In this gripping, often harrowing study, Laurie Garrett takes readers on a 50-year journey through the world's battles with microbes, and examines the conditions that have culminated in recurrent outbreaks of newly discovered diseases, epidemics of diseases migrating to new areas, and mutated old diseases that are no longer curable. A New York Times Notable Book in 1994.

The author presents a history of epidemiology, describing "the role of ecology, politics, and economics in worldwide healthcare and . . . emphasizes the need for a global perspective in the management of disease. Yellow fever, malaria, ebola, lassa fever, AIDS, legionnaires' disease, toxic shock syndrome--she discusses . . . the search for the causes of these and . . . other diseases." (Libr J) Index.