Immerse yourself in the lives of these inspirational ladies from all over the world
What is it about a biography that makes it so enjoyable to read? I think, speaking for myself, that it’s in the wonder of reading a fantastic story and then realising: “Wow, this was someone’s actual life.”
It’s also a great way to give yourself some direction. A biography is like a map of someone’s life and through it, we are invited to read about what they did, where they went, how they got there. It’s a great comfort to know that despite all the differences we encounter in someone else, there’s always that universal bit of humanity that ties us all together.
Here we list some of our top picks that’s perfect to while away the time while social distancing. Get ready to be inspired by these bevy of ladies and their fantastic stories that go beyond time and culture.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
You don’t have to be a scientific genius to understand the heart of Rebecca Skloot’s highly acclaimed novel. Based on the life — or rather, the cells — of Henrietta Lacks, the eponymous book guides its readers through themes of poverty, racism, and the politics of medicine.
The book, which centres around HeLa cells taken from Lacks’ cervix without her permission, is exemplary in the lucid way it details both the science and the story. Now, through interviews with Lacks’ successors, Skloot pieces together two narratives that detail the scientific success of the HeLa cells while juxtaposing it to the Lacks family’s hardships after their mother’s death.