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328 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2017
You type lines of code into a computer, and out comes a world that didn’t exist before. There are no laws here except your laws. You decide who is given power and who is not. And then you wake up one morning and you’re not you anymore. You’re one of the most notorious drug dealers alive. And now you’re deciding if someone should live or die. You’re the judge in your own court. You’re god.American Kingpin tells the fascinating true story of the rise and fall of Ross Ulbricht, aka the Dread Pirate Roberts (“DPR”), a 20-something who built the Silk Road, a website started in 2011 on the Dark Web that allowed the anonymous purchase of illegal drugs and other contraband. Motivated by a zealous belief in libertarianism, a longing to make a mark on the world, and a dash of inspiration from Breaking Bad’s Walter White, Ross/DPR is a fascinating character. Equally interesting are many of the government agents working on the task force to bring him down, including the ones who give in to temptation and undermine the investigation through theft and selling information back to DPR.
"There could be more than one Dread Pirate Roberts, like the old tale in The Princess Bride."