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beckeal's review against another edition
5.0
So I thought this was going to be all about the story, and the writing would just be a flavourless conveyor of the narrative, but it was super well done! Farrow’s writing style is smooth and suspense-y and sympathetic in all the right ways. Must admit there were some kinda corny bits, and he takes pains to paint all the right people with just the right brush (including himself) in a way that alllmost undermines the credibility here and there, but not quite. So still, 5 stars.
Also, I ‘read’ this on audiobook, and I wasn’t excited to read that he did the voice work himself, but darned if he wasn’t awesome at it. So I was doubly surprised by how impressively and expressively he narrates his own work! Better than a lot of ‘talent’ specifically paid for the service??
A super engaging read for sure.
Also, I ‘read’ this on audiobook, and I wasn’t excited to read that he did the voice work himself, but darned if he wasn’t awesome at it. So I was doubly surprised by how impressively and expressively he narrates his own work! Better than a lot of ‘talent’ specifically paid for the service??
A super engaging read for sure.
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating read about the frustrating systems that protect powerful men from the consequences of their actions.
caseyaonso's review against another edition
4.0
the layers to this were crazy. such an interesting look into everything going on behind the scenes and in farrow’s head leading up to and after dropping his article. on an unserious note, Jackie (2016) continually catching strays throughout this entire book was sending me
the_escape_artist_'s review against another edition
5.0
This is really excellent and important book. Farrow does a wonderful job of explaining the nuance of workplace sexual harassment and assault. He also expertly demonstrates why woman don’t report and aren’t believed and why powerful predators rarely face accountability.
Additionally, while this story told through the lense of Farrow and his experience reporting on Weinstein he does not centre himself in the story, and manages to highlight how any bravery he had in reporting pales in comparison to the women who reported.
Farrow’s unique lived experience of being a Hollywood insider and his own family’s experience with high profile abuse allegations made him particularly qualified to tell this story, and likely gave him access no other writer would have had.
This book was well worth the read. I did listen to it on audible, and if I have any criticism it is that Farrow should have avoided doing accents/different voices as they were honestly bad and sometimes distracting. Better to hire voice actors or just speak normally.
Additionally, while this story told through the lense of Farrow and his experience reporting on Weinstein he does not centre himself in the story, and manages to highlight how any bravery he had in reporting pales in comparison to the women who reported.
Farrow’s unique lived experience of being a Hollywood insider and his own family’s experience with high profile abuse allegations made him particularly qualified to tell this story, and likely gave him access no other writer would have had.
This book was well worth the read. I did listen to it on audible, and if I have any criticism it is that Farrow should have avoided doing accents/different voices as they were honestly bad and sometimes distracting. Better to hire voice actors or just speak normally.
amydarcy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
monsters are real, and they take the shape of sexual predators like harvey weinstein. ronan farrow does a phenomenal job of exposing not only the cylical nature of weinstein’s violence, but the unbelievable lengths people went to in order to protect this pathetic excuse for a human. farrow’s work was instrumental in tackling the culture of silence surrounding sexual violence and the media’s complicity in covering up these crimes - truly a masterclass in journalism. i cannot recommend this book enough, i have never been so close to tears reading nonfiction.
and to harvey weinstein, i sincerely hope you rot in hell for all eternity
cunt <3
and to harvey weinstein, i sincerely hope you rot in hell for all eternity
cunt <3
spookyoh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Fun Score: -5 (3)
Critical Score: 4
Critical Score: 4
amarettto's review against another edition
4.0
This was a crazy book to read, given that it reads almost like espionage fiction and at times I had to remind myself that these were things happening to real people. I'm surprised at the lengths conglomerates can go to create and maintain a corrupt and dangerous system.
I also had no idea who Ronan Farrow was until I read this, and was surprised to learn that he's Woody Allen's son. The follow up interviews I watched after reading this were pretty interesting too, and goes to show what a remarkably talented investigative journalist he is. The book was incredibly fact-heavy and there was no detail or name spared in the account of events, no matter how little it contributed to the overarching exposé.
An essential read, if not for anything else, at least to educate ourselves on the kind of hardships that can be faced while mingling in the circles of the wealthy and powerful.
I also had no idea who Ronan Farrow was until I read this, and was surprised to learn that he's Woody Allen's son. The follow up interviews I watched after reading this were pretty interesting too, and goes to show what a remarkably talented investigative journalist he is. The book was incredibly fact-heavy and there was no detail or name spared in the account of events, no matter how little it contributed to the overarching exposé.
An essential read, if not for anything else, at least to educate ourselves on the kind of hardships that can be faced while mingling in the circles of the wealthy and powerful.
hannahgruber's review against another edition
4.0
interesting book, but i’m sure it was way more shocking and fascinating in 2019, cause now i’m like uhhhh yeah duh. also the audiobook voices ronan did were hilarious and spot on, especially tucker carlson at the end
eamcmahon3's review against another edition
4.0
Very good. It was a long book but full of important information. I would recommend it for a read.