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emywils's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could give this book 10 stars. I’ve never been so gripped by a work of journalism/nonfiction.
chiliramon's review against another edition
4.0
Thorough, exhaustive, and enlightening -- I had no idea Big Pharma played such a big part in addiction. Glad to be corrected and aware of the plight of addicts.
The Sacklers remind me of the Marcoses. Multi-generational evil, complete lack of accountability or remorse, repeated denial, art collections, tax shelters, mediocre billionaires, an obsession with their own name. I guess that's what the pursuit of money does to you, robs you of every last ounce of humanity.
It did make me appreciate the ASC though. I may complain about their stringent guidelines but maybe if Arthur Sackler had to have his medical ads screened, this book would never have been written.
The Sacklers remind me of the Marcoses. Multi-generational evil, complete lack of accountability or remorse, repeated denial, art collections, tax shelters, mediocre billionaires, an obsession with their own name. I guess that's what the pursuit of money does to you, robs you of every last ounce of humanity.
It did make me appreciate the ASC though. I may complain about their stringent guidelines but maybe if Arthur Sackler had to have his medical ads screened, this book would never have been written.
wilkerwyrm's review against another edition
5.0
I read this as an ebook which I DO NOT recommend because I’m an endnotes girly and there’s no way to know which endnotes are for what while you’re reading and it’s not as easy to flip back and forth in ebook land. HOWEVER, this book is a necessary work which really shows how rich people can basically do whatever they want and the systems meant to create a check on bad actors bow to their whims. But there’s enough of consequences that they show would matter to the family that you’re not super depressed at the end.
krichardson's review against another edition
5.0
Really excellent reporting on the family that (at least in substantial part) caused the opioid crisis. Along the lines of [b:Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right|27833494|Dark Money The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right|Jane Mayer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1452601408l/27833494._SY75_.jpg|47815497], [b:The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York|1111|The Power Broker Robert Moses and the Fall of New York|Robert A. Caro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403194611l/1111._SY75_.jpg|428384], and [b:Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators|51022071|Catch and Kill Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators|Ronan Farrow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571119278l/51022071._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72177046] so if you liked any of those I recommend this one (and vv!).
karen_gioconda's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
quenchgum's review against another edition
5.0
You should read this book.
If you liked this, you should also read Jane Mayer's [b:Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right|27833494|Dark Money The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right|Jane Mayer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1452601408l/27833494._SY75_.jpg|47815497] (also five stars). Two great examples of important, well-written, and particularly well-sourced investigative journalism that goes down like a good fiction book.
If you liked this, you should also read Jane Mayer's [b:Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right|27833494|Dark Money The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right|Jane Mayer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1452601408l/27833494._SY75_.jpg|47815497] (also five stars). Two great examples of important, well-written, and particularly well-sourced investigative journalism that goes down like a good fiction book.