Reviews tagging 'Death'

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

60 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Medical trauma and Classism

Minor: Cancer

lectures_de_chloe's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

2.0

J'ai malheureusement trouvé cet ouvrage interminable. Il y avait trop de détails à mon goût : toute la portion sur l'obsession d'Arthur Sackler pour l'art japonais, les multiples unions, divorces et tromperies perpétués par Arthur et ses frères ainsi que leurs enfants, les chicanes familiales, etc. ont ajoutés de multiples longueurs sans lien avec le sujet auquel je m'intéressais, soit la crise des opioïdes et l'impact du marketing pharmaceutique perpétué par Purdue pharma sur cette crise. Néanmoins, si vous vous intéressez à l'histoire familiale des Sackler, ce livre pourrait vous intéresser. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use

dilani's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

5.0

wow, just wow. very eye-opening for me as i never knew about the origins of the opioid epidemic. the greed and the lengths the Sackler family are willing to go through to protect themselves is infuriating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Death and Suicide

leontyna's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

4.0

The book was really dry but at the same time very informative and well structured. What it lacked in my opinion was a longer piece about the drug, I finished the book not knowing whether there are any legit uses for OxyContin or safe ways to use it. Advocating for people suffering chronic pain was only used as Sackler's excuse and not explored further.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

Minor: Death and Suicide

bibliomich's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

5.0

Patrick Radden Keefe is an author who has been on my radar for a long time, and I'm glad that I finally decided to listen to Empire of Pain.

First of all, I want to note that Keefe narrates his own audiobook, and he is an excellent narrator, so I highly recommend the audiobook, should you enjoy/prefer listening to your books.

The core thesis of this book is that the decisions of several generations of one single family shaped the pharmaceutical industry of today, as well as significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. Keefe's research is thorough, substantial, and tremendously convincing. The story is compelling, devastating, and infuriating.

I highly recommend Empire of Pain and personally intend to read Keefe's other books soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, and Medical content

Minor: Cancer and Antisemitism

Patrick Radden Keefe is an author who has been on my radar for a long time, and I'm glad that I finally decided to listen to Empire of Pain. First of all, I want to note that Keefe narrates his own audiobook, and he is an excellent narrator, so I highly recommend the audiobook, should you enjoy/prefer listening to your books. The core thesis of this book is that the decisions of several generations of one single family shaped the pharmaceutical industry of today, as well as significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. Keefe's research is thorough, substantial, and tremendously convincing. The story is compelling, devastating, and infuriating. I highly recommend Empire of Pain and personally intend to read Keefe's other books soon.

smaber23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad slow-paced

5.0

This is required reading for everyone, but especially those of us who work in healthcare, social work, education, and public health.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Suicide

linneak's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol

economydreams's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

mariawie's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Medical content

Minor: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

abby_can_read's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.0

🎧
This was an intense read. It was horrifying, riveting and sickening. This was amazing reporting and storytelling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Death and Suicide

Minor: Antisemitism