Book of the Week

‘Empire of Pain’ by Patrick Radden Keefe reviewed by by Gustav

’As with most visits to Books & Co., 80-90% of the reason is to chat with Isabella & Co., while the rest is to marvel over all the carefully curated books.

This time, Isabella recommended Empire of Pain – a book that chronicles the rise, and fall, of the Sackler family – the family behind the OxyContin pills.

I probably share some knowledge of OxyContin and the US Opioid Crisis with others; however I had never put much thought into the company behind the pills, nor the responsibility of the US federal agencies in restricting access to strong narcotics. Knowing that the opioid crisis has taken more US lives than all the wars they have fought, I figured I should learn a little more. Empire of Pain does an immaculate job of explaining the role of the Sackler family, from the first branch of brothers, Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond, through to the newer generations that would take over Purdue Pharma and create the OxyContin pill; how the family built their wealth by inventing the aggressive (and often misleading, if not fraudulent) marketing campaigns for pharmaceutical products, that reshaped the entire industry – campaigns that the newer generations, in particular Richard Sackler, would use to mass market the highly addictive opioid OxyContin in essence creating the opioid crisis. Keefe goes on to explain how greed exists on both private and public levels, with the FDA, the US courts, politicians and district attorneys all being compromised by the wealth of the Sacklers.

Keefe also does a fantastic job of highlighting why the name OxyContin might resonate with readers, but the Sackler name might not. The Sacklers have used philanthropy to buy status in society, with their names adorning top museums and universities.

I must admit that I became disheartened to learn how money drives a company like Purdue and US government institutions to turn a blind eye to one of the most tragic human catastrophes of modern time, but it is the sheer size of the scandal, along with the fascinating documentation by Keefe that made Empire of Pain unputdownable.

It makes you wonder how much more corruption and greed is being overlooked.’

Happy Reading!

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF EMPIRE OF PAIN

Book of the Week

‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene reviewed by our wonderful young practicum student, Aksel

‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene is a thought-provoking and informative book that delves into the psychological tactics used by those in positions of power. Greene explores the methods used by historical figures such as Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Henry Kissinger to gain and maintain power, and presents these lessons in the form of 48 laws. The book is well-researched and provides insightful commentary on each law, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the subject of power dynamics.

Greene's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, and the book is organized in a way that makes it easy to refer back to specific laws. Each law is presented in a clear and concise manner, along with real-world examples and historical anecdotes that illustrate the effectiveness of the law in action. The 48 Laws of Power is a practical guide that can be applied to various situations, whether in the workplace, in politics, or personal relationships.

One of the strengths of the book is its emphasis on the importance of understanding and adapting to power dynamics in all aspects of life. Greene argues that those who understand the laws of power and use them effectively will have an advantage over those who do not. However, he also stresses the importance of using power ethically and with caution, as those who abuse power often suffer consequences in the long run.

Overall, The 48 Laws of Power is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in the subject of power dynamics and the psychological tactics used by those in positions of power. It is a valuable resource for those seeking to gain a deeper understanding of how power is exercised and maintained, and provides practical lessons that can be applied in various real-world situations.’

Happy Reading!

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF THE 48 LAWS OF POWER

Book of the Week

The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland.

When Rudolf Vrba, a gifted young man who had been sent to Auschwitz was 18 years old and working on the ramp where most new arrivals were sent directly to their deaths, he realized that what made the mass murder so relatively simple for the SS was that the prisoners had no idea what awaited them.

That was when he decided to escape to tell the world what was going on.

This is the incredible and little known story of a man whose heroic and unbelievable feat ultimately saved the lives of 200.000 members of the Jewish community in Budapest - and potentially could have saved even more.

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF THE ESCAPE ARTIST

Book of the Week ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin

Reviewed by our own Catalina

‘I picked this up for its beautiful cover and the story did not disappoint!

The blurb says’ This is not a romance, but it is about love’ and about love it truly is. I really enjoyed reading a book that did not attempt to set the characters through all kinds of challenges and struggles, only to reunite them in a romance story.

Videogames are a big part of this book, but that did not alienate me from the story. We follow Sadie and Sam, two gaming nerds that are crafting exciting virtual worlds and growing their game design company. Their professional ascend is paralleled by troublesome personal circumstances that are constantly testing their friendship and love for each other.

My politically obsessed mind could not help but notice Zevin’s subtle hints to wider issues around gun control, gender, and racial structural injustices that even in a seemingly ‘neutral’ industry make themselves visible.

Through Sadie’s story, she reflects on what it means to be a woman in a sphere dominated by men: ‘she often had to put herself into a male point of view to even understand a game at all’.

Through Sam’s story, she hints at the occasional identity crises of families with an immigrant background: ‘as any mixed-race person will tell you - to be half of two things is to be whole of nothing.’

Overall, I loved loved this book and quite enjoyed being immersed in Sadie’s and Sam’s virtual world development. I also adored how Zevin managed to capture the characters’ personal growth as they navigate their twenties and learn to become more patient, empathetic, and kind to each other.’

Thanks for a great review!

RESERVE YOUR COPY OF Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow