Epic Measures

One Doctor. Seven Billion Patients.

By: Jeremy N. Smith

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Moneyball meets medicine in this remarkable chronicle of one of the greatest scientific quests of our time—the groundbreaking program to answer the most essential question for humanity: how do we live and die?—and the visionary mastermind behind it.

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. While it is one of the largest scientific projects ever attempted—as breathtaking as the first moon landing or the Human Genome Project—the questions it answers are meaningful for every one of us: What are the world’s health problems? Who do they hurt? How much? Where? Why?

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. Challenging the accepted wisdom of the WHO and the UN, the charismatic and controversial health maverick has made enemies—and some influential friends, including Bill Gates who gave Murray a $100 million grant.

In Epic Measures, journalist Jeremy N. Smith offers an intimate look at Murray and his groundbreaking work. From ranking countries’ healthcare systems (the U.S. is 37th) to unearthing the shocking reality that world governments are funding developing countries at only 30% of the potential maximum efficiency when it comes to health, Epic Measures introduces a visionary leader whose unwavering determination to improve global health standards has already changed the way the world addresses issues of health and wellness, sets policy, and distributes funding.

Fabulously insightful read!

This is a terrific book that is full of facts and figures yet reads like a greatly crafted novel. Just a wonderful book!

Impressive and Thorough

Amazed by all the analysis and statistics that went into this book that brought awareness world wide. Great read!

Thanks,

Chris
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Too much focus on a person versus ideas and inform

I learned about the global burden of disease, as expected. But I learned more about Chris Murray (or did I?) than I was hoping for

Could be very interesting at times..

The narrator's accents were a little awkward sometimes.

The biographer painted a picture of Chris Murray that seemed to be a little too positive and extreme (especially when describing his childhood). The story of GBD and how our health data is (and was) collected makes this book worth the read/listen.

Inspirational Story - but a bit technical

I enjoyed the main plot line of a relatively normal guy taking on a massive problem and coming out on top. However the content was a bit too tied to medicine and health and I got lost in the details and statistics at times. Maybe it would be clearer if read instead of listening to the audiobook.