Disturbing is the first word. Shocking is the second. It is imperative reading for anyone interested in the news we read, about abuse of power, and those who manipulate and cooperate to make this abuse possible. It is a book recounting disturbing instances of "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine."
In the case of Harvey Weinstein and NBC working together to "catch and kill" the stories both of Weinstein and Matt Lauer, it seems to have worked for a long time.
Ronan Farrow's book is about the journey of writing and publishing his Pultizer Prize-winning article in The New Yorker exposing Weinstein. The book reads like a spy novel. It paints a world of double-agents and high-powered friends enabling and covering for each other, of blackmail and safe-houses. Respected people. Men. Women. It contains details of the strategy to "catch and kill" rumours and allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.
The book also tells a bit of his own story of coming to terms with his years of ignoring the allegations his sister Dylan made against Woody Allen, their father. He had preferred to believe it was her story, not his, and he didn't need to be involved. As his reporting proceeds, he begins to see that he failed his sister when she needed someone. This may explain his graciousness and generosity to those who stonewalled him and even acted for Weinstein.
Farrow's tale is a cautionary one. The book details only his experiences in reporting the Weinstein story. He hints at a wider world of nefarious media buying, story buying, non-disclosure agreements, and media manipulation and collusion. Even a quick look at the articles he has written for The New Yorker since then show he has been busy and not lacking for material. Since his book release, he has said there is enough evidence for rape charges against Bill Clinton.
The bright spot Farrow manages to describe are the people who came forward. Not only the women with allegations, but also those that enabled the behaviour, some of the double-agents, and some from within NBC where he began reporting the story. He manages to remain hopeful about the human race despite his experiences writing this book.
I am an idealist and my first response is to think well of everyone, especially those who are charged with protecting the public interest, like the media. So when Donald Trump decries "fake news," I just roll my eyes, but I have, since Farrow's allegations became public, wondered if Trump knows there is fake news because Farrow presents some evidence that Trump has a hand in creating it.
Farrow narrates the audiobook version himself, and according to reviews, went to great lengths to make it the spy thriller it is, even including the actual audio clip where Weinstein seems to implicate himself. Buy the book, or if you don't like reading, you can buy the audiobook.
It's an important read.
