James R. Gilligan "o @ 2011-01-07
 |
$16.00 |
 |
All the raves you've heard about this book are utterly true--it reads like a novel, features compelling characters, offers elements of mysticism, mystery, history, sociology, and psychology to temper the beautifully narrated tale of the origin of the most valuable cells in the history of biological research, and ultimately educates. Rebecca Skloot's tenacious odyssey through history yields a highly readable chronicle that finally honors the simple, strong, and admirable woman whose cells have served as the foundation for just about every important medical discovery of the past century. Skloot, however, never loses sight of Henrietta Lacks' humanity or the legacy of the family she left behind, a husband and children who endured prejudice, discrimination, social and financial disenfranchisement, and countless indignities. As Skloot tells the story of Henrietta and her family, it's impossible to ignore the social, racial, economic, psychological, and bioethical dimensions of this story, which could very well serve as a microcosm for many pivotal issues is the tortured history of race relations in this country and the development of bioethical research protocols.