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Opium Inc.

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Opium Inc.

Written by: Thomas Manuel
Narrated by: Jehaan Dhalla
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This is the story of the world's biggest drug deal.


In the nineteenth century, the British East India Company operated a triangle of trade that straddled the globe, running from India to China to Britain. From India to China, they took opium. From China to Britain, they took tea. From Britain to India, they brought empire. It was a machine that consumed cheap Indian land and labour and spat out money.

The British had two problems, though. They were importing enormous amounts of tea from China, but the Celestial Empire looked down on British goods and only wanted silver in return. Simultaneously, the expanding colony in India was proving far too expensive to maintain. The British solved both problems with opium, which became the source of income on which they built their empire.

For more than a century, the British knew that the drug was dangerous and continued to trade in it anyway. Its legacy in India, whether the poverty of Bihar or the wealth of Bombay, is still not acknowledged. Like many colonial institutions in India, the story of opium is one of immense pain for many and huge privileges for a few.

Asia Colonialism & Post-Colonialism Europe Great Britain India Politics & Government South Asia
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Amazing, fantastic read. Documents opium trade and legislation beautifully. Ties up to the narco terrorism of present days

History that they don't teach in school

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The story of how The British used opium to fund their Empire is fascinating. Thomas Manual lays out the drug cartel operations of the EIC and the Empire in graphic detail.
In addition, he talks about the role of Indian traders in this business, something that was new to me.
Then, he covers additional areas like the use of opium in England and its fascination for the poets.
The history is engrossing, but I am glad he added a chapter on opium today. The revelation of the shady world of the CIA is eye-opening.
Good reading, if stilted by Jehaan Dhalla.

Fascinating Story

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As with most other books, only starting chapters and some in between interested me. All other chapters seemed to have been incorporated just to make the book as thick as it is.

Those who like me want shortened version, summary, of every thing, could also do with the first chapter (or was it 'forward/preface' only?) in which writer summarized every other chapter's gist.

Initial one-two and one or two other chapters really told the history of opium genesis, growth and journey, in which I was interested. Otherwise, the other remaining chapters just contained such details which were so small logistics type of details that could never be proved historically, nor do they have any impact on any party or people or on coming times.

The real story could've been said in half the size

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The subject of the book and the treatment of it is very engaging. Thomas Manuel does an amazing job of bringing out the less discussed but pivotal role of opium in the history of the British Empire, of India and China, bringing this piece of history to life with a lot of supporting evidence and a strong storytelling. I was engaged from start to end and it has given me a deeper understanding of the forces that has shaped India.

Jehaan Dhalla's narration was mostly good - my only gripe would be an occasionally heavy accent and some mispronunciations.

Insightful peek into a less known topic

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Eye opening history of the role played by the opium cultivation and trade in India and China.

Very Insightful!

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