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Chasing the Scream
- The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Politics & Government
Non-member price: $43.87
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Publisher's Summary
It is now 100 years since drugs were first banned in the United States. On the eve of this centenary, journalist Johann Hari set off on an epic three-year, 30,000-mile journey into the war on drugs. What he found is that more and more people all over the world have begun to recognize three startling truths: Drugs are not what we think they are. Addiction is not what we think it is. And the drug war has very different motives to the ones we have seen on our TV screens for so long.
In Chasing the Scream, Hari reveals his discoveries entirely through the stories of people across the world whose lives have been transformed by this war. They range from a transsexual crack dealer in Brooklyn searching for her mother, to a teenage hit-man in Mexico searching for a way out. It begins with Hari's discovery that at the birth of the drug war, Billie Holiday was stalked and killed by the man who launched this crusade - and it ends with the story of a brave doctor who has led his country to decriminalize every drug, from cannabis to crack, with remarkable results.
Chasing the Scream lays bare what we really have been chasing in our century of drug war - in our hunger for drugs, and in our attempt to destroy them. This audiobook will challenge and change how you think about one of the most controversial - and consequential - questions of our time.
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What listeners say about Chasing the Scream
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Doctor
- 29-01-2015
Brilliant and telling..
A book about some uncomfortable realities we've still to face in society. A well researched and well documented history of what most consider just part of every day life.
If I could slap down a book in front of every person in power, as a final wish, and tell them to read (or listen) it from cover to cover it would be this one.
I've always been against prohibition ever since I'd come into contact with those affected by it, but only for a select few substances. I thought this book would be 14 hours of preaching to a choire, but even then I was still challenged by the stories and experiences presented in this book.
I managed to plow through this in only a few days or so. The narrative was compelling enough for me to have to try and force myself to find time away from it. An addiction one might say.
Every anti prohibitionist, no matter your tastes or distaste in narcotics, should give this one a shot and pass on it's message.
We've got a lot of growing to do as a society, and I firmly believe this book and all parties involved in the creation of this book are the way forward.
I'd even go so far as to buy a physical copy of this book and pass it on to my local representatives and see if their perspective on what has been commonly portrayed as a very binary discussion change as much as mine have. I hope others around the world might feel the same way after having experienced this book.
7 people found this helpful
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- Alexander Christopher Smith
- 08-02-2018
Good story
interesting insight into the war on drugs, a lot of anecdotal evidence, with some statistical reference. Well researched, but felt the reader was more positioned than an objective analysis
3 people found this helpful
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- MsJAIG
- 19-01-2016
Informative. Gives Hope for the Future.
What did you like most about Chasing the Scream?
In-depth and up-to-date information and questions regarding many aspects of the current 'Drug War' crisis we face today. Exhaustive research including experiments and projects included, in detail, provide food for thought and were extremely interesting.This audio book gave me hope for positive change in upcoming years.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Chasing the Scream?
The story about the woman who lost her child to the 'Drug War' and the lengths she went to for justice, which was not done.
What about Tim Gerard Reynolds’s performance did you like?
The narrator was easy to listen to and understand. The inflection in his voice enabled longer periods of time to listen without tuning out or daydreaming which can happen when listening to audio books occasionally.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I did listen to this book in a relatively short time span. I 'MADE' time to listen. I found myself discussing this book with my teenage sons and their friends when I wasn't listening.
Any additional comments?
Highly recommend this book if you have an interest in the ongoing 'Drug War' occurring in many countries, or if you or a loved one, friend or family member affected by drugs. Great listen!
3 people found this helpful
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- Heidi Biseth
- 13-12-2015
Mind blowing!
A mind blowing story! Very convincing. I have to revise my own thoughts on the matter and bring it up with my close relatives affected by this war. The narrator did an impressive job.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 09-05-2019
Awesome book, terrible narrator
The worst performance I have ever heard for an audiobook. Very hard to listen to, however the book is fantastic
1 person found this helpful
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- George
- 07-10-2018
terrible performance of a great book
push through the terrible performance. it's worth it for an amazing book. also highly recommend his other book
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 06-03-2018
Eye opener
Great eye opening book to the war on drugs and how much one man has shaped the world with his personal view. It was very well read, very engaging.
