A review by jorganicklee
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

informative medium-paced

4.0

The author masterfully weaves together the intricate and often hidden threads of the Sackler dynasty’s association with Purdue Pharma, painting a vivid picture of ambition, influence, and the pursuit of profit. The book is particularly enthralling as it uncovers the layers of complexity surrounding the family’s role in the development and aggressive marketing of OxyContin, a drug at the heart of the opioid crisis.

What makes this book so engaging is not just the depth of information but also the storytelling prowess of Keefe, who manages to turn a historical account into a page-turner. The narrative is both enlightening and infuriating, as it exposes the systemic failures that allowed the opioid epidemic to burgeon.