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theodoralang's review against another edition
5.0
there were moments in which i thought the writing was a bit casual or goofy, but overall, exceptional book. fascinating story, useful framing, good storytelling. i like the moments of focus on art and artistic reception (nan goldin, even the Martha graham dance for the opening of the temple of dendur). really fab. a lot of questions about art and philanthropy as transformative alchemy for evil. i am so grateful blessed and lucky that I have not been personally affected by the opioid crisis.
charlie583's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
307 pages of my 966 page copy were dedicated to notes, acknowledgments, sources. So…it’s extensively researched is what I’m saying. A fascinating, narrative study into the Sackler family first, the business practices of Purdue Pharma and all its subsidiaries second. While the real life effects of the opioid epidemic are touched on, and touched on often, it is not a deep dive into the lives directly affected. It doesn’t tell the story of the individuals who have been addicted, who have recovered or who have not.
Sometimes I would have liked to have read a bit more about the people and towns hit hard by addiction, but that’s not what this book is for. Check out Dreamland by Sam Quinones if that’s what you’re after. If you want something that talks you through the legalities, the finances, the history of the pills themselves, then this is the book. Excellent and devastating.
Sometimes I would have liked to have read a bit more about the people and towns hit hard by addiction, but that’s not what this book is for. Check out Dreamland by Sam Quinones if that’s what you’re after. If you want something that talks you through the legalities, the finances, the history of the pills themselves, then this is the book. Excellent and devastating.
testaroscia's review against another edition
5.0
I read this on the strength of [b:Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland|40163119|Say Nothing A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland|Patrick Radden Keefe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537315266l/40163119._SY75_.jpg|62303430] and it was equally engrossing. Throughout the book i kept visualizing the play called "The Lehman Brothers" which, like this book, sections up the story on East European immigrants to the USA , their talents and growth, the gradual slip from drive to succeed to greed, and then the rot from within of subsequent generations. This story is not yet finished.
jungihong's review against another edition
Infuriating read. Hopefully there will be a second edition one day after the Supreme Court rules on the bankruptcy deal: https://www.scotusblog.com/2023/12/purdue-bankruptcy-sacklers/.
"At the Supreme Court on Monday, the justices appeared conflicted over whether to allow a multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma to move forward. The federal government is seeking to block the plan because it releases members of the Sackler family from civil liability for opioid-related claims, but the company’s creditors – which include state and local governments and victims of the opioid crisis – broadly support the plan as the only way to ensure that they will receive compensation and funding for opioid recovery projects."
"At the Supreme Court on Monday, the justices appeared conflicted over whether to allow a multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma to move forward. The federal government is seeking to block the plan because it releases members of the Sackler family from civil liability for opioid-related claims, but the company’s creditors – which include state and local governments and victims of the opioid crisis – broadly support the plan as the only way to ensure that they will receive compensation and funding for opioid recovery projects."
mgmartin's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Incredibly well done. This book gives an in-depth insight to the family who created the opioid epidemic.
brigitte's review against another edition
4.75
Horrifying. also the bootstraps narrative has really backfired in so many ways
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
5.0
You certainly don't need to resort to watching HBO's Succession to see a portrait of an insanely wealthy, amoral family that uses their privilege and position to squirrel out of accountability for their heinous deeds. Incredibly well researched and written, this narrative nonfiction read like a compelling fictional story except for the very end (where no amount of good writing can spice up the tedium of lawsuits).