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Audiobook12 hours
American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road
Written by Nick Bilton
Narrated by Will Damron
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5/5
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About this audiobook
The unbelievable true story of the man who built a billion-dollar online drug empire from his bedroom-and almost got away with it.
In 2011, a twenty-six-year-old libertarian programmer named Ross Ulbricht launched the ultimate free market: the Silk Road, a clandestine Web site hosted on the Dark Web where anyone could trade anything-drugs, hacking software, forged passports, counterfeit cash, poisons-free of the government's watchful eye.
It wasn't long before the media got wind of the new Web site where anyone-not just teenagers and weed dealers but terrorists and black hat hackers-could buy and sell contraband detection-free. Spurred by a public outcry, the federal government launched an epic two-year manhunt for the site's elusive proprietor, with no leads, no witnesses, and no clear jurisdiction. All the investigators knew was that whoever was running the site called himself the Dread Pirate Roberts.
The Silk Road quickly ballooned into $1.2 billion enterprise, and Ross embraced his new role as kingpin. He enlisted a loyal crew of allies in high and low places, all as addicted to the danger and thrill of running an illegal marketplace as their customers were to the heroin they sold. Through his network he got wind of the target on his back and took drastic steps to protect himself-including ordering a hit on a former employee. As Ross made plans to disappear forever, the Feds raced against the clock to catch a man they weren't sure even existed, searching for a needle in the haystack of the global Internet.
Drawing on exclusive access to key players and two billion digital words and images Ross left behind, Vanity Fair correspondent and New York Times bestselling author Nick Bilton offers a tale filled with twists and turns, lucky breaks and unbelievable close calls. It's a story of the boy next door's ambition gone criminal, spurred on by the clash between the new world of libertarian-leaning, anonymous, decentralized Web advocates and the old world of government control, order, and the rule of law. Filled with unforgettable characters and capped by an astonishing climax, American Kingpin might be dismissed as too outrageous for fiction. But it's all too real.
In 2011, a twenty-six-year-old libertarian programmer named Ross Ulbricht launched the ultimate free market: the Silk Road, a clandestine Web site hosted on the Dark Web where anyone could trade anything-drugs, hacking software, forged passports, counterfeit cash, poisons-free of the government's watchful eye.
It wasn't long before the media got wind of the new Web site where anyone-not just teenagers and weed dealers but terrorists and black hat hackers-could buy and sell contraband detection-free. Spurred by a public outcry, the federal government launched an epic two-year manhunt for the site's elusive proprietor, with no leads, no witnesses, and no clear jurisdiction. All the investigators knew was that whoever was running the site called himself the Dread Pirate Roberts.
The Silk Road quickly ballooned into $1.2 billion enterprise, and Ross embraced his new role as kingpin. He enlisted a loyal crew of allies in high and low places, all as addicted to the danger and thrill of running an illegal marketplace as their customers were to the heroin they sold. Through his network he got wind of the target on his back and took drastic steps to protect himself-including ordering a hit on a former employee. As Ross made plans to disappear forever, the Feds raced against the clock to catch a man they weren't sure even existed, searching for a needle in the haystack of the global Internet.
Drawing on exclusive access to key players and two billion digital words and images Ross left behind, Vanity Fair correspondent and New York Times bestselling author Nick Bilton offers a tale filled with twists and turns, lucky breaks and unbelievable close calls. It's a story of the boy next door's ambition gone criminal, spurred on by the clash between the new world of libertarian-leaning, anonymous, decentralized Web advocates and the old world of government control, order, and the rule of law. Filled with unforgettable characters and capped by an astonishing climax, American Kingpin might be dismissed as too outrageous for fiction. But it's all too real.
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Reviews for American Kingpin
Rating: 4.786666666666667 out of 5 stars
5/5
150 ratings12 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Extremely high quality reporting and vibrant, illustrative language came together to create a a narrative non-fiction that I literally couldn't put down. I finished this audio book in one single day. Bilton does a great job telling both sides of the story, and painting the complex picture of Ross Ulbricht as a multi-faceted human with many motivations. I highly recommend this book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5silicone Valley wants Libertarianism. Government minus figureheads and a true market economy. DPR was a Minimalist and brilliant at Physics, but morally his creation of a dark Amazon with things like guns, poisons, organs and small amounts of drugs was psychotic and deranged. He was brilliant, but eventually got caught in the library. He couldnt keep his multiple personas seperated properly. Great story and it is tragic that such a talented guy couldnt direct his ability towards positive change.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A must read! A fascinating story, written and told flawlessly.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Compellingly written, engrossing and entertaining. Reads like a novel but true events.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Just riveting all around! Keeps you always on the edge of your seat.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A fascinating story told with the most engaging writing. Still looking for additional titles to live up to this one...
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The author has woven a great narrative written around this true story to make it feel like a fiction thriller. Very well done. I was sad when it was over.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing story well-told in narrative non-fiction format. Listen up!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It is a very detailed and addictive narrative of The Silk Road from beginning to end. If you’re into true crime then you’ll find this piece a fun read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thrilling and informative. I definitely want to read his other books now!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Author has done a fantastic job in narrating the story, it makes you feel you are living this journey while listening, very well balanced writing, engages the listener until end of the story even if you know what was the outcome in reality. A great story to listen to after Bad Blood.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a really amazing book. Couldn’t stop listening to it!
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