Curtis's BBC documentary posted on his blog page at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2010/06/the_undead_henrietta_lacks_and.html, and I so thoroughly enjoyed seeing and hearing, however briefly, the family members and some of the scientists from the story. It gave me chills thinking of the author watching this same documentary in that locked beauty salon during her early research. I'm so glad she pursued this story and wrote this fascinating book.

I thought this book offered so much food for thought about medical ethics, about the value of a human life and about the way we ought to treat one another. And I thought the author presented these issues in a way that made conversations about them useful for future generations. It's a very good book that I've recommended to all my reading friends for just that reason.

I thought it was quite an eye opener! I am sure this is still going on to-day even though there are laws against. In some areas the doctor is still considered "God". I know many people who just take the doctor's word for it and don't question any thing further.

It is really a sad comment on society that still to this day the Lacks family does not have any health coverage. Morally they should receive funds from all the greedy drug companies who made millions of dollars.

It is always and always will be profits over people!

I could only get about halfway through it. But I got the jist of the story and was shocked to hear that Ms. Lacks was treated as she was and that it took this long to inform the public. The family should be given everything possible as recompense.