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jorganicklee's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
The author masterfully weaves together the intricate and often hidden threads of the Sackler dynasty’s association with Purdue Pharma, painting a vivid picture of ambition, influence, and the pursuit of profit. The book is particularly enthralling as it uncovers the layers of complexity surrounding the family’s role in the development and aggressive marketing of OxyContin, a drug at the heart of the opioid crisis.
What makes this book so engaging is not just the depth of information but also the storytelling prowess of Keefe, who manages to turn a historical account into a page-turner. The narrative is both enlightening and infuriating, as it exposes the systemic failures that allowed the opioid epidemic to burgeon.
kgentry4's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
4.0
This was a wild ride. I knew nothing going into it, but was really drawn in by the story of these three generations and how absolutely terrible they are.
And man, they are despicable.
And man, they are despicable.
carollaranjo's review against another edition
4.75
This is so well written with details that help to paint the bigger picture and give us insight on not only facts but people's motivations upon acting a certain way. Such a great amount of work went into reporting on such an important story! Loved the narration by the author.
jenniey3's review against another edition
5.0
“What’s in a name?” is a question that is of the utmost relevance in this novel. As Jewish immigrants from Europe with nothing to their name Isaac Sackler and wife Sophie Greenberg set out to provide a foundation for their children. Notably, “If you lose a fortune, you can always earn another , but if you lose your good name, you can never recover it”. Generations of Sacklers would take this to heart.
A lot of stuff happens in the first two parts, but then this review would be too damn long, so I have edited the Goodreads version down for the sake of your eyes. Basically, OxyContin is developed in the late 20th century. This drug is a controlled release of oxycodone, an opioid roughly twice as potent as morphine. Purdue Pharma(the Sackler's company) wanted it to be used to treat any and all types of pain. The future of OxyContin would fall upon the sales force. It would be their job to make sure the public did not perceive OxyContin as addictive and dangerous, which wouldn’t be too difficult an endeavor to tackle. In 1995, the FDA approved Oxyontin under Curtis Wright, a man who would later leave his position for Purdue Pharma.
Unsurprisingly enough, addiction and abuse begins to ravage the nation. Decades would come, and unsuccessful charges and lawsuits were levied upon Purdue Pharma, a company that had been so careful to cover its trails, a company that dissociated their product with the name Sackler, despite their obsession with sticking the Sackler name on every prestigious university, art gallery, etc.
In 2020, Congress would hold a hearing, calling the Sacklers to the stage. In 2021, bankruptcy was filed and Purdue filed bankruptcy and would make a financial commitment of $4.3 billion over 9 years, but acknowledge no wrongdoing. The Sacklers would remain adamant that their drug was a positive influence, and it was not their fault people were abusing it. In addition, the family was given a grant of immunity from any future civil claims relating to the opioid crisis. Universities, museums, and galleries would remove the Sackler name and refuse future donations(even though Yale would continue to take donations throughout 2018 despite all of the controversy and only stopped in 2019).
Thousands of people and companies were responsible for the opioid crisis. Mckinsey would advise Purdue through the decades of turmoil, merely focusing on maximizing the company’s profits. JP Morgan would act as their main financier. Johnson and Johnson would help supply Purdue and help them kick off OxyContin production. Distributors like Walmart and CVS would help get the drugs into the hands of the public. The Justice Department didn’t even press criminal charges on the Sacklers when they had the chance. The FDA would approve of drugs like Valium and OxyContin without much thought, taking no extra steps to research the product and relay its significant dangers to the public. Politicians who once were against OxyContin were later seen revising their statements, then quietly taking a private job at Purdue after retiring from government positions. Ultimately, it was a group effort to hook the nation on painkillers, to cause the corrosion of the American public.
A lot of stuff happens in the first two parts, but then this review would be too damn long, so I have edited the Goodreads version down for the sake of your eyes. Basically, OxyContin is developed in the late 20th century. This drug is a controlled release of oxycodone, an opioid roughly twice as potent as morphine. Purdue Pharma(the Sackler's company) wanted it to be used to treat any and all types of pain. The future of OxyContin would fall upon the sales force. It would be their job to make sure the public did not perceive OxyContin as addictive and dangerous, which wouldn’t be too difficult an endeavor to tackle. In 1995, the FDA approved Oxyontin under Curtis Wright, a man who would later leave his position for Purdue Pharma.
Unsurprisingly enough, addiction and abuse begins to ravage the nation. Decades would come, and unsuccessful charges and lawsuits were levied upon Purdue Pharma, a company that had been so careful to cover its trails, a company that dissociated their product with the name Sackler, despite their obsession with sticking the Sackler name on every prestigious university, art gallery, etc.
In 2020, Congress would hold a hearing, calling the Sacklers to the stage. In 2021, bankruptcy was filed and Purdue filed bankruptcy and would make a financial commitment of $4.3 billion over 9 years, but acknowledge no wrongdoing. The Sacklers would remain adamant that their drug was a positive influence, and it was not their fault people were abusing it. In addition, the family was given a grant of immunity from any future civil claims relating to the opioid crisis. Universities, museums, and galleries would remove the Sackler name and refuse future donations(even though Yale would continue to take donations throughout 2018 despite all of the controversy and only stopped in 2019).
Thousands of people and companies were responsible for the opioid crisis. Mckinsey would advise Purdue through the decades of turmoil, merely focusing on maximizing the company’s profits. JP Morgan would act as their main financier. Johnson and Johnson would help supply Purdue and help them kick off OxyContin production. Distributors like Walmart and CVS would help get the drugs into the hands of the public. The Justice Department didn’t even press criminal charges on the Sacklers when they had the chance. The FDA would approve of drugs like Valium and OxyContin without much thought, taking no extra steps to research the product and relay its significant dangers to the public. Politicians who once were against OxyContin were later seen revising their statements, then quietly taking a private job at Purdue after retiring from government positions. Ultimately, it was a group effort to hook the nation on painkillers, to cause the corrosion of the American public.