Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

170 reviews

team_oxford_comma's review against another edition

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dark informative medium-paced

5.0

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blondeg1rl_'s review against another edition

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informative sad slow-paced

3.0

This was very clearly well researched and the author did well laying out the time line of the family but it was quite long. Sometimes it felt like the point of the book (opioid addiction because of the drug created) got a little lost but it was very informative & wild.

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aniajo's review against another edition

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challenging informative sad slow-paced

5.0

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wyabook234's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Pattrick Radden Keef provides an intriguing introspect into how the product of a single dynasty can cause so much irreparable damage throughout North America in the Empire of Pain. This impairment is placed at the mid-point of telling this dynasty's harmful legacy as he also brings an insight into Sackler's entrance into the pharmaceutical industry and their later dysfunctionality as a family that operates inside and outside of being a business. A business that Keef makes a case against, based on their negligence and impact that what they are doing is considered a "crime" and he is successful in communicating and winning this case if he was ever in a courtroom. This case isn't built upon the accounts of the Sacklers as the family has already conveyed displeasure about being made the villains in the story; which is a portrayal that could be justified. However, Keef's research is based on interviews with related persons, resurfaced communications, and the inclusion of other documents responsible for an engaging three-act structure with a beginning, middle, and end. An end that was heroically led by Nan Goldin and Maura Healy to get what could be considered satisfactory for resolving the opioid crisis as the court dealings are still active.

Keef's book is a very detailed and impressive novel concerning corruption and the pain left in the wake.

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rudys_reads's review against another edition

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informative sad medium-paced

4.75

The writing in engaging and informative. Keefe does a great job painting the picture of a world in which the Sacklers were able to rise and amass a fortune on the backs of others.

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lilydond's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative medium-paced

5.0

Oh my god.

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nila's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.5

Such a well-organised and well-researched book. I usually struggle with these kinds of deep-dive documentaries, but the audiobook was easy to follow and very engaging. It's a disturbing read; Keefe weaves us through the history of the Sackler family that spans decades and how their family roots are twined through so many industries and aspects of our everyday lives. A very eye-opening listen/read

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fionaisbored's review against another edition

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dark informative medium-paced

5.0

At first I was sceptical about this book. I was scared it would just be a very dry non-fiction read but from the start I was in love with the way this was written.
Thrue the narrative writing this is a book you can pick up and not lay down for a while.

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emmapaigereads's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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saramdavis14's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

4.0

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