"He first full biography of Jonas Salk offers a complete picture of the enigmatic figure, from his early years working on an influenza vaccine--for which he never fully got credit--to his seminal creation of the Polio vaccine, up through his later work to find a cure for AIDS"-- Provided by publisher.

Prologue: Two plagues -- Born to serve -- Finding his place -- A wedding and a war -- Joining the fight against influenza -- Vaccine neophyte -- Pittsburgh's virgin territory -- Polio -- The chosen -- Ready to run -- Research sub rosa -- Out of his hands -- The world's largest clinical trial -- Relief from fear -- The Cutter affair -- Fame and its consequences -- Act II -- Two cultures under one roof -- The price of a masterpiece -- Seeking Shangri-La -- A trouble marriage -- Harnessing the immune system -- A most unusual arrangement -- Salk unfolding -- Fall from grace -- Final fling -- Marginalized -- The swine flu snafu -- Return to the polio vaccine controversy -- A Trojan horse -- Disciples, sycophants, and lovers -- AIDS: Salk's next mountain -- Unbowed.