A well rounded analysis on the war on drugs

Where does Narconomics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Towards the top end. It isn't a life changing non-fiction like some I have read but I found it very useful to flesh out my knowledge of the drugs trade.

What other book might you compare Narconomics to, and why?

The two other major non-fiction books I've read on drugs have been Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari and Drugs Without the Hot Air by Professor David Nutt. This book has bits of both from these books (ethical and scientific approaches) as well as the economic slant running through. I would recommend all three of these books.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Though not set out in scenes I did enjoy the chapter on people trafficking and migration and the links between the actions of the drugs trades and those trades.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were many examples of injustice littered throughout and it is a great shame that as societies we have maintained these practices despite the evidence suggesting we are approaching it incorrectly.

Any additional comments?

A book that did cover the ethical side of things (I had worried it would be simply economics when I purchased it and I'm happy I was wrong) unfortunately didn't cover the inherent racism and class war involved in these practices in enough detail for my liking but generally was a strong piece of work throughout.

8 people found this helpful

Utterly superb!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely - changed the way I think of drug use

What was one of the most memorable moments of Narconomics?

The way we get it so wrong on addicts and gangstas

What does Brian Hutchison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Sarcasm and humour

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes both times

Any additional comments?

Very good all round.

3 people found this helpful

A must listen book

this was one of the best audio books I have ever heard. Utilising both statistics and stories to tell a rich and compelling narrative regarding the war on drugs. It went so far to change my opinions on specific core issues, such as core legalisation and the treatment of prisoners. This is the kind of audio book you want every single citizen to hear.

2 people found this helpful

Excellent review of world drug trade

It is staggering to consider the scale of the world trade in illegal drugs. This excellent book by Economist journalist Tom Wainwright looks at the trade from a business perspective and analyses the supply chains and logistics from the coco fields of South America through to the consumption in the US and Europe. Much of it is similar regular businesses and there are concerns over marketing, distribution, product trends, diversification etc that any large international company will have to consider on a day to day basis.

The book is mostly focused on the Americas (the author previously covering the Latin America region). The profit margins are huge, as are the levels of brutality required to protect the trade from rival cartels and the law enforcement agencies particularly in the smaller countries of the Central American isthmus. The book also considers the phenomenon of so called "legal highs" and their prominence in New Zealand which is geographically isolated and hence need to be more inventive to sate the needs of users.

At the time this book was written (2016) only a few US states such as Colorado has legalissd marijuana and the benefits of this strategy (enable the state to control and licence supply and drives out criminals) are clearly outlined in the final chapters of this book. Since publication, other sates, including California, have followed suit and it will, no doubt, not be long before this becomes widespread in the US and Europe at which time the economics of this global industry will have changed again and I hope there is a further edition of this book that tracks the impact on the global industry.

1 person found this helpful

Mind-blowing

Two arguments are advanced in this book and both are paradigm-shifting, unorthodox and utterly convincing. And the very smooth narration allows the listener to appreciate the book's essence.
Firstly, the book argues that drug cartels resemble very closely a modern business - from their supply chains to their "public relations".
Secondly, the book argues that the war on drugs has failed because of 4 main mistakes, excellently summarised in the book's concluding chapter.
Anyone expressing opinions on the "war on drugs" should take these arguments into serious consideration. Also very suitable for anyone with an interest in micro-economics.

1 person found this helpful

A novel, fun, and insightful look into the economics of narcotics

If you’re a supporter of the legalisation of drugs there won’t be a ton of arguments in here you won’t have heard, but the economic breakdown of the drug business is fascinating. There’s a lot of great insights here and a few points I hadn’t fully considered or even realised. The narration is dry but solid. A fun and interesting listen, but the narration lends itself better to times when you’ll be active lest you get put to sleep 😅

1 person found this helpful

Origional, thought-provoking, challenging.

Any additional comments?

A very interesting new take on narcotics, looking at the business from an economic angle and drawing parallels between conventional business practices. Turns out there's not as much difference as you might think once you get passed the murders. I was particularly interested in the phenomenon of "franchising" criminal gangs much as fast-food outlets do.

The book ends with an argument for legalization, which I was expecting. This is a policy I don't personally agree with, however one of this books strengths is that no-matter where you are in the drugs debate, there's something here that will make you uncomfortable. And if the war on drugs is to continue, which for at least the most dangerous substances seems unavoidable: this book makes a powerful argument for a radical change in tactics.

1 person found this helpful

Brilliant - politicians the world over should read this book.

Excellent and challenging work. This illustrates in a very engaging way, where policy makers may have taken a wrong turn in battle against narcotics and organised crime.

1 person found this helpful

Entertaining and eye-opening

Any additional comments?

Enjoyable, illuminating and level-headed. Not the lascivious exposé of the daily workings of drug smuggling I might have hoped for but really good nonetheless. Centred around the Latin American cocaine and marajuana business. Other drugs, most notably legal highs, are examined, but in less detail. The subtitle is a publisher's flourish - this is a populist economics book first and foremost and better for it. Very well narrated though I would have preferred a British voice for a British author.

1 person found this helpful

An insightful journey

I really liked how the book goes through multiple topics without falling into stereotypes. It's a nice overview about drug production and selling and it touches also human trafficking and research. Highly recommended!