Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

I’ve read another of Patrick Radden Keefe’s books, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, and if you liked that, I think you’ll also really love Empire of Pain.

I knew absolutely nothing about the Sackler family, Purdue or OxyContin when I started this book and it does a fantastic job of introducing you to this pharmaceutical dynasty, and their role in the opioid crisis in America.

I think what makes this book so unique in covering the addiction crises is that it goes back decades to the three brothers that founded Purdue Pharma and their experiences working in medicine and advertising which basically invented pharmaceutical marketing.

This book is a must read, it’s incredibly impactful and important, and covers so many essential areas of the story with such ease and grace. It’s an incredible achievement.

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sarah_who_reads's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I adore Patrick Radden Keefe and would read anything he wrote, but this one is near and dear to my heart. It explores the Sackler family and their connection to the opioid epidemic that has ravaged the US as a whole, but especially Appalachia. In Empire of Pain, Radden Keefe traces the rise of the Sackler dynasty, beginning with its origins in Arthur Sackler's high school side hustle, and its inextricable connection to explosion of opioid addictions in the late 90s and early 00s. Radden Keefe is journalistic, one of the US' best journalists currently writing, but as one reads through, it becomes obvious, over and over again, why his measured tone belies a rage simmering just below the surface. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the opioid epidemic or Appalachia or medicine, or otherwise, anyone interested in the art world and the misdeeds of some of its most prominent benefactors.

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thelaundrybin's review against another edition

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informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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butlerebecca's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative tense medium-paced

4.25

sad that succession was only mentioned once, 13 hours in

I want to rate this a four but I’m giving it more because I think it has to do with the fact that I have already watched Dopesick and prefer the pace and arc of that, but recognize the point of this book is more Sackler and less first-hand addiction experience

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nadia's review

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informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

My second Patrick Radden Keefe of the year — after Say Nothing — and he didn't disappoint.

What I love about Radden Keefe's books is how they read like fiction at times but are packed with so much detail. You can see that he cuts no corners with his research.

I knew nothing about the Sacklers going into this, which added to the intrigue. However, I do think the fact that I could only pick up the book in small bursts, and often when I was feeling tired, impacted my enjoyment. I found it harder to stay focused.

A fantastic book to read if you want to know more about the opioid crisis or the Sackler family, or if you're into narrative nonfiction books that feature multiple generations of one family or themes of corporate fraud/corruption or medicine/pharmaceuticals.

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