Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect PredatorsCatch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
Score Modern
What it's about
In 2017 Ronan Farrow was reporting for NBC on rumors that the producer Harvey Weinstein had sexually abused women for decades. As women went on the record, the network grew nervous and finally killed the story. Farrow took it to the New Yorker, where it helped start the MeToo movement, while he was followed by private spies hired to stop him. This is the story of the reporting and the cover-up.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. It reads like a spy thriller, and it's a vivid account of how powerful men and institutions kept secrets.
You'll love it if you liked
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler DynastyGood to know
It includes detailed accounts of sexual assault. It's told in short, fast chapters.
By the numbers
- Readers95 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz10 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #45 of the 198 history books we rank
- #124 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #246 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Dark, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. It ranks #246 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators about?
In 2017 Ronan Farrow was reporting for NBC on rumors that the producer Harvey Weinstein had sexually abused women for decades. As women went on the record, the network grew nervous and finally killed the story. Farrow took it to the New Yorker, where it helped start the MeToo movement, while he was followed by private spies hired to stop him. This is the story of the reporting and the cover-up.
How long does it take to read Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators?
About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators?
If you liked it, try The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe or Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe.