Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right

Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Technical
  • ID: 4413
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • Reviews: 2
Reviews
powells.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
persuasive 4.50

Jane Mayer's 'Dark Money' delves into the Koch brothers' vast influence and the secretive funding of political causes. The book is a well-researched and timely account of their empire, though it may feel lengthy due to the complexity of the subject matter.

Jane Mayer's 'Dark Money' is a comprehensive exploration of the Koch brothers' financial empire and their significant impact on American politics. The book traces the origins of the Koch family fortune, including their early dealings with dictators like Stalin and Hitler, and how this history shaped their political beliefs. Mayer meticulously documents the brothers' efforts to fund and influence political movements, often through secretive 'dark money' donations. The book is a persuasive and necessary read, though its length and detail may be overwhelming for some. Mayer's research is thorough, drawing on a wide range of sources and investigative journalism to paint a detailed picture of the Kochs' influence. The book's strength lies in its ability to connect the dots between the Kochs' financial activities and their broader political agenda, making it a crucial resource for understanding contemporary political dynamics.


Quick quotes

    That effort may have backfired: Since that first article, Ms. Mayer has followed the trail of the tax-deductible “dark money” the brothers have secretly donated to political causes; absorbed the work of dozens of outstanding independent investigative journalists; ferreted out articles, speeches and interviews the brothers, or their advisers, have given, many of them quite revelatory; and secured access to previously unpublished sources.

    Ms. Mayer begins with Fred Koch, the family patriarch. “Oddly enough,” she writes, “the fiercely libertarian Koch family owed part of its fortune to two of history’s most infamous dictators, Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler,” for whose regimes Mr. Koch’s company built oil refineries in the 1930s.

    His declared goal? Nothing less than destroying what he referred to as “the prevalent statist paradigm.

blogs.lse.ac.uk · Unknown · 2017-03-20
compelling 4.50

Dark Money by Jane Mayer is a meticulously researched account of how a small group of billionaires, particularly the Koch brothers, have influenced US politics through extensive financial backing. The book reveals the hidden impact of these plutocrats on the political system, highlighting their anti-regulation and anti-tax agenda.

Dark Money by Jane Mayer is a compelling and thorough investigation into the financial takeover of US democracy by a select group of billionaires. The book focuses on the Koch brothers, Charles and David, who have used their vast wealth to influence politics through various organizations and campaigns. Mayer argues that these billionaires have systematically undermined the political system, promoting an anti-regulation and anti-tax agenda. The book also explores the historical context of this financial influence, tracing it back to early 20th-century lobbying efforts. While the Kochs and their allies have been successful in shifting public opinion and political discourse, Mayer notes that their actions are driven by self-interest and a desire to protect their own wealth. The book provides a detailed and insightful look into the hidden world of political finance and its impact on US democracy.


Quick quotes

    The opaque nature of political finance in America means that unravelling the complex web of the super-wealthy’s influence is a vast challenge.

    The Kochs and their allies have bankrolled myriad political vehicles to achieve their objectives, often giving them innocent-sounding names like ‘Citizens for a Sound Economy’ and ‘Americans for Prosperity’.

    While it is impossible to know exactly how influential the Kochs and their partners have been in changing public opinion, Mayer concedes, she notes that as recently as the early 1980s, many of their ideas were consigned to the fringes of US politics.