A large segment of the Rutgers-New Brunswick community has been engrossed for a few months in "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," a captivating book about race, medical ethics, scientific progress, and one family's struggles that has been critically acclaimed by numerous critics. Among other accolades the book was selected as winner of 2010 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Nonfiction, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and one of Barnes & Noble Best Books for Adults 2010.

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is a primary assigned text this fall in the honors colloquium of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) honors program and was the summer reading book for the SAS honors program and first-year students at Douglass Residential College.

In a few weeks the Rutgers community will have the opportunity to meet and hear from the book's author, Rebecca Skloot. Ms. Skloot will present the Annual Frances B. L'Hommedieu Lecture on Thursday November 15th, in the College Ave. Gym. The lecture will begin at 7:00 pm and doors open at 5:30 pm. Ms. Skloot will be available to sign copies of the book after the lecture.

The lecture and book signing is presented by the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College, the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program, and the Douglass Residential College. Cosponsors of this event are the Douglass Campus Dean, the College Ave. Campus Dean, and the Office of Academic Engagement. This event is open to the Rutgers community, alumni, and invited guests.

The Rutgers University Libraries are proud to support the lecture and book signing. Rutgers Art Librarian Megan Lotts created a online library guide that provides useful background information on "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" including a video of the author, links to scholarly articles about the book, and information on how to locate a copy of the book in the Libraries' collections. To view this library guide, please see: http://libguides.rutgers.edu/henriettalacks

For more information about this event and the book, please see: http://news.rutgers.edu/medrel/special-content/fall-2012/at-rutgers-best-sell-20121002