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Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs Hardcover – January 20, 2015

by Johann Hari (Author)

4.7 5,721 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

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The New York Times Bestseller

What if everything you think you know about addiction is wrong? Johann Hari's journey into the heart of the war on drugs led him to ask this question--and to write the book that gave rise to his viral TED talk, viewed more than 62 million times, and inspired the feature film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and the documentary series The Fix.

One of Johann Hari's earliest memories is of trying to wake up one of his relatives and not being able to. As he grew older, he realized he had addiction in his family. Confused, not knowing what to do, he set out and traveled over 30,000 miles over three years to discover what really causes addiction--and what really solves it.

He uncovered a range of remarkable human stories--of how the war on drugs began with Billie Holiday, the great jazz singer, being stalked and killed by a racist policeman; of the scientist who discovered the surprising key to addiction; and of the countries that ended their own war on drugs--with extraordinary results.

Chasing the Scream is the story of a life-changing journey that transformed the addiction debate internationally--and showed the world that the opposite of addiction is connection.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Superb journalism and thrilling story-telling.” ―Naomi Klein

“An absolutely stunning book.” ―Elton John

“A terrific book.” ―Bill Maher

“A wonderful book . . . I hope everyone will read it.” ―Sam Harris

“Wonderful . . . I couldn't put it down.” ―Noam Chomsky

“Amazing and bracing and smart. It's really revolutionary.” ―Dan Savage

“One of the world's most important and most enlightening thinkers and social critics.” ―Glenn Greenwald, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

“Incredibly insightful and provocative.” ―B.J. Novak, creator of THE OFFICE

“A testament to Hari's skill as a writer.” ―The New York Times

About the Author

Johann Hari is a writer and journalist. He has written for the New York Times, Le Monde, the Guardian and other newspapers. His TED talks have been viewed over 70 million times, and his work has been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky to Joe Rogan. He lives in London.

www.johannhari.com
@johannhari101

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA; 1st edition (January 20, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1620408902
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1620408902
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.54 x 1.43 x 9.49 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #241,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #107 in Government Social Policy
- #477 in Substance Abuse Recovery
- #611 in Criminology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 5,721 ratings

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Johann Hari is the New York Times best-selling author of 'Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs', and one of the top-rated TED talkers of all time.

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5,721 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's research and storytelling eye-opening and thought-provoking. They appreciate the anecdotal stories intertwined with real history that add a human aspect to the problem. The writing style is described as well-written, easy to read, and understandable. Many readers consider it a must-read for professionals, parents of addicts, and decision makers. They praise the pacing, weaving personal themes with extensive coverage of social and political issues. However, some readers feel the book contains too many conspiracies and violence, which may not be suitable for everyone.

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Research quality Storytelling Writing quality Readability Pacing Drug war Heartbreaking story Material quality

554 customers mention "Research quality"545 positive9 negative

Customers find the book's research quality good. They say it provides eye-opening facts and studies to back its claims. The personal perspectives are fascinating, and the author brings to light the realities of addiction in contrast to fairy tales taught. Readers appreciate the well-cited and well-documented research.

"...the present and future, these personal stories came from actual extensive interviews with an amazing array of individuals, including: --..." Read more

"...It is a fast read, difficult to put down. You will learn fascinating info that you probably have never heard before, told through the lives of..." Read more

"...This is a book that could save hundreds of thousands of lives, could save billions in annual tax dollars and should be read by everyone for informed..." Read more

"...was going on in my country's government hits home, and these facts hit pretty hard...." Read more

214 customers mention "Storytelling"214 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling style and anecdotes intertwined with real history. They find the book captivating and interesting, bringing the history of the subject alive with new facts. The author carefully weaves evidence-based facts into the narrative, making it a compelling read.

"...has done something really phenomenal with this book, by combining compelling storytelling with the factual highlights of the abominable history of..." Read more

"...The first two chapters alone contain some of the most fascinating historical details I've read anywhere...." Read more

"...What Hari does do exceptionally well is to tell stories, rather than drowning the reader in statistics..." Read more

"...It's a great read, and full of great stories, but this is not scholarship by any stretch; it is at best journalism, and probably better described as..." Read more

201 customers mention "Writing quality"177 positive24 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They say it outlines the current war on drugs clearly and is understandable. The book is thought-provoking and illustrated with heart-wrenching real-life examples.

"...The book reads like a novel, as we meet the likes of Harry Anslinger, who is forgotten today but is the person most responsibile for the prohibition..." Read more

"This book is excellent, extremely well written, timely, and very important in that it poses viable alternatives to the absurdity of the present War..." Read more

"...I agree with its overall message, the writing is brisk and compelling overall, and it is a message many people need to hear in a format many people..." Read more

"...It takes on the societal problem of drug addiction in a measured, logical way...." Read more

48 customers mention "Readability"41 positive7 negative

Customers find the book easy to read. They say it's a must-read for professionals, parents, and addicts. It should be required reading for high school students, health professionals, family members battling addiction, politicians, decision makers, social workers, and addicts themselves.

"...This should be required reading for all police officers, mainly new recruits." Read more

"...It is a must read for every professional, parent of an addict and person addicted to any substance that was never meant to be in our body." Read more

"...investigative journalistic work should be (required) reading in all colleges and universities...." Read more

"A must read for politicians and decision makers, social workers and addicts themselves...." Read more

26 customers mention "Pacing"20 positive6 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. It seamlessly integrates personal, anecdotal themes with extensive research on addiction and its causes. Readers appreciate the author's humanizing portrayal of addiction and the connections it makes to various social and political issues. The book provides helpful references and links that help readers understand the content better.

"...- Ways to connect are meditation, volunteer work, having a job, team sports, family, listening to others, sending thank you or gratitude cards/..." Read more

"...It's well-cited & has plenty of links, so any ideas of plagiarism or factiousness should be researched before throwing accusations...." Read more

"...I am more supportive and have a better relationship with him and we actually talk more...." Read more

"...DEFINATELY should get this book and read it -- but beware that reading is slow, tedious, painful, but incredibly informative...." Read more

68 customers mention "Drug war"32 positive36 negative

Customers have different views on the book. Some find it engaging with conspiracies and violence, while others feel the drug war is false and hypocritical. The author explores the war from all sides with empathy, but some readers feel the truth of the matter is disturbing and the non-science-based theories of addiction detract from the overall experience.

"...Wake up world and see that the drug war is FALSE.. we aren't seeing a reduction in overdoses.. we aren't seeing more people recover.. building a..." Read more

"...the abominable history of the war on drugs, plus an undeniable blueprint for replacing that war...." Read more

"...It is possibly the worst policy disaster in US history, and needs to be replaced with a policy of regulation, taxation and compassion, for everyone..." Read more

"...at times made overly quotable, is presented fairly; the success stories of reform are real, and the cost of the drug war is not in dispute...." Read more

27 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"11 positive16 negative

Customers have different views on the book. Some found it moving and thought-provoking, saying it was a must-read for anyone who has experienced addiction or helplessness. Others felt some chapters were depressing and repetitive, with overwrought melodrama.

"...Isolation is a killer.. it hurts our souls! We were never meant to be so far apart from one another...." Read more

"...It will make you mad, laugh and cry. Most of all, it will give you hope...." Read more

"...I wouldn't recommend this as a fast read because some chapters are so depressing you'll need to give your heart a chance to recover...." Read more

"...as to the origins and the reasons for the war on drugs.it is heart breaking in it's depictions of the people who have suffered from this misguided..." Read more

17 customers mention "Material quality"10 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's material quality. Some find it good condition and informative, while others mention issues like falling bindings, flawed content, and troubling material. The font size is also mentioned as a concern.

"Perfect condition and reasonable delivery time" Read more

"...The police and government had no control; no quality and safety control; no revenue from taxes. In 1933 President Roosevelt repealed..." Read more

"...'s inhumanity of differing levels in our many, many faces, and gives a solid, actionable way to better ourselves individually and our immediate, and..." Read more

"The book arrived on time and in great condition." Read more

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Erik Moeller
A cogent and passionate case for rethinking drugs and addiction
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
I can't imagine a rational, open-minded person reading this book and not coming away with the conclusion that drug policy almost everywhere in the world is in dire need of reform. Hari helps us see drug users as human beings, and addiction as a complex phenomenon that goes well beyond the chemistry of the drugs involved. I deeply admire the empathy and compassion that went into this book, alongisde years of effort.

It's not a perfect book by any measure. Like many journalists and popularizers, Hari wants to get to the simple conclusions and quotable soundbites. In doing so, he sometimes oversimplifies science (like when he tries to quantify the percentage of addiction that is caused by the drug itself) and history (like when he reduces the cast of characters in the drug war to a few notable individuals, like Anslinger).

The structure of the book as a whole works, but at times both the narrative (like opening many chapters with a "rule of three" set of characters) and the frequent section jumps can be a bit jarring. Recent technological developments (e.g., Silk Road) aren't mentioned yet. The effect of free market capitalism on drugs (e.g., alcohol advertising, the many shenanigans of the tobacco industry) is hardly touched upon. And don't expect to get much in the way of explanations of how different drugs work, or what the research says on drugs like LSD or MDMA -- turn elsewhere for that.

None of this distracts from the core message, which is really about the role addiction plays in our society, and how we respond to it. The evidence, while at times made overly quotable, is presented fairly; the success stories of reform are real, and the cost of the drug war is not in dispute. What Hari does do exceptionally well is to tell stories, rather than drowning the reader in statistics (the stats are there, where pertinent, but never dominant). The net effect is that this book will hit you emotionally, if you allow it to.

4.5 stars, rounded up - because the cause for reform continues to warrant urgent attention from any thinking, compassionate human being, and this book makes that case very well. Let's hope Hari is right that we truly are in the "last days" of this horrible hundred-year-war.

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Peter Guither
The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection.
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
As a drug policy expert, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how well I’d do reading this book. I have a harder time getting into non-fiction books these days — I spend most of my time reading things online, and I’ve read so much about the war on drugs that it’s hard to get excited about reading a book about it.

