American Kingpin
The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road Drugs Empire
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American Kingpin
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Narrated by:
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Will Damron
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By:
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Nick Bilton
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
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 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. While the federal government were undertaking an epic two-year manhunt for the site’s elusive proprietor, the Silk Road quickly ballooned into a $1.2 billion enterprise.
Ross embraced his new role as kingpin, taking 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, 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, decentralised Web advocates and the old world of government control, order and the rule of law.
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What listeners say about American Kingpin
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 01-05-23
Incredible story
This is a true story that reads like a novel. Love the book, highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A M
- 10-15-17
Really good
No matter how good you are if you gamble too many times you will get caught.
Great book.
It just interesting that there is so much going on out there. You dont know what you dont know.
Its a must read. I finished it in 3 days
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike Walker
- 01-09-19
great story
fascinating story of modern criminal
very well researched and narrated.
highly recommended listen for all.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- yul
- 11-07-19
interesting book
the story itself is very interesting, but the book is written in a report style that I didn't like much
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Klarita
- 08-18-18
Gripping, highly detailed and fascinating listen.
I wasn't actually expecting such a brilliant listen when I bought the book. I'd heard about the Silk Road but didn't know too much. Absolutely gripping story, albeit slightly repetitive at times, but truly fascinating, from every aspect. Wonderful!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-08-18
Epic listen
Great story line, well thought out and really well told.
Best audible I have heard so far and definitely recommend it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James Reihl
- 01-14-25
such accurate and detailed story telling
couldn't stop listening, sometimes a truly unbelievable story of how we can be corrupted by our own ideals
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark V
- 03-28-19
Simply Amazing
As the title says, this book was simply amazing. The story telling is excellent and no question was left unanswered.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark Horwell
- 09-08-17
A real insight in to a criminal mastermind
It's extremely well written and level detail is amazing. I want to listen again. :-)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- AnkitR
- 07-26-18
Fast, impactful and addictive!
This has to be in my top reads at audible. The narrator does a great job that you feel you are there with the protagonist at every step along the way. Beautifully describes the depth and complexity of the characters that almost makes you sympathetic to each side by the end. What I loved about American kingpin is the fast paced unfolding of the storyline! Must read!!
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