Books like Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe


Patrick Radden Keefe’s *Empire of Pain* traces the saga of the Sackler dynasty—three brothers who, after surviving Depression‑era poverty and anti‑Semitic hostility, invented mass‑market pharmaceutical marketing. Their legacy of opulent philanthropy and art patronage masks a fortune built on the sales of Valium and, later, OxyContin. The book details how the brothers’ aggressive promotion strategies—including influencing physicians, regulators, and the public about drug safety—contributed to a nationwide opioid epidemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. It follows the family through decades of investigations, legal battles, and ruthless tactics to sidestep accountability. Keefe’s exhaustive research paints a portrait of wealth, excess, and impunity, situating the Sacklers’ story within the broader context of America’s second Gilded Age and the tragic public health consequences of unchecked pharmaceutical marketing.
First publish date: 2021
Genre: Biography & Autobiography/Biography
Authors: Patrick Radden Keefe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.4 (7 community ratings)

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

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