Fall 2012 Common Reader: “Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”Book Title:“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” Author:Rebecca Skloot (Journalist and educator) About the bookThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by journalist and educator Rebecca Skloot, is an award-winning book that tells the remarkable story of Henrietta Lacks’ life, illness and death. While receiving medical treatment in 1951, samples of Mrs. Lacks’ cells were removed from her body without her permission. Hers were the first “immortal” human cells grown in culture and they were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncover secrets of cancer, viruses, and the effects of the atom bomb; help lead to important advances in cloning, in vitro fertilization, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. She did not survive her illness but her cells lived on and have become the centerpiece for modern medical research. What is a "common reader"?A common reader is a book that is assigned to all first-year students to read before they arrive on campus. The purpose of a common reader is to integrate you into the University learning community as early as possible. When students, regardless major area of study, read a common text, a shared learning experience is possible. A common reading allows various experiences, reactions, and perspectives to be exchanged and discussed. All first-year students are expected to read this book before arriving for fall term classes. Why was this book selected?The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was selected because the author presents a well-researched compelling discussion of biomedical ethics and of the intersection of race, gender, class and power. This book fits well with the philosophy of the general education curriculum that comprehensive knowledge is possible only if multiple perspectives and connections are understood. This book will also help students begin to understand the personal and social commitments necessary to address social problems and to accept responsibility for developing communities based on care and concern for others. The common reader was selected by the General Education Curriculum Committee, a group of faculty who teach general education-distribution requirements courses. How will this book be used?Many first year classes will use the book as part of one or more assignments. Related eventsOn October 25, 2012, Barry University will host a one-day mini-conference on “Power and Ethics.” This exciting all day event will include panel presentations and discussions, guest speakers from local community-based agencies, film screenings, service opportunities, and many other interesting sessions. In addition, David “Sonny” Lacks, one of Henrietta Lacks’ sons will visit campus and participate in a discussion session. Attending conference sessions and relating the information to the reader may be required or optional assignments for many classes. Instructors may require attendance to the conference as part of a class assignment. Buying itAvailable at the Barry Bookstore and most retail outlets. About the authorREBECCA SKLOOT is an award-winning science writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; Discover; and many others. She is co-editor of The Best American Science Writing 2011 and has worked as a correspondent for NPR’s Radiolab and PBS’s Nova ScienceNOW. She was named One of Five Surprising Leaders of 2010 by the Washington Post. 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 best-seller. It was chosen as a best book of 2010 by more than 60 media outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, People Magazine, and New York Times. It is being translated into more than 25 languages, adapted into a young reader edition, and being made into an HBO film produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball. Skloot is the founder and president of The Henrietta Lacks Foundation. She has a B.S. in biological sciences and an MFA in creative nonfiction. She has taught creative writing and science journalism at the University of Memphis, the University of Pittsburgh, and New York University. She lives in Chicago. Read more about the author here: www.rebeccaskloot.com
Praise for this book“Thanks to Rebecca Skloot’s remarkable book, the Lacks case is likely to become a classic in the history of biomedical ethics. . . Skloot is a science journalist but this book also evidences her skill as a historian . . . provides a profound sense of history. Students in classes covering ethics, public health, and the history of medicine, childhood, the family, women, the 1950s, and race will be engrossed by Lacks’s story. The many questions raised by the existence and use of HeLa cells will generate hours of classroom discussion.” |
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