Book reviews

By now the name of Henrietta Lacks, unknown and unsung for decades, is practically a household word. And deservedly so. Although scientists used cells known as HeLa in groundbreaking work that led to the development of polio vaccine and leukemia treatments, among other discoveries, most knew little about the woman who unwittingly bequeathed them. All that changed earlier this year with Rebecca Skloot’s haunting book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Flip-flop season is upon us and it’s time for beach reading to commence. If you’re like me, by now you’ve had your fill of mystery novels and thrillers and want to cuddle up with something that has a bit more science to it. With a little help from friends around the Broad, I’ve put together a list of some of the science-themed books (both fiction and nonfiction) I’m hoping to read this summer – maybe you’d like to read them too.

Here’s what’s on my summer reading bookshelf:

-Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis