Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Johann Hari (Author), Tim Gerard Reynolds (Narrator), Audible Studios for Bloomsbury (Publisher)

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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.

Listening Length

14 hours and 10 minutes
Author

Johann Hari
Narrator

Tim Gerard Reynolds
Audible release date

20 January 2015
Language

English
Publisher

Audible Studios for Bloomsbury
ASIN

B00SC71GW4
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	14 hours and 10 minutes
Author	Johann Hari
Narrator	Tim Gerard Reynolds
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	20 January 2015
Publisher	Audible Studios for Bloomsbury
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00SC71GW4
Best Sellers Rank	1,481 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 1 in War on Drugs 2 in Social Policy (Books) 3 in Criminology (Books)

Customer reviews

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4 star		12%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Great and interesting read

Reviewed in Australia on 26 June 2021

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If you want to understand more about this subject, or simply want a good book to read, you won’t go wrong with this.

This author can certainly write, and is equally as impressive and ‘well read’ in his TV interviews.

Trying to find the time to watch his TED talks.

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Katherine Avery

A reluctant reader, not something I would have read by choice

Reviewed in Australia on 6 February 2018

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This is a book that should be read by policy makers, law reform, teachers and students.

I don't take illicit drugs nor approve of them, however this book provides a fairly impassive analysis of drugs, drug addicts and recreational drug users who don't become addicted. Some of the conclusions of this research coincide with my own observations and opinions. I have had friends who are addicts and friends who take party drugs and don't become addicted and knew the difference was how happy their childhood and teen years shaped the outcome.

Johann wrote compellingly and the stories were engaging. I love history and psychology, this book served both up to me.

I highly recommend getting this as an audio book if you find nonfiction a slog.

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eddieb

The False War on Drugs

Reviewed in Australia on 20 February 2015

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The saddest thing about this book is that as profound and clearly written as it is, the insane and futile "war on drugs" will probably continue virtually unabated - two Australians are awaiting death sentences by firing squad right now in Indonesia for playing their parts in the war. So how is it that against all the evidence and all the suspect ethical and moral issues surrounding the death penalty, the war continues? Well, read the book and it becomes evident - the war is not really against drugs, it's aimed at minorities and the poor, and it is maintained by people who are making obscene amounts of money by keeping it going. This book should be read by every politician and every law-maker in the world. But I won't be holding my breath. Such people are unlikely to part with their long-held and fundamentalist beliefs.

6 people found this helpful

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Tamara J. Pratt

I'd love to see a world where we allow grown adults ...

Reviewed in Australia on 26 February 2015

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This meticulously researched account of the 'war on drugs' should be in the hands of every law-maker who even attempts to govern 'illegal drugs'. Drugs are a booming economy; it's no wonder that every man and his proverbial dog wants a slice of that pie, and that's where it's most dangerous. Drugs are a self-fulfilling pyramid scheme, it's so true. Every addict needs to sell something (whether it's them or their drugs) in order to continue on the addicted cycle, or in the words of Hari, what they have 'bonded' to. If we take away the black market prohibition cycle, we'll take away the twisted greed that leaves everyone from cartels to governments wanting a slice of it all. I'd love to see a world where we allow grown adults to make decisions regarding what they'll put in their own bodies, for whatever reasons (and yes, most of that has to do with just surviving this crazy landscape of society) for the time they need to adjust / rehabilitate. Tax it, regulate it, sell it. It's common sense and when the cartels and law makers stop gaining from the system they've got going (however that might be, but hopefully it's enough for them to decide to change the system), we might all just benefit.

2 people found this helpful

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Nosh

A highly profound and significant read for our times

Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2016

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This is one of the best books I have ever read - it clarified my whole perception of The War on Drugs and significantly changed how I think and talk about drugs and drug users. I couldn't recommend Chasing the Scream highly enough, it's captivating, well-written and will no doubt have a profound effect on policy over the coming years.

