There are 27 million slaves alive today - more than at any point in history. Written by the worlds leading experts, this shocking examination combines original research with first-hand stories from the slaves themselves to provide a reliable account of one of the worst humanitarian crises facing us today. Looking to the future, the authors offer hope with a global blueprint that proposes to end slavery in our lifetime. Kevin Bales is president of Free the Slaves. He lives in Takoma Park, MD. Zoe Trodd and Alex Kent Williamson are history and pathology specialists respectively at Harvard University.