But less than halfway through the first chapter, I couldn’t put it down – it’s an amazing read. Johann has done something really phenomenal with this book, by combining compelling storytelling with the factual highlights of the abominable history of the war on drugs, plus an undeniable blueprint for replacing that war.

For drug policy experts like me, it’s a great read with some fascinating personal perspectives, while filling in a few historical knowledge gaps. Definitely a reading highlight.

But if you're an average politically-aware reader who doesn’t know all that much about the drug war, I think you'll find it even more valuable. Here, in one book, you get good stories with all the verified information you need to become informed on this critical issue. I plan on buying a few copies to give to friends to read.

Additionally, you'll learn through detailed analysis that much of what you think you know about addiction is wrong.

Hari starts with the biggest villain of all — Harry Anslinger — by researching through all his diaries and files stored at Penn State University. I’ve known mostly about Anslinger’s war against marijuana, and now learned a few more things about what he did to get the war on drugs started in full force in the book.

Johann Hari provides us, throughout the book, with incredible access to individual players in the drug war. For the history, in addition to Anslinger, his research provides detailed insights into:
-- Billy Holiday, a jazz singer and drug user whose paths crossed with Anslinger’s, and
-- Arnold Rothstein, who invented the modern drug gang, and was the first major figure in organized drug crime in the United States.
And as Hari moved us to the present and future, these personal stories came from actual extensive interviews with an amazing array of individuals, including:
-- Chino Hardin, a drug dealer for years in Brooklyn, who started his business when he was 14 years old.
-- Leigh Maddox, a state trooper who later turned away from the drug war.
-- Rosalio Reta, a killer for the Zetas in Mexico, who resides in a prison in Texas.
-- Marisela Escobedo, who refused to accept her daughter’s murder by drug traffickers, and led protests in Mexico, until she was assassinated in front of the government palace (interviews were with family and friends).
-- Gabor Maté and Bruce Alexander, who developed new ways of looking at addiction, while working with addicts in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
-- Bud Osborn, a poet and homeless addict who helped transform that area of Vancouver and bring about the notion of rights for addicts.
-- Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland, who supported and promoted harm reduction approaches, including heroin clinics.
-- João Goulão, who helped lead a revolution in drug policy in Portugal.
-- José Mujica, president of Uruguay, who brought marijuana legalization to his country.
… and we learn about the players in the very different legalization approaches in Washington and Colorado.

Good stories, compelling arguments, and powerful facts (all fact-checked by the author and editors, with over 65 pages of notes, and a website with actual audio tapes of the interviews for those who want more).

I think this is the most important book about the drug war and addiction out today.

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Starscreamie
Read for Class, Stayed for Engaging Story
Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was an assigned reading for my course, and yet I found myself unable to put it down. The blunt and honest narrative presented by the author is a no-holds-bar on the truth of substance use and the harsh realities of how they started and where we are today.

A great read for a critical thinker, or even someone who may be uninformed of the true complexities and nature of substance use, and the impacts that the War on Drugs still has on society today.

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Maria Moraes
Trouxe o assunto que eu queria
Reviewed in Brazil on January 20, 2021
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Muito bom

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Oscar Del Santo
The most addictive book about addiction you will ever read
Reviewed in Spain on March 3, 2020
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The US-led 'War on Drugs' is a colossal mistake and the accepted theories about addiction are basically wrong, Johann Hari convincingly argues in this 'tour-de-force'.

Full of compassion for addicts, radically honest and at times disturbing for its graphic portrayal of the disasters of 'the War on Drugs', 'Chasing the Scream' is an essential volume to understand the true nature of addiction and the devastating effects of the 'official' US approach to combating drugs.

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Laura G
THE BEST BOOK ON DRUG PROHIBITION HISTORY EVER
Reviewed in Mexico on October 2, 2017
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A MUST for all activist wishing to finish the dark night of prohibition, you will find a lot of data but most important of all: you will find new courage to keep bringing the down of a new informed and enlightened way to use drugs!!!

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R L Chapman
The positive side of the book is that he shows how a change of policy can have dramatically better effects for everyone concerne
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
I've just finished reading one of the most remarkable books I've ever come across: Johann Hari's 'Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs'. I hadn't realized just how long the US has waged this war--since 1914 (prohibition on drugs has lasted longer by far than the prohibition of alcohol [which is, of course, itself a drug]--nor had I actually confronted the fact that the effort to eradicate all 'drug' use is what promotes the criminal gangs who currently supply the illegal substances. Hari covers a huge range of ground in this superbly documented and sourced book, from what causes addiction to the effects of the conversion of addicts into outlaws. He shows how the war on drugs is counterproductive, in that it both increases the number of addicts and the amount of drug-related crime. At times, when he describes the consequences of the whole complex of actions, those of the users and those of the anti-drug warriors, it is also one of the most harrowing books I have ever read. The positive side of the book is that he shows how a change of policy can have dramatically better effects for everyone concerned, and has done, in an increasing number of places around the world. Above all, he argues for legalization and regulation, in the same way that alcohol, the most damaging drug of them all, is both legal and regulated. It is a powerful book, which I would argue that anyone concerned with the issues, and the people, above all the people, involved, should read, carefully.

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