A Billion Lives is Egeland's passionate, adventure-filled eyewitness account of the catastrophes the world faces. And so Egeland writes that he has met the best and worst among us, has ""confronted warlords, mass murderers, and tyrants, but [has] met many more peacemakers, relief workers, and human rights activists who risk their lives at humanity's first line of defense."" In spite of the desperate need of so many, Egeland is convinced that, ""For the vast majority of people, the world is getting better, that there is more peace, more people fed and educated, and fewer forced to become refugees than a generation ago. So there is reason for optimism,"" he concludes in this groundbreaking book that does not flinch but holds out reasons for hope.