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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Burgis provides a linked narrative to show how corruption is occurring, with a focus on ENCR. However, I just don’t enjoy the way he writes. I find it slow going and hard to remember who did what.
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
dark
informative
slow-paced
This book has a very rough start, it's very difficult to keep track of the characters and their stories, as this book is non-fiction, but it wants to track the stories of the people from a this person perspective. It's only about a third of the way into the book that it focuses more on certain stories that it begins to make sense.
Once it's there, it is quite compelling, and the information it's covering is important and shocking.
I just wish the book was more enjoyable to read. I feel that if it commited more to telling it like a story, it would be really engaging. The corruption of our institutions is something that everyone should know about, but it's a bit of a slog to read through this at times
Once it's there, it is quite compelling, and the information it's covering is important and shocking.
I just wish the book was more enjoyable to read. I feel that if it commited more to telling it like a story, it would be really engaging. The corruption of our institutions is something that everyone should know about, but it's a bit of a slog to read through this at times
You kind of know some people do bad things, they steal and launder money, but you're not very sure how it happens. Here you'll find a few instances of how it is done. Not surprising, but still a sobering read.
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
Kleptopia is about the transformation of money, the fight to exploit natural resources, and the continual project to destabilise the truth. It untangles the complex global webs of the rich and powerful – with the dirty city of London at the very heart of it. ‘The Big Four’ accountancy firms, the world’s biggest mining companies, Saudi’s MBS, Tony Blair, George Osborne, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage make an appearance. At times, I couldn’t quite believe these could be real-life events and found myself googling some of the kleptocrats that Tom Burgis investigates.
There’s something about Tom Burgis’ northern twang that makes him a loveable storyteller on the audiobook. He writes dramatic scenes with flair. Eventually I had to return to reading in hard copy to make notes due to the sheer level of detail. I had the advantage of being familiar with a number of the corporate plotlines, but it is easy to get lost in the names and allegiances. Despite the evolving loyalties, this book remains gripping with some truly jaw-dropping revelations.
The chapter that narrates the story of Roza in Zhanaozen (19) has remained under my skin since finishing this book. Nigel Wilkins, the whistleblower that threads this story arc, is similarly memorable. There’s a brief chapter on Grenfell (37) which brought a rush of emotions back to the present day. Finally, there’s one particularly nasty mining giant at the heart of this book (see chapters 36, 39) which was being investigated under the UK SFO. While still reading, I was shocked to hear in the news that the SFO case was dropped after a ten-year investigation.
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
A gripping novel, except it is real life making it terrifying. If you want to understand just how corrupt the UK govt is and how it has become known as Londongrad then this is essential reading.
It has so upset the Kleptocrats that Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) took Tom Burgees and his publisher Harper Collins to court in an attempt to have the book removed from stores and all copies destroyed. They were unsuccessful. The court found in favour of the author and his publishers.
Dirty money sloshing around the world needs to be stopped or a grim future awaits us all.
It has so upset the Kleptocrats that Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) took Tom Burgees and his publisher Harper Collins to court in an attempt to have the book removed from stores and all copies destroyed. They were unsuccessful. The court found in favour of the author and his publishers.
Dirty money sloshing around the world needs to be stopped or a grim future awaits us all.
informative
reflective
slow-paced