Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-313) and index.

pt. I. Who dies of what -- Murray, Murray, Murray, and Murray -- The third world and the nerd world -- How to die with statistics -- Missing persons -- The big picture -- pt. II. What doesn't kill you -- A global checkup -- Home and away -- Taking on the world -- No one's sick in North Korea -- Racing stripes -- pt. III. Resurrection -- Dinner with Bill -- Risky business -- Missionaries and converts -- pt. IV. Going live -- Dress rehearsal -- Learning to swim in the ocean -- London calling -- Epic squared -- From Galileo to Chris Murray -- Afterword : How to live a longer and healthier life according to the global burden of disease.

Medical doctor and economist Christopher Murray began the Global Burden of Disease studies to gain a truer understanding of how we live and how we die. Murray argues that the ideal existence isn't simply the longest but the one lived well and with the least illness. Until we can accurately measure how people live and die, we cannot understand what makes us sick or do much to improve it. In Epic Measures, journalist Jeremy N. Smith offers an intimate look at Murray and his groundbreaking work.--