Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

I thought this was an exceptional book.

Keefe has a point of view. He reads more like an investigative journalist - looking for the smoking gun(s) - than a dispassionate historian or sociologist, sifting the wreckage wrought by the Sacklers for truth. And man did he look in the right place.

But I think this is the right style for this subject matter. Just as different subjects can benefit from analysis thru different styles (e.g., take a look ...read more

A truly stellar work of nonfiction. Keefe's narrative of the generations of Sacklers is worth the hype. Fascinating (and horrifying) look into the greed and corruption of the family.

I have no other words than ouch - this one hurts. It was extremely dense, but that’s what you get with this subject.

Cover to cover this book is so good and powerful. Even the Note on Sources was astounding and informative.

Some years ago I learned about the prison abolition movement, aiming to funnel people to the appropriate treatment for their issues and to rehabilitate people. It sounds a bit quirky (and even scary) but when you realize that there is no prison for wealthy mass murders hiding behind corporate logos you really have to meditate on the fiction ...read more

At the PFS Book Club, it isn't uncommon for a book review to branch out into other related discussions. Post the reviews, opinions, anecdotes, trivia, personal experiences, etc., flow quite naturally, often leading to enlightening and fun discussions. Today's book, Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe, reviewed by Shiva, was a lovely example of that. The book in itself promises to be an intriguing read, revealing certain dark secrets of the Ame...read more