这本书围绕着一个中心问题：为什么有些性命比其他的更值钱？我们一直被灌输一个概念：生命是无价的，但明明救一条命、创造一条生命、为一条生命计算保险金，这都是有实际价值的。我们活在一个对数据着迷的世界，我们在任何东西上都可以贴上标价，都可以计算出成本效益，这包括一条生命。对于慈善家、法官、罪犯、医疗服务提供者以及政府来说，这只是工作的一部分。

作者在书中描述了12条生命以及他们被定下的价格。这是一个关于人类的书，不是一个关于数据的书。不论是假装自己死亡的、失去自己爱人的，或者现代奴隶的，作者发现她越去探讨这个问题，找到的是更多的问题而不是答案。我们会透过计算数字来决定谁有资格使用昂贵的救命药，这代表了什么？为什么慈善机构会拨款给某些单位，而不是另外一些单位？有些生命真的比其他生命还要值钱、值得拯救吗？如果我们把情绪移除，会有什么不同结果？

作者问读者，如果我们只使用逻辑、客观的行为去判断这一切，我们能获得什么，又失去什么？这是一个好玩、有趣，又激发思想的书，让我们考虑，生命到底有什么定价？（偷偷告诉你，在英国聘用一名杀手只需要15000英镑）。

关于作者：

Jenny Kleeman is a journalist, documentary-maker and radio presenter. 

作者上一本书的好评：

• Thoughtful and diverting . . . Kleeman’s sceptical, humane instincts help her to unpack the possibilities of frontier tech . . . Even if it doesn’t have the answers, this elegantly written and eye-opening book poses the right questions - Ed Cumming, inews.co.uk

• Mesmerising - Daily Mail

• Kleeman’s entertaining survey of the latest advances in life sciences . . . a little like Louis Theroux channelling Margaret Atwood. She is an accomplished storyteller - Johanna Thomas-Corr, New Statesman

• Fascinating . . . an epic exercise in concision – all four of these sprawling chapters could have run to books on their own, and at times I wish they had' - Eleanor Halls, Daily Telegraph

• The real treat is Kleeman’s insatiable curiosity, pushing her to ask the difficult questions, even when conversations take an awkward turn (as they so often do) . . . A moreish page-turner of a book that will leave you feeling informed and ready for the next dinner party. - Press Association

• This eye-opening debut is a compelling investigation into the implications of the cutting-edge technologies that aim to deliver the perfect partner, the perfect gestation, the perfect meat and the perfect death. The sceptical Kleeman makes a witty and tenacious guide - Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller, Editor's Choice

• An unforgettable journey into the near future by a fabulously gifted writer - Will Storr, author of Selfie and The Science of Storytelling