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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Empire of Pain summary
Patrick Radden Keefe
The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
19 mins
Brief summary
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe is a gripping account of the Sackler family's multi-billion dollar empire, built on the sale of OxyContin, and the tragic consequences of the opioid epidemic they fueled.
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Empire of Pain
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Chapter 1: Arthur and his kid brothers.
From a young age, Arthur Sackler was a hustler. In high school he worked for the school paper where he sold ads on commission. He had so many side gigs that he had to give some over to his younger brothers, Mortimer and Raymond.
He kept it up in college, too, graduating in the middle of the Great Depression with enough money to buy his parents a grocery store in Brooklyn. He then enrolled in medical school at NYU and took a full course load while maintaining extracurriculars and several jobs.
After med school, Arthur would work all day at a state psychiatric hospital, and then spend evenings and weekends working for a medical advertising agency, called William McAdams. Arthur quickly scaled the ranks there. He was named President after just two years, and eventually bought the firm.
Being a doctor himself, Arthur’s ad campaigns appealed directly to physicians. He placed them in medical journals, and sent literature to doctors’ offices. He also enlisted prominent doctors, and sometimes fake ones, to sell his products. Over his career, Arthur would transform pharmaceutical advertising–colleagues claimed he really invented the wheel.
One drug in particular helped make Arthur rich. His advertising campaigns for Valium, a minor tranquilizer produced by the company Roche, focused on convincing physicians to prescribe it for just about any ailment, major or minor. For years it was the most prescribed drug in America.
Mortimer and Raymond would also become doctors. Still, Arthur couldn’t stop thinking of them as his kid brothers.
He would get them both jobs at the psychiatric hospital (where he continued to work). The three of them would eventually start a research center there that explored drug treatment options that could replace shock therapy and lobotomies, which were standard practices at the time.
Then in 1952, Arthur decided to purchase a pharmaceutical company for his kid brothers. It was a tiny company, but it had a good, patrician name: Purdue Frederick.
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What is Empire of Pain about?
Empire of Pain (2021) follows the rise and fall of the elusive Sacklers, the billionaire family behind Purdue Pharma. Its blockbuster drug, OxyContin, was aggressively marketed as safe, but would go on to spur a devastating opioid crisis that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Yet the Sacklers’ fortress of lawyers, political connections and a philanthropic name would, time and again, protect them from responsibility.
Empire of Pain Review
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty (2021) delves deep into the captivating and controversial story of the Sackler family, the makers of OxyContin. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers a meticulously researched account of the rise and fall of the Sackler empire, providing a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and its impact on society.
- Provides insightful and thought-provoking analysis of the Sackler family's business practices and their role in the opioid crisis, shedding light on important social and ethical issues.
- Keefe's skillful storytelling keeps readers engaged from start to finish, making this complex and controversial topic accessible and compelling.
Who should read Empire of Pain?
- Current affairs enthusiasts
- Lovers of family dynasty dramas
- Anyone wanting to understand the opioid crisis
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Empire of Pain FAQs
What is the main message of Empire of Pain?
The main message of Empire of Pain is the dark history and impact of the Sackler family's involvement in the opioid crisis.
How long does it take to read Empire of Pain?
The reading time for Empire of Pain varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Empire of Pain a good book? Is it worth reading?
Empire of Pain is a thought-provoking and eye-opening book that delves into a significant issue. It offers a comprehensive and revealing perspective on the opioid crisis.
Who is the author of Empire of Pain?
Patrick Radden Keefe is the author of Empire of Pain.
What to read after Empire of Pain?
If you're wondering what to read next after Empire of Pain, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Material World by Ed Conway
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- Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
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- Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
- Dreamland by Sam Quinones
- Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos
- Behave by Robert Sapolsky
- The Status Game by Will Storr
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro