This was a superb and very readable historical and epidemiological overview of malaria, from the director of the Institute for the History of Medicine at Johns Hopkins. The author begins the book with his own experience with this disease, as he contracted malaria while working in a clinic in Uganda, and the heroic but often futile efforts of the clinic to curtail the disease in the community. The first half of the book discusses the origins of malaria in antiquity in Africa, and its subsequent spread to and remission in other continents. The second half discusses the efforts in the late 19th century to the present time to suppress or eradicate the disease, and the author makes a strong case for the importance of political and economic factors, such as agricultural development, poverty, population migration, and civil unrest, in explaining the persistence of this infection, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it remains a major killer. Dr. Packard ends with an analysis and critique of Roll Back Malaria, the current international effort to reduce the incidence and prevalence of malaria, and makes suggestions, based on his extensive knowledge and research, that will have a greater likelihood of success in combating the disorder. This book can be appreciated by those without a medical or public health background, and should be of interest to anyone interested in malaria, public health, and global development, and is highly recommended. ( )