The Grandest Challenge

The Grandest Challenge begins with a simple premise: that every person's life is of equal value, regardless of where in the world he or she lives. It also begins with an alarming fact: that in this age of spectacular scientific advances, it is still those who live in the developed world--mainly the west--who overwhelmingly benefit from our enormous new power to combat disease and enhance food, while those in the developing world are far more likely to die for lack of basic health care and inexpensive nutrition.

As personalized medicine, designer drugs, and high-quality nutrients become more readily available than ever in the richest parts of the world, distinguished doctors Abdallah Daar and Peter Singer urge us to pause and ask these vital questions: Who will have access to the life-enhancing advances of biotechnology? And who are these advances ultimately meant to help?

In this challenging, controversial, thought-provoking, and humane book, Daar and Singer inspire us to look more deeply at our new science, and at the revolution that is already changing all of our lives.

ABDALLAH DAAR was born in Tanzania. He is a Professor of Public Health Sciences and of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and Director of Ethics and Commercialization at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health. He is the recipient of the UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics of Science, and often advises governments and the UN, UNESCO, WHO and OECD on global health. 

PETER SINGER is Director of the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He has advised the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the UN Secretary-General's Office, the Government of Canada, and Pepsico Inc. He is also a sought-after commentator and public speaker.