1 person found this helpful
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- Hope
- 04-12-2020
Great book
Some coarse language but great study tool, a must read for all youth and parents.
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- Mr. N. Giannakaros
- 29-09-2020
incredible!
this book should be discussed at the UN and dramatic changes should be encouraged in our society as a result of its findings
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- Brad Fenech
- 09-09-2020
Not thought provoking enough
Nothing new in this book, some interesting documentaries of the start of prohibition. A very one sided view of the war on dogs, which you can feel throughout the book via the authors style of writing. I feel there was something missing from the story
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- Drake
- 24-04-2016
This is worth your time....
Any additional comments?
I am a physician who has practiced a specialty of internal medicine for over 30 years.if you want advice: you should absolutely hear this book.The author makes a compelling case that most, if not all, drugs should be legalized and regulated.I believe that marijuana, opiates, cocaine and methamphetamine cause more harm than good when used recreationally.(Methamphetamine is especially harmful and is a common cause of heart failure and death in long-term users.)Nevertheless, the author has persuaded me that the harm caused by Prohibition and the War on Drugs is not worth the social benefit.Increasing numbers of young people are dying of narcotic overdoses. (Read the excellent Dreamland by Sam Quinones.) With enlightened policies that have worked for example in Switzerland – this can be stopped.Drug-related crime of all kinds – from the many thousands of horrific murders caused by the Cartels to petty theft to help support a habit – could be markedly reduced by legalization. The police could concentrate on criminals doing real social harm. The prisons would not be overflowing with those being brutalized for largely victimless crimes. The money spent arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning drug users could be spent with much greater social benefit. You will learn that many of our drug policies have been founded on ignorance and prosecuted with ulterior motives.There are aspects of this book that I disagree with. The author is not a physician and he has chosen his medical experts selectively. I believe he underestimates the power of "chemical hooks” to disrupt the human reward system and subvert the will.On the whole, he gives much credence to a lack of social connection and past psychotrama as the cause of drug abuse and addiction. I think he probably overemphasizes this influence. There are significant genetic factors that predispose to substance abuse and addiction – this is clearly true with alcohol for example. When susceptible humans meet easily available drugs there is likely to be trouble —and we must accept and be ready to cope with that fact. He freely admits that ending prohibition will probably increase the use of drugs of all sorts. But the drugs will probably be less potent and less dangerous. And the conditions of their use can be better regulated.Mental Health Services (which have not achieved the same scientific foundations or effectiveness as the rest of medicine) and other social services would be significantly challenged by legalization. They could at least be better funded and possibly evolve their effectiveness with the windfall of money not wasted on prohibition.All this said, he has convinced this skeptic that legalization and regulation is the better path. I suspect he will also convince you.
297 people found this helpful
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- Gordon Jones
- 26-01-2015
Absolutely magnificent
A more inspiring and insightful book I cannot imagine. Brilliantly presented and truly earth shattering. I do so hope the influences of this well researched work reach far and touch the key people who are in positions to make changes in our society.
57 people found this helpful
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- P. Smith
- 04-02-2015
A Must if the drug war has touched you at all
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This should be required reading for anyone directly involved in the drug war. It is told in an extremely compelling fashion, and in great detail. Despite this it never lags.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Chasing the Scream?
The history of how the US government destroyed medical treatment, for drug addicts WORLDWIDE.
Which character – as performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds – was your favorite?
Chino, the drug addict illegitimate child of an addict and her rapist father police officer.
If you could give Chasing the Scream a new subtitle, what would it be?
Truth is the first casualty in all wars.
Any additional comments?
If enough people read this book, and act on it, we can bring the problem of addiction under control, and restore a more peaceful society.
56 people found this helpful
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- Keith Stout
- 17-02-2015
Great factual story
I am very impressed with the authors research on this matter. It has opened my eyes and my heart to a new way of thinking about the so called "War on Drugs". Having grown up in the 60's,70's & the 80's I see how a different approach to this would have had much better results. I have lost friends to drugs and would love nothing more than to see it controlled in this manner. I suggest this read to anyone who has been or is effected by drugs for that matter anyone period!
