Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty came out recently and had some good buzz, which is how it got on my radar. In addition, I really enjoyed Radden Keefe's last book, Say Nothing (review here) which was about The Troubles in Northern Ireland, though I didn't realize until about 10 pages in it was the same author. As you can tell from both ratings, I'm a big fan of his books and writing style.
Like Say Nothing, I really enjoyed this book, albeit a totally different focus. Empire of Pain, as the second part of the title describes, is about the philanthropic Sackler family who grew to be an American dynasty working on pharmaceuticals. This book tracks the beginning of this (large) family who migrated here in the early 20th century from Europe and their eventual rise to becoming of the wealthiest and philanthropic families in recent American history. Underlying all the wealth, however, was a drug company that knowingly sold and helped people become addicted to opiods. One could argue, they were the single biggest force in creating the opioid (and now fentanyl) crisis currently in the country.
While a long and incredibly detailed history covering nearly 100 years, I really struggled to put this book down. Like any clearly told story, there were a few parts that ran too long or didn't hold my interest as much as other parts. On the whole, though, it was a fascinating read. And, like his past book, I felt so many of the passages were critical to understanding that thrust of the story that I read closely and was engaged throughout. So much of the book felt like the author was building a case (which he was) to demonstrate how negligent, deliberate and (really) evil the Sackler family has been in beginning and perpetuating the opioid epidemic.
An engaging and, at times, exciting read, the book was also a downer in many ways. First, the Sackler family really are not shown in a positive light. Beginning with the elder Sackler brothers who began the companies, all the way through to their grandchildren who continue to prop up and support this billion dollar company no matter the harm caused, these people are constantly shown as being much more interested in money than any positive social good. He also makes a strong case that the millions donated to museums and medical centers created a front to ensure people had a good impression of them while they made billions at the expense of so many Americans. Second, the book, albeit in not great depth, demonstrates the power and addictive nature of opioids. Moreso, it shows how these addictions destroy lives (literally and figuratively). Finally, and perhaps most apparent, the book demonstrates how the rich and powerful in society are truly above the law. As noted above, Radden Keefe works to create an unassailable argument that the Sackler family has spent decades obfuscating laws and making billions off of the addictive nature of their pills. Yet, throughout the past 20-30 years of legal proceedings and even bankruptcy claims, the family maintained its wealth and never faced any jail time for clear instances of laws being broken. Perhaps the only thing they have lost, is the acceptance of the Sackler name.
While a heavy book (again, literally with the hard cover, and figuratively with content), it's an engaging, educational, and enjoyable read. I recommend it wholeheartedly with the understanding that it may hit too close to home for some and will likely infuriate many. To conclude with Lord Acton, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
