The World's Best Book Summaries
What happened to Henrietta Lacks’ siblings? Was she close to Gladys Pleasant Lacks? How was Gladys Lacks impacted by her sister’s death? Gladys Pleasant Lacks was Henrietta Lacks’ older sister. She heard Henrietta’s last words as she was dying and remained in her children’s lives. Learn more about Gladys Lacks and Skloot’s visit to her house.
Can you get a biological patent on someone else’s cells? What happened to John Moore’s cells when Dr. David Golde took them? How did the court consider the issue of patenting of biological material? John Moore’s cells were involved in an important case on the patenting of biological material. Read more about his case, which involved the issue of awarding a biological patent and breach of fiduciary duty.
What did Edward Snowden do after CIA Training? What happens at training to be a telecommunications information systems officer (TISO)? How did complaints secure Edward Snowden Geneva instead of his preferred post? CIA training is conducted at a placed called the Hill. The training program for TISOs Ed Snowden went to included work with a variety of older technologies. Read more about CIA training, Edward Snowden, Geneva offices, and what Ed took away from all of it.
Who was the daughter of Henrietta Lacks that died only a few years after her mother? Why was Elsie Lacks committed to the Hospital for Negro Insane? How was she treated at this facility with a record of experimentation and abuse? Elsie Lacks was the second child of Henrietta Lacks. She was diagnosed with “idiocy” and committed to the Hospital for Negro Insane. Elsie Lacks’ medical records show that she suffered abuse, experimentation, and mistreatment. Learn about the short and tragic life of Elsie Lacks, Crownsville and its atrocities, and how the records were found.
Who is Sarah Harrison? Why did Sarah Harrison, WikiLeaks journalist and editor, want to help Edward Snowden? Sarah Harrison, WikiLeaks editor went to Hong Kong to help Edward Snowden after he leaked to journalists. With help from Sarah Harrison, Snowden got a UN travel document. Learn more about Sarah Harrison, WikiLeaks, and Snowden’s route from Hong Kong to Russian asylum.
Did Edward Snowden break the law when he used intelligence technology for unofficial purposes? Did Edward Snowden break the law when he took files out of the NSA? Did Edward Snowden break the law when he leaked documents to journalists? Edward Snowden broke US laws and was charged with a political crime. However, because he went to a non-extraditing country and got asylum, he is not in jail. Read more about Edward Snowden’s actions and their legal implications.
What happens to the family of Henrietta Lacks at the end of Rebecca Skloot’s book? Is there some recognition for Henrietta or compensation for her family? What happens to Deborah, who is a large focus of Skloots storytelling in the Henrietta Lacks book? Rebecca Skloot first became interested in HeLa in high school. Her research her brought her to Deborah Lacks. Over the course of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks book, Deborah’s struggles are a key feature. Read about how The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks book ends for Rebecca and Deborah.
What does the CIA do? What is the CIA Langley headquarters like? How have agents felt about CIA operations and the agency’s reputation over the years? The CIA is one of the key US intelligence agencies. After 9/11, CIA operations and control were reduced in response to its intelligence failure. Read about the CIA and its current responsibilities, reputation, and issues.
What happens to samples taken from your body? Are there human tissue rights that apply even once your tissue is out of your body? How are human tissue sales related to organ sales? “Organ sales” is a term that refers generally to the sale of any human organ, like a kidney. Selling organs is generally prohibited. Similarly, you usually can’t sell your own tissue, but tissue ownership ends when your tissue leaves your body. Learn about the intricacies of human tissue sales and how tissue rights and ownership change once your tissue has already been excised.
Who was the doctor that Henrietta Lacks saw when she got her cancer diagnosis? How did Howard W. Jones attempt to treat her? Did he find other conditions that would explain her rapid decline? Howard W. Jones was a gynecologist at Johns Hopkins when Henrietta Lacks came in with a lump. Jones put Henrietta on a radium treatment course though she eventually succumbed to the cancer. Read about Howard W. Jones and his unsuccessful treatment of Henrietta’s cancer.