Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
The Sackler name adorns the walls of many storied institutions: Harvard, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oxford, the Louvre. They are one of the richest families in the world, known for their lavish donations to the arts and sciences. The source of the family fortune was vague, however, until it emerged that the Sacklers were responsible for making and marketing OxyContin, a blockbuster painkiller that was a catalyst for the opioid crisis.
Empire of Pain is a masterpiece of narrative reporting and writing, exhaustively documented and ferociously compelling.
In the gripping narrative of "Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty," Patrick Radden Keefe unfurls the tale of the Sackler family, whose patriarchs built a pharmaceutical empire while concealing the devastating consequences of their flagship product, OxyContin.
The Sacklers, once esteemed philanthropists and patrons of the arts, are now infamous for their role in fueling the opioid crisis that has ravaged communities across the United States. Keefe meticulously reconstructs their rise and fall, painting a portrait of greed, deception, and the profound human cost of corporate malfeasance.
Through extensive research and interviews with key players, Keefe uncovers the inner workings of Purdue Pharma, the company founded by the Sacklers. He exposes the deceptive marketing tactics, the suppression of scientific evidence, and the calculated efforts to maximize profits at the expense of public health.
"Empire of Pain" is a tour de force of investigative journalism, meticulously documenting the Sacklers' relentless pursuit of wealth and power. Keefe's unflinching examination of their actions serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked corporate influence and the urgent need for accountability.
With its meticulously detailed account and Keefe's masterful storytelling, "Empire of Pain" stands as a seminal work in understanding the opioid crisis and the role of the Sackler family in shaping its disastrous trajectory. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to comprehend the complex interplay of greed, power, and the profound impact on human lives.
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