Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

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

44 reviews

kwurtzel3's review against another edition

Detailed description of electroshock therapy — could not handle it via audio

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma

aniajo's review against another edition

challenging informative sad slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Racism and Medical content

wyabook234's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Medical content

Minor: Chronic illness and Antisemitism

nila's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racism

kshertz's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

4.0

It’s a fascinating all encompassing look into the family behind Valium and oxy. The total disconnect between starting out to help psychiatric patients to billions of dollars and doing anything to keep the money coming in is astounding. A reminder that power and money corrupt absolutely and that the US government and capitalism will cheer it on every time no matter how many people die. It’s a heartbreaking and it’s an important read. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

saramdavis14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Medical content

chloe2709's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

5.0

A stunning account of capitalist greed pushed to the extreme. I couldn’t hold back a sob at the description of the families who, still awaiting a true day of reckoning for the loss of their loved ones to the opioid crisis, and looking for any way their voices could be heard, tried to speak at the bankruptcy hearing in memory of their family members. 

The juxtaposition between their sincerity and sorrow, and the response of the judge who represents a world where money can buy you anything, even justice, was insanely powerful.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Medical content

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Suicide, Stalking, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Racism

medical racism

rhubarbpi3's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This was absolutely riveting!!! I listened to the audiobook and it was wonderfully researched. I loved the way that the story built on the idea of dynasty and legacy — I think it really set up the later questions about responsibility and culpability very well. Fuck the Sacklers obvi. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Classism

bibliomich's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

5.0

Patrick Radden Keefe is an author who has been on my radar for a long time, and I'm glad that I finally decided to listen to Empire of Pain.

First of all, I want to note that Keefe narrates his own audiobook, and he is an excellent narrator, so I highly recommend the audiobook, should you enjoy/prefer listening to your books.

The core thesis of this book is that the decisions of several generations of one single family shaped the pharmaceutical industry of today, as well as significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. Keefe's research is thorough, substantial, and tremendously convincing. The story is compelling, devastating, and infuriating.

I highly recommend Empire of Pain and personally intend to read Keefe's other books soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, and Medical content

Minor: Cancer and Antisemitism

Patrick Radden Keefe is an author who has been on my radar for a long time, and I'm glad that I finally decided to listen to Empire of Pain. First of all, I want to note that Keefe narrates his own audiobook, and he is an excellent narrator, so I highly recommend the audiobook, should you enjoy/prefer listening to your books. The core thesis of this book is that the decisions of several generations of one single family shaped the pharmaceutical industry of today, as well as significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. Keefe's research is thorough, substantial, and tremendously convincing. The story is compelling, devastating, and infuriating. I highly recommend Empire of Pain and personally intend to read Keefe's other books soon.