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A review by melirose1998
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
I can't give this one a star rating. This monstrosity of a book (I've seen those physical copies in the store and omg they're thicc) took me around three months to finally get through. I had to take some breaks because of life, mental health, etc. But wow this book was a very intriguing and informative experience. I was able to listen to the audiobook, and the author narrates it.
This book was narrative reporting and writing and honestly I was especially interested at the end when the author has notes about the sources, and how difficult it was for him to find effective and honest sources given how much the Sackler family wanted to keep hidden. It's seriously sickening the amount of denial that the family gave about their role in the opioid crisis. Additionally, even when the truth began to come out, the family refused to take accountability.
I recognize there has been more recent news coverage on the family due to court cases and whatnot, but what needs to be emphasized is that they need to take responsibility for what they did in the past, and how it continues to harm folks today. The opioid crisis has and continues to have devastating implications. I hope that one day also, the narrative that the Sackler's used to avoid blame, and that many others use (that it's an individual's fault they become an addict, and not the drug), gets thrown out. It is harmful to assume and perpetuate that an individual is at fault for their addiction, when many times, it is the structures in place that prevent holistic treatment and some goddamn empathy from reaching them.
Ultimately, I am glad I got through this one and can say that I learned a lot. Though this book infuriated me and had me gasping with the ridiculous-ness, I would recommend it.
This book was narrative reporting and writing and honestly I was especially interested at the end when the author has notes about the sources, and how difficult it was for him to find effective and honest sources given how much the Sackler family wanted to keep hidden. It's seriously sickening the amount of denial that the family gave about their role in the opioid crisis. Additionally, even when the truth began to come out, the family refused to take accountability.
I recognize there has been more recent news coverage on the family due to court cases and whatnot, but what needs to be emphasized is that they need to take responsibility for what they did in the past, and how it continues to harm folks today. The opioid crisis has and continues to have devastating implications. I hope that one day also, the narrative that the Sackler's used to avoid blame, and that many others use (that it's an individual's fault they become an addict, and not the drug), gets thrown out. It is harmful to assume and perpetuate that an individual is at fault for their addiction, when many times, it is the structures in place that prevent holistic treatment and some goddamn empathy from reaching them.
Ultimately, I am glad I got through this one and can say that I learned a lot. Though this book infuriated me and had me gasping with the ridiculous-ness, I would recommend it.