33 people found this helpful
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- Jessica
- 30-04-2015
Blew my mind
after ensuring the bibliography wasn't filled with junk reports and checking facts with the drug guys and medical gals around campus for verification on dubious and surprising points, I can proudly proclaim that the big facts and figures are correct. I believe his worst infraction was screwing up someone's title or something insubstabtial like that.
So, I'm inspired and fired up. Can someone tell me where the revolution is scheduled to be and if they have coffee there? I'll carpool if needed.
45 people found this helpful
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- Joan
- 17-02-2015
Beautifully written
The book is powerful. Extremely well researched. Changed everything I thought I knew about drugs and addicts. The author engages the reader from the first sentence to the last
25 people found this helpful
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- tony mancill
- 24-09-2017
good source material but maddening narration
This book stands apart from others I have read on the subject - e.g. recently "Narconomics" - in that the author takes a very personal and humane approach to the interviewees and subject matter. This seems appropriate and makes the material more interesting than a strictly rational treatment of the subject.
However, the narration detracts greatly from the material in the book because the narrator insists upon reading passages in what he assumes would be the voice of the speaker. These voices range from grating caricatures to down-right insulting stereotypes. The narrator has a background in theater and maybe this is supposed to draw the listener in, but for me it destroys the pathos evoked by the stories in the book.
I recommend the book itself, but consider reading it instead of listening to it.
26 people found this helpful
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- Teresa Stuart
- 02-02-2015
Challenges many of my perceptions
As a recovered alcoholic and a clinical addiction counselor I'm having to look again at my own recovery and at the way I counsel others seeking recovery.
30 people found this helpful
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- Deondre
- 06-02-2015
Definitive story of "The war on drugs"
Full of great historical and current stories of the creators and victims of our centuries old war on drugs. Astonishing to find that one man, Harry Anslinger, had so much to do with this disastrous global campaign.
18 people found this helpful
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- Calliope
- 03-04-2016
All you need is love..........
This is a flaming piece of propaganda that is almost enough to turn me away from my beliefs towards decriminalizing drugs......when I see (or hear) someone twist words around, ignore facts, and jumble examples this badly, I presume he doesn't have a strong and rational enough argument to be able to sell it without these propagandist tools.
The premise here -- at least one of them, it's hard to keep them straight -- is that all one needs is love, a purpose in life, and virtual utopia to avoid and/or recover from a drug addiction. It's a fairyland premise that makes me want to scream. This idea sounds all rosy and peachy keen, except when it's applied to reality where, even without drugs, there still are boring McJobs, social isolation, physical infirmities, abusive parents, chronic unemployment, and government Catch 22s. It's certainly a premise that will not stand the test of reality.
And the author chooses some very prejudicial language to make his point -- drug addicts are not "jailed", they're "caged", for instance. Then there's the author's claim that if drugs were legalized, the drug cartels would fade away like the gangsters had when Prohibition was repealed......ignoring the fact that they (organized criminals) didn't fade away, they just switched to other forms of crime to continue making their piles of money and piling up power.
If only we could give drug addicts a big hug and invite them to share our Sunday dinner, they would have the tools they need to break their addiction (eye roll here) - where the author assumes every addict wants to be free of his/her addiction on one hand, but on the other hand says that some addicts prefer their addictive life to the boring McJob they might have otherwise. Oh, and the author ignores the fact that boring jobs (janitor was one mentioned here) will always exist, so if McJobs are part of the problem, that isn't going to change with decriminalization or legalization.
The author barely mentions the biological component of addiction, which is constantly brushed away as "such a minor part", though genetics is never something to ignore and sweep under a rug. But, the author also has a hard time realistically judging voting statistics, when he claims a vote that split 55% for and 45% against was a landslide that won by "over 10%!!!". While the numbers are right, the truth is that it's a slight victory, hardly a landslide, and it means that almost half the voters will have to be won emotionally since they lost at the polls, and will be a force to be reckoned with. A strange interpretation of facts.
There is some good stuff here -- the history of the start of the "drug wars," the financial motives behind it, and the bullying of the US against other countries was interesting. And I do support a lot of what he wants, though I hate what and how he presents his support. Still, I had a hard time finishing this book and getting through the "all you need is love" speeches and his blatant ignoring of the parts of reality and history that don't match his ideas.
