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syddieff's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
only time i was happy while reading this was when he mentioned any of the sacklers dying
fuufi's review
5.0
This book is an important piece of investigative journalism. It brings light over such an important and transcendental problem.
To many people from the US who lived through this crisis and eventually through the federal trial I am sure this book was an important and interesting piece on the people behind the scenes. But to people from all over the world it was our first encounter with this devastating crisis, and I am pleased to find such a complete and thorough piece. Keefe's narration never felt dull or boring, so that was a plus.
Definitely reading another of Keefe's pieces in the future.
To many people from the US who lived through this crisis and eventually through the federal trial I am sure this book was an important and interesting piece on the people behind the scenes. But to people from all over the world it was our first encounter with this devastating crisis, and I am pleased to find such a complete and thorough piece. Keefe's narration never felt dull or boring, so that was a plus.
Definitely reading another of Keefe's pieces in the future.
lalawoman416's review
5.0
This book starts off good, then gets great, then gets excellent. Stick with it it crescendos. The Sackler Dynasty is no different than the Chapo Dynasty.
bonnie_smith's review
5.0
Sometimes I struggle with investigative journalism because it can be dense or boring. Especially when you get lost in the details. While I don’t think it would be possible for a story about the Sacklers to be boring, Patrick Radden Keefe, did a beautiful job weaving the decades of information, heirs/heiresses, and deplorable crimes by this family together into a brilliant book. This is honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read and the content matter is so important. It really shifts how you view the pharmaceutical industry and begins to untangle the web that started the opioid crisis. This is an absolute must read!
kathrynshields's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
My spooky season reading started a little early with this absolute horror story. I was familiar with the Sackler family’s connection to the opioid epidemic, but Patrick Radden Keefe expertly untangles a complex and complicated history spanning three generations. The material is dense at times, but the story is captivating. This is an important work of journalism and storytelling that everyone, directly or indirectly affected by opioids, should read.
*Extra points to the author for a consistently correct pronunciation of “Appalachia” in the audiobook.
*Extra points to the author for a consistently correct pronunciation of “Appalachia” in the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Medical trauma and Classism
Minor: Cancer