Smallpox killed, scarred, or blinded hundreds of millions of people for thousands of years. Henderson (medicine and public health, U. of Pittsburgh) was named in 1967 to lead a worldwide effort to eradicate the disease. The book is his personal account of how he led the World Health Organization's campaign to eliminate the disease. Much more than a simple inoculation program, the massive project was faced with floods, civil wars, impassable roads, refugees, bureaucratic and cultural logjams, shortages of personnel, and tight budgets. This is a well-written inside account of a monumental achievement. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)