Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

 

Title:  Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

Author:  Patrick Radden Keefe
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:  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.

Rating: Very good.
Why I Like It:  Very well written and I learned a lot about the subject.
Other:  listened to it on audio
Reviewer: Nancy

Unearthing the Secret Garden

 Title:  Unearthing the Secret Garden

Author:  Marta McDowell

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary:  In Unearthing The Secret Garden, best-selling author Marta McDowell delves into the professional and gardening life of Frances Hodgson Burnett. Complementing her fascinating account with charming period photographs and illustrations, McDowell paints an unforgettable portrait of a great artist and reminds us why The Secret Garden continues to touch readers after more than a century. This deeply moving and gift-worthy book is a must-read for fans of The Secret Garden and anyone who loves the story behind the story.

Rating: Good
Why I Like It:  Frances Hodgson Burnett had an interesting life and I am familiar with the horticulture catalogs and references she used.

Reviewer: Nancy Bucher