Although you could tell that rebecca got close to henriettas daughter, deborah in the book, it came through in the warmth of rebecca s voice during the interview. The story of those cells and of the medical advances that came from them, is told in rebecca skloots book. Apr 21, 2017 the original hbo movie the immortal life of henrietta lacks, based on the nonfiction book by journalist rebecca skloot and starring oprah winfrey as deborah lacks, henriettas youngest daughter. The book took her more than 10 years to research and write, and she still crisscrosses the country to talk about it, often alongside members of the lacks family. Rebecca skloot talks about the long journey of turning her book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, into an hbo film starring oprah. The immortal life of henrietta lacks brings to mind the work of philip k. Skloot s book is far deeper, braver, and more wonderful. Awardwinning science writer rebecca skloot will be in conversation with npr s michele norris tonight at the weinberg center for the arts.
The story of those cells known as hela cells, in lacks honor and of the medical advances that came from them, is told in rebecca skloot s book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Rebecca skloot discusses her book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Nprs talk of the nation interviews rebecca skloot about. Browse books by rebecca skloot the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Rebecca skloot on the immortal life of henrietta lacks. How the strange saga of henrietta lacks became an oprahapproved film. Npr s talk of the nation interviews rebecca skloot about common reads college programs and the immortal life.
Rebecca, when did you realize your book wouldnt be just a clinical account of henriettas cells, but also a story about her family, specifically her daughter deborah. Apr 11, 2016 the foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by rebecca skloot, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks, who is donating a portion of her book s proceeds to the foundation. It was the 2011 winner of the national academies communication award for best creative work that helps the public understanding of topics in science, engineering or medicine. Skloot s debut book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly became a new york times bestseller. Interview with rebecca skloot about the immortal life of henrietta lacks. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. Nov 11, 2010 wknos pierre kimsey interviews rebecca skloot, science journalist and contributing editor at popular science magazine who makes her home in memphis. Rebecca skloot immortal life of henrietta lacks research. In the immortal life of henrietta lacks, rebecca skloot introduces us to the real live woman, the children who survived her, and the interplay of race, poverty, science and one of the most important medical discoveries of the last 100 years. This is an extraordinary book, haunting and beautifully told.
As rebecca skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the lacks familypast and presentis inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on african americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. Rebecca skloot on immortal life of henrietta lacks. And the book has taken off, selling out its 35,000copy print run on the first day it went on sale. Dear sugars returns to portland, oregon, for another epic live show. Rebecca skloot is an award winning science writer whose work has appeared in the new york times magazine. Eric schlosser, author of fast food nation rebecca skloot has written a marvelous book so original that it defies easy. Interview with rebecca skloot created by the open notebook listen to the. The immortal life of henrietta lacks, skloot, rebecca. Aug 29, 2011 npr reports, in recent years, a growing number of colleges have begun assigning common reads, books that all first year students read over the summer, and then discuss during their first week of school. Welcome back to all things considered from npr news.
See all books authored by rebecca skloot, including the immortal life of henrietta lacks, and the best american science and nature writing 2015, and more on. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the immortal life of henrietta lacks. College freshmen learn from henrietta lacks wbur news. She is the founder and president of the henrietta lacks foundation. Rebecca skloot feels indebted to henrietta lacks the new.
Back in 2010, science writer rebecca skloot published a book that sounded like science fiction except it was real. Goodreads author jenny mcphee says, i loved rebecca skloot s book and am dying to know whats next, though im sure thats a professional secret. Rebecca skloot uses royalties from her best seller, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, to help the descendants of the book s subject. How rebecca skloot is helping henrietta lackss family. The immortal life of henrietta lacks race and ethnicity. May 05, 2017 rebecca skloot talks about the long journey of turning her book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, into an hbo film starring oprah. Rebecca skloot discusses the immortal life with tavis smiley and describes the reaction to her book, which remains on the new york times bestseller list.
Skloot told the story of how a tissue sample from a young africanamerican. When i first read rebecca skloot s the immortal life of henrietta lacks last february, i, like millions of others who have read it, found myself enthralled with and amazed at the remarkable. Rebecca skloot talks about the long journey of turning her book, the. Listen to immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca. Renee montagne talks to rebecca skloot, the author of the immortal. Rebecca skloot and jeri lacks whye oprah magazine interview. Vick mickunas introduced the book nook author interview program for wyso in 1994. Daily coronavirus news straight to you from wbez chicagos npr news source. May 18, 2017 when rebecca skloot was 16 years old, her biology teacher wrote a name on the blackboard. Comments off on npr s talk of the nation interviews rebecca skloot about common reads college programs and the immortal life npr reports, in recent years, a growing number of colleges have begun assigning common reads, books that all first year students read over the summer. Life of henrietta lacks in an interview with host terry gross on nprs fresh air. I was blown away by her reporting and the seamless way she works it into her narrative. Dec 16, 2018 rebecca skloot is an awardwinning science writer whose articles have appeared in the new york times magazine, o, the oprah magazine and discover. It was chosen as a best book of 2010 by more than sixty media outlets, including entertainment weekly, people, and the new york times.
Author rebecca skloot s book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, is one of the most talked about books of 2010. Immortal cells of henrietta lacks live on in labs it was one of the most revolutionary tools of biomedical research. Hela cells, and her book on henrietta lacks, on the bob edwards show. Another book im crazy about right now is unbroken by laura hillenbrand. Aug 14, 2017 a minnesota public radio interview with rebecca sklootlisten or read the transcript here. Her first book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks 2010, was one of the bestselling new books of 2010, staying on the new york times bestseller list. Npr reports, in recent years, a growing number of colleges have begun assigning common reads, books that all first year students read over the summer. Rebecca skloot books list of books by author rebecca skloot.
Audio excerpt from the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Your book follows a decadelong reporting adventure that traces the story of henrietta lacks, the unwitting donor of what. Deborah lacks, a daughter of henrietta lacks, whose cancerous cervical cells, taken without her permission in 1951, revolutionized medical research. Aug 22, 2018 the author of the new york times bestseller discusses her landmark book. I went through my old audio tapes of my interviews with deborah. Medical writer rebecca skloot examines the legacy of lacks contribution to science and effect that has had on her family in her new book. Rebecca skloot in conversation with nprs michele norris. Host guy raz talks to science journalist rebecca skloot about her new book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Nov 30, 2010 another book im crazy about right now is unbroken by laura hillenbrand. Writer rebecca skloot spent years researching lacks and tells her story in the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Billions of socalled hela cells lived in labs around the world and had helped produce treatments. The immortal life of henrietta lacks has been hailed by critics and embraced by. Goodreads author jenny mcphee says, i loved rebecca skloots book and am dying to know whats next, though im sure thats a professional secret. Im ira flatow, talking with rebecca skloot, author of the book the immortal life of henrietta lacks.
They turned out to be the first human cells to survive indefinitely in a laboratory. Listen to immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot. The story of those cells known as hela cells, in lacks honor and of the medical advances that came from them, is told in rebecca skloots book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Over the years he has produced more than 1500 interviews with writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and celebrities. Jan 01, 2011 buy the immortal life of henrietta lacks first paperback edition by skloot, rebecca isbn. Comments off on npr s talk of the nation interviews rebecca skloot about common reads college programs and the immortal life npr reports, in recent years, a growing number of colleges have begun assigning common reads, books that all first year students read over the summer, and then discuss during their first week of school. She has worked as a correspondent for npr s radiolab and pbss nova sciencenow and is a contributing editor at popular science magazine. The foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by rebecca skloot, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks, who is donating a portion of her book s proceeds to the foundation. She specializes in narrative science writing and has explored a wide range of topics, including goldfish surgery, tissue ownership rights, race and medicine, food politics, and packs of wild dogs in manhattan.
My guest, science journalist rebecca skloot, has written a new book about this. Rebecca skloot author interview on the immortal life. He explained that lacks was a black woman whose surgeon had extracted cells from her tumor in 1951. Doctors cultured her cells without permission from her family. Rebecca skloot stopped by the interview show, hosted by mark bazer at the hideout, in chicago, to talk about life after writing the immortal life of henrietta lacks, her childhood and her next book.
Based on the book of the same name by journalist rebecca skloot, the immortal life of henrietta lacks follows skloot, played by rose byrne, as she. How fannie flagg and hurricane carter shaped the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Radcliffe magazine radcliffe institute for advanced study. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Nov 22, 2011 rebecca skloot needs little introduction to most readers of the open notebook. How rebecca skloot built the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Rebecca skloot on henrietta lacks immortal cells wbez chicago. Although you could tell that rebecca got close to henriettas daughter, deborah in the book, it came through in the warmth of rebeccas voice during the interview. Video book trailer for the immortal life of henrietta lacks.
An interview about skloots writingorganization of the book. Author rebecca skloot hit the road on january 29, 2010 for the immortal book tour, a fourmonth selforganized grassroots tour for her newly published new york times bestselling book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, about the immortal hela. She is a former vice president of the national book critics circle and has taught creative nonfiction and science journalism. As of january 18, 2012 the board of directors of the henrietta lacks foundation has awarded 27 grants. A donors immortal legacy in 1951, henrietta lacks died after a long battle with cervical cancer. Jan 24, 2011 the book thats been on everyones best of lists, including amazons best book of 2010, the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot, is intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and. The immortal life of henrietta lacks 2010 is a nonfiction book by american author rebecca skloot.
Feb 05, 2011 rebecca skloot uses royalties from her best seller, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, to help the descendants of the book s subject. Skloot tells nprs rebecca roberts that she thinks all young people, regardless of their academic interest, can take something away from the book. Rebecca skloots new book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, tells this remarkable story, as well as what happened when lacks descendants discovered henriettas pivotal role in modern science, and the many bioethical issues it raises. In this interview with vick mickunas creator of the book nook author interview program for wyso, the npr affiliate in dayton, oh rebecca tags. When i first called deborah and heard her excitement. Her work has been anthologized in several collections, including the best creative nonfiction. Comments off on npr s talk of the nation interviews rebecca skloot about common reads college programs and the immortal life. Rebecca skloot explores the racism and greed, the idealism and faith in science that helped to save thousands of lives but nearly destroyed a family. He has interviewed historians studs terkel, david mccullough, doris kearns goodwin, gary wills.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks kindle edition by skloot, rebecca. Skloot tells npr s rebecca roberts that she thinks all young people, regardless of their academic interest, can take something away from the book. Her account of the arduous process of getting permission from the lacks family to write the book was compelling, and i drove straight to the local bookseller, but they were already sold out. The immortal life of henrietta lacks ebook written by rebecca skloot. The immortal life of henrietta lacks and its relevance to. I was driving home from work one day listening to terri gross interview ms. Extended discussion with author rebecca skloot, author of the bestselling book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Author rebecca skloots book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, is one of the most talked about books of 2010. While writing the book, skloot had recorded her interviews. But before becoming a writer, skloot earned a degree in biomedical sciences and worked as a veterinary technician. Rebecca skloot author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks. An interview about skloots talks with students and how her interest in the hela story began. Read free book excerpt from the immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot, page 1 of 4.
When rebecca skloot wrote the immortal life of henrietta lacks, she never imagined it would become a film. Radio rebecca skloot discusses the immortal life of henrietta lacks in an interview with host terry gross on npr s fresh air. Buy the immortal life of henrietta lacks first paperback edition by skloot, rebecca isbn. The immortal life of henrietta lacks by rebecca skloot book. Jackson and rebecca skloot share the stage with the sugars to tell stories of personal reckoning, and to answer letters dealing with transgressions of love, friendship, the self, and so much more.
The immortal life of henrietta lacks rebecca skloot. Immortal cells of henrietta lacks live on in labs ncpr. The end of the audiobook included an interview with rebecca skloot, the author of the book. Rebecca skloot and the immortal life of henrietta lacks. Rebecca skloot author of the immortal life of henrietta. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Rebecca skloot, the immortal life of henrietta lacks whyy. May 21, 2010 but the immortal life of henrietta lacks succeeds despite itself.
The author of the new york times bestseller discusses her landmark book. We asked skloot and jeri lacks whye, henriettas granddaughter, about the stirring storys leap from page to screen. In an interview, skloot said finding a way to help the lacks family has been of. Her book the immortal life of henrietta lacks has been a bestseller since its publication in february 2010, and she has toured the.
Rebecca skloot on henrietta lacks immortal cells wbez. When i first read rebecca skloots the immortal life of henrietta lacks last february, i, like millions of others who have read it, found myself enthralled with and amazed at the remarkable. Rebecca skloot seeks to help henrietta lackss descendants. Although she had some reluctance, i could tell she wanted this story to be told because of the questions she had about the mother she never really knew. Teachingbooks the immortal life of henrietta lacks. How the strange saga of henrietta lacks became an oprah. Rebecca skloot on seeing henrietta lacks come to life. Npr reports, in recent years, a growing number of colleges have begun assigning common reads, books that all first year students read over the summer, and then discuss during their first week of school. Rebecca skloots new book, the immortal life of henrietta lacks, is a medical mystery, family drama and firstperson saga all wrapped into one. Our interview today is about science, ethics, class and race.
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