This book tells the story of one of America’s richest and most secretive families, the Sacklers. It charts their ascent from Queens immigrants to pharmaceutical moguls, revealing how they engineered one of the greatest public health crises in history. The hidden scandal at the heart of this empire is that for decades members of the Sackler dynasty have been ruthlessly marketing addictive painkillers while concealing their role in creating a national nightmare. The book also probes the Sacklers’ extensive philanthropy, which has pushed their name into the.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for people who are interested in learning about the Sackler dynasty and their role in creating a national nightmare when it comes to prescription painkillers.
Pros :
- The book tells the story of one of America’s richest and most secretive families, the Sacklers.
- It charts their ascent from Queens immigrants to pharmaceutical moguls, revealing how they engineered one of the greatest public health crises in history.
- The hidden scandal at the heart of this empire is that for decades members of the Sackler dynasty have been ruthlessly marketing addictive painkillers while concealing their role in creating a national nightmare.
Cons :
- It may be depressing.
- It could be dense and difficult to read.
- It might focus too much on the negative aspects of the Sackler family rather than their positive contributions as well.
Learn more about the author
Patrick Radden Keefe is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Chasing Phil: The Adventures of an Amateur Sleuth. His work has also appeared in Slate, Harper’s Magazine, Outside, and the Financial Times.
Reader Reviews
“A riveting, up-close look at the Sackler family and their role in creating America’s opioid epidemic. Powerful and important.”
“This book is a comprehensive and damning expose of the Sackler family dynasty and their role in America’s opioid crisis. Radden Keefe does an excellent job of outlining the complicated history, business practices, and philanthropy of this powerful family while painting a detailed picture of the devastating impact that opioids have had on individuals, communities, and our nation as whole. Empire of Pain is eye-opening and harrowing reading – essential for anyone interested in understanding one key factor behind America’s current public health emergency.”
“This is a riveting, damning read – the story of how one family went from being refugees in 1940s Queens to becoming some of America’s richest and most powerful people, all while creating a massive public health crisis. Patrick Radden Keefe makes excellent use of recently declassified documents and extensive interviews to expose the dark underbelly of the Sackler empire.”
“An absolutely stunning, bombshell of a book. . .Radden Keefe has constructed a damning portrait of one dynasty’s greed and skulduggery while revealing the insidious nature of the opioid crisis in America.”
