The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Or "Science and Liars and Heirs, Oh My!"

I can see why this book was such a popular one on the ol' New York Times bestseller list. It's intelligent and approachable, thoughtfully extensively researched, and written in such a way that makes me feel like I just might be an expert on cell cultures. Skloot's telling of Henrietta Lacks's story is clear and full of heart.

There are lots of layers to the book itself. Fundamentally, it's about Henrietta Lacks, or rather, Henrietta Lacks's immortal cervical cancer cells. In 1951 her cells, extracted without her permission, became the first human cells to successfully survive outside the body and - in one of many brain-exploding twists of science that seems more like science fiction - THEY ARE STILL ALIVE TODAY. Her cells were key to early cell research, vaccines, the whole nine yards. But none of her family knew about them until 20 years after her death which, as you might imagine, opens a whole can of ethical questiony worms.

It's science, scientific history, ethics, race relations, human drama, investigative journalism, and a little bit rock and roll. It made me think about all kinds of things that had never crossed my mind before... Who could ask for more? It's more than worthy of a look.