68 people found this helpful
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- Stephanie
- 09-02-2015
Captivating and thought provoking
I am a fairly liberal person, not a drug user per-se but I have had my experiences and run-ins with drugs and the system in which they are demonised and scape-goated. This book forced me to review the way I viewed drugs, drug use and drug addicts and drove home some difficult to digest truths. Incredinly interesting, moving, disturbing, liberating, everyone should read this book no matter how they feel about drugs, and I think we as a society will get there in the end - to the place this book so convincingly argues us to go.
21 people found this helpful
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- Just for Today
- 22-06-2018
Health Warning - This book may trouble you
So many emotions raised within in me as I listened to this audio book. So much anger, lasting several weeks. Such a thoroughly researched book, frightening events, dark events, hopeless inducing events. Then a turnaround in the second half of the book. A way forwards is documented and illustrations of what's going on in the world now are encouraging and uplifting. Overall, such turmoil, just a small number of people, it seems, are responsible for so many drug-related deaths. I never thought drug legalisation was the way to solve drug addiction. The writer has written an amazing book. Please note the title of this review. Now for a rest before I listen to the next audio book.
18 people found this helpful
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- Victoria
- 28-05-2015
Inspirational
One of the most inspirational, unbelievable yet shockingly real books I have ever encountered. This book will shake you to the core and either reinforce your beliefs about drugs - or change them. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
14 people found this helpful
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- formidible
- 11-08-2018
Amazing
This is one of those books that will change your life. Its not only devastating to read, but exciting and compulsive too. The narrator is one of the best I've come across. This book has changed my perspective on the world. It leaves no stone unturned in its utter expose of the so called War on Drugs. But not only that, Hari also shows how people and society's can be so easily manipulated and hoodwinked into believing the rhetoric of people in powerful positions - evil people, masquerading as politicians or "visionaries", who will do and say anything, and convince anybody, to see their vision become a reality, no matter the cost to human life. Some of the longer chapters read as mini books in themselves - stories that will stay with you forever. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
10 people found this helpful
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- Renata
- 27-04-2016
Important, essential, informative.
If you could sum up Chasing the Scream in three words, what would they be?
Important, essential, informative.
What did you like best about this story?
Johann Hari gives us an in depth look at how badly we have handled the situation with illegal drugs and the damage it has done to too many people. This book isn't about encouraging recreational or across the counter drug taking - He doesn't advocate drug taking at all but tries to give us a balanced look at what the War on Drugs really is and where it went wrong right from the outset.
Which character – as performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds – was your favourite?
The reading was well balanced and I thought I was listening to the author most of the time which I deduced as a good thing?
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I tried to remain unemotional about this subject but did find some of the stories sent me into a frustrated tizzy of hair-pulling for all sorts of reasons too long to detail as the stories were many.
Any additional comments?
Whether you adamantly believe in the War on Drugs or believe in legalisation this book really will help you make an informed opinion on the subject. It is a very rational debate on the subject and the book should be an essential read for all those of reading and drug-taking age.
9 people found this helpful
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- richard
- 24-05-2015
Epic
Amazing!!!! You must download. If you feel anything about drugs this book will blow your mind.
9 people found this helpful
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- Robin
- 12-06-2016
Everyone should read or listen to this book.
Chasing the Scream breaks down our societal assumptions about the dangers of drugs with a fascinating investigation which spans history, the animal kingdom, criminality, and individual stories of those worse affected by the war on drugs. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
8 people found this helpful
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- markj
- 07-05-2016
The story you were never told
This is an in-depth and highly thought-provoking examination of the so-called 'war on drugs' of the past century. You will not think about drugs in the same way after this.
8 people found this helpful
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- Mr. S. B. D. Henderson
- 21-01-2016
One of the most important books of our times, about our times!
This is a wonderfully researched, written and presented exploration and expose of the beginning, middle and (hopefully) end of the war on drugs; it's misguided seed, destructive fruits and maybe a solution to all of the suffering it has caused...
6 people found this helpful
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- ricky
- 06-06-2016
Sense and sensibility.
A shining light of hope for much and many. Researched and written superbly. The performance of the narrator is brilliant, names are made characters and characters protagonists and heroes, villains and normal people - all are written, represented and respected.
5 people found this helpful
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