One person found this helpful

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LouisR

Interesting perspective, worth reading

Reviewed in Australia on 5 September 2018

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The comparisons to alcohol prohibition were clear. The impact on society of easily available 'low level' drugs was not adequately addressed, and the argument that some 'more dangerous' drugs could continue to be prohibited in some way was in contrast to the arguments about prohibition. It is complicated in the real world, I know. But still a worthy read about a topic that is generally not deeply debated.

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Cameron Alexander

Powerful

Reviewed in Australia on 25 August 2015

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Excellent and well researched look at the history of the war on drugs, and it's repercussions around the world. Full of personal stories, research and historical context. Some have attacked it for being written too emotively, however as someone who has had significant exposure to drug abuse I can attest to the fact that it is an emotive topic, the book is trying very hard to humanise drug addiction and adding emotion is an important step in achieving this. I not only recommend this book, I think it should be highschool reading.

One person found this helpful

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L Mitchell

Very interesting book

Reviewed in Australia on 28 December 2020

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Very interesting and informative read. It certainly gives a deeper understanding to the politics behind the drug industry and more open minded options to helping those with additions.

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Top reviews from other countries

R Great

Brilliant!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 July 2019

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I came across Johann Hari by accident. I tried to search for Noah Yuval Harari (author of Sapiens) when listening to various podcasts. I mistook Hari for Harari and listened to a 3-hour podcast (Joe Rogan and Johann Hari for the curious) of Johann Hari discussing the material in Chasing The Scream. I obviously realised within minutes that it was the wrong author I was listening to, but I was gripped so continued. After 3 hours of auditory intensity I ordered Chasing The Scream.

Thought-provoking and 'against the grain' of how we are naturally lead to opine about drug dealers, users, drug enforcement, and policy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book in the most meaningful way possible. I don't think I thought badly or negatively of those affected by addiction, but I will admit that I felt swayed by the biases of the media. I cannot count how many people I have reiterated the experiment of 'Rat Park' to people, or the tragic stories told by victims themselves. Listen to the podcast and read the book!

22 people found this helpful

Pablo

Educational and Insightful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2019

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I work for a charity who supports and treat addiction. They call us "substance misuse specialist", I'm not a specialist and don't like to be called this. In my working i see stigma, discrimination and resentment. This book reassured me and motivated me to continue what I'm doing and to continue to fight the war.

29 people found this helpful

S. L. Stewart

Everyone should read this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2019

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Everyone should read this book and then fight for the full legalisation of all drugs if they care about the society we live in. It would eradicate gang and knife crime and stop the police from wasting their resources on criminalising vulnerable working class people. The book brilliantly shows that it’s a no brainier.

17 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Essential Reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2020

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This is an outstanding book. I came across the author from listening to him on the Joe Rogan Experience, and the passion, knowledge and understanding he showed in the three hours on that podcast about drugs and addiction is manifested tenfold in this book.

Reading this stirred up a huge amount of anger as I realised that almost everything I'd been taught about drugs and addiction was wrong and causing genuine pain and suffering in the world, and this was all motivated more or less by the prejudice of one man. It brings home how the history of modern drug policy in the world is a litany of knee-jerk reactions and misinformed decision making, often motivated by blind hatred and a criminal lack of understanding.

This is a book that I think everyone should read. The world would be a better place if we had a greater understanding of this subject.

6 people found this helpful

A Customer

Informative, well - researched and well - organised content

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2019

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It was a really engaging book, and I learned quite a few new things on reading it. It put various things I was already aware of about the War On Drugs into a broader context and filled several gaps in my own limited knowledge on the subject. The solution to the drug problem in various parts of the world advocated by the author is more comprehensive and compassionate than simply prohibition and punishment which might be worth a try where the latter have been found to worsen matters (apparently in the majority of cases as suggested by this book). I have also come across several interesting books by other experts while reading this one, and I'll be following this up with those.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone seeking a detailed historical account of the War On Drugs.

7 people found this helpful

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Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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