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

by Jane Mayer
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right cover
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  • ID: 4413
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • Reviews: 4
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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interviews the brothers, or their advisers, have given, many of them quite revelatory; and secured access to previously unpublished sources.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.

Dissent Magazine · 2016-02-03
magisterial 4.50

The book is a magisterial portrait of right-wing billionaires who have weaponized conservative philanthropy. The reviewer finds it a powerful and important contribution to the understanding of contemporary politics.

The reviewer at Dissent Magazine describes the book as a magisterial portrait of the right-wing billionaires who have weaponized conservative philanthropy. They argue that the book provides a powerful and important contribution to the understanding of contemporary politics. The reviewer also notes that the book effectively traces the impact of these billionaires' spending on political outcomes, making it a compelling read for those interested in political science and history. They praise the book's thorough research and compelling narrative, which provides vivid portraits of key figures involved in this financial takeover.

Quick quotes

    Dark Money is a magisterial portrait of the right-wing billionaires who have weaponized conservative philanthropy

    The book provides a powerful and important contribution to the understanding of contemporary politics

    The book effectively traces the impact of these billionaires' spending on political outcomes

The New York Times · Jennifer Senior · 2016-01-19
convincing 4.50

The book argues that a small number of plutocrats have hijacked American democracy, and the reviewer finds this argument convincing. The narrative is taut and utterly convincing.

Jennifer Senior from The New York Times finds the book's central argument that the Koch brothers and a small number of allied plutocrats have essentially hijacked American democracy to be convincing. She praises the book's taut and utterly convincing narrative, which traces the byzantine trail of the billions of dollars spent by the network. Senior also notes that the book provides vivid portraits of the key figures involved in this financial takeover, making it a compelling read for those interested in political science and history.

Quick quotes

    Dark Money argues that the Koch brothers and a small number of allied plutocrats have essentially hijacked American democracy

    In a taut and utterly convincing narrative, she traces the byzantine trail of the billions of dollars spent by the network

    The book provides vivid portraits of the key figures involved in this financial takeover

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