The Candy Machine: How Cocaine Took Over the World

The Candy Machine traces cocaine's path from South American coca fields to global markets, examining the drug's impact on societies, economies, and policies worldwide. The book maps the intricate networks of producers, traffickers, dealers, and consumers that drive the international cocaine trade. Through interviews with figures across the cocaine supply chain, author Tom Feiling documents the perspectives of farmers, smugglers, addicts, police, and politicians. The narrative covers multiple decades of the cocaine business, from its emergence as a major illegal commodity through various law enforcement approaches and policy shifts. The investigation spans continents to examine cocaine's influence in producer nations like Colombia, transit countries, and consumer markets in North America and Europe. Key topics include alternative development programs, militarized enforcement strategies, and addiction treatment approaches. The book presents cocaine as both a reflection and driver of global inequality, questioning conventional wisdom about drug policy and market forces. Beyond a study of narcotics, it serves as an examination of power structures, economic disparities, and the unintended consequences of prohibition.

Readers praise Feiling's comprehensive research and balanced examination of cocaine's impact across society - from production to consumption. Many note the book avoids sensationalism while delivering detailed insights into the drug trade's economics and social implications. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex drug policy issues - First-hand accounts from farmers, dealers, and users - Coverage of both supply and demand factors - Examination of failed drug war policies Disliked: - Some sections on UK drug culture feel dated - Middle chapters can be repetitive - Limited solutions proposed - Focus skews toward Colombia/UK markets Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (456 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.4/5 (89 reviews) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (42 reviews) Reader quote: "Unlike many drug war books that focus solely on enforcement or social impact, Feiling connects all aspects of the cocaine trade into a coherent narrative that helps explain why current policies fail." - Goodreads reviewer

Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel by Tom Wainwright An investigation of the economics and business models behind international drug cartels reveals the market forces driving the global drug trade.

ZeroZeroZero by Roberto Saviano A study of the cocaine trade traces its path from South American production through Mexican cartels to European and North American streets.

Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones The intersection of pharmaceutical marketing, black tar heroin trafficking, and medical practices created the modern American opioid crisis.

The Last Narco: Inside the Hunt for El Chapo by Malcolm Beith The rise and capture of Mexico's most notorious drug lord illustrates the power dynamics of international cocaine trafficking.

El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency by Ioan Grillo A comprehensive examination of Mexico's drug war exposes the transformation of small-time dealers into sophisticated criminal enterprises.

🌿 Prior to writing about cocaine, author Tom Feiling directed the documentary "Resistencia: Hip-Hop in Colombia," which explored how young Colombians used music to respond to decades of civil war. 💊 The book reveals that in 2005, cocaine production created more greenhouse gases than the entire country of New Zealand, due to the deforestation required for coca cultivation. 🏦 According to Feiling's research, cocaine has become so integral to the global economy that some experts estimated $352 billion in drug money helped keep banks afloat during the 2008 financial crisis. 🌎 The book demonstrates how cocaine's journey from South America to Europe has transformed West Africa, with countries like Guinea-Bissau becoming major transit points, leading some to call them "narco-states." ⚖️ Feiling's investigation shows that despite the U.S. spending over $1 trillion on the War on Drugs between 1971 and 2009, cocaine became cheaper and more pure during this period.