American Kingpin

The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road

By: Nick Bilton

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

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 26-year-old libertarian programmer named Ross Ulbricht launched the ultimate free market: the Silk Road, a clandestine website 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.

It wasn't long before the media got wind of the new website where anyone - not just teenagers and weed dealers but terrorists and black hat hackers - could buy and sell contraband detection-free. Spurred by a public outcry, the federal government launched an epic two-year manhunt for the site's elusive proprietor, with no leads, no witnesses, and no clear jurisdiction. All the investigators knew was that whoever was running the site called himself the Dread Pirate Roberts.

The Silk Road quickly ballooned into a $1.2 billion enterprise, and Ross embraced his new role as kingpin. He enlisted a loyal crew of allies in high and low places, all as addicted to the danger and thrill of running an illegal marketplace as their customers were to the heroin they sold. Through his network he got wind of the target on his back and took 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, Vanity Fair correspondent and New York Times best-selling 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, decentralized web advocates and the old world of government control, order, and the rule of law. Filled with unforgettable characters and capped by an astonishing climax, American Kingpin might be dismissed as too outrageous for fiction. But it's all too real.

©2017 Nick Bilton (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“An astonishingly well-researched narrative.... Bilton's storytelling bears not so much as a trace of fat; the book he's conjured is so sharp and bright that it can be whipped through in the airport lounge before the flight takes off." (The Globe and Mail)

"Unbelievably riveting." (Casey Neistat)

“I dare you not to read this book in one sitting. Masterfully reported and written, Bilton’s book drops you hard into the dark heart of the most famous Internet crime to date. A first-rate thrill.” (Joshua Cooper Ramo, author of The Seventh Sense)

Well written, Well read, Gripping story

Artfully written amazing story. Nick Bilton presents a story that competes with any fiction suspense thriller. And, of course it's actually true - something you have to keep reminding yourself as you listen to the book. Bilton perfectly combines his talent as a reporter with a genuine gift as a story teller - good cadence and a light but nice touch of drama.

You won't be disappointed

Bilton knocked it out of the park with a smart, fast paced, and engrossing story of wasted genius. I had heard of the Silk Road and Ross Ulbricht, but had no idea, until now, the gravity and implications of his crimes.

Excellent.

I've listened to hundreds of audio books, and this is definitely one of my favorites. Well written, well narrated, and a fun read. Even if you know nothing about bitcoins and the dark web :)

Absolutely tremendous

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

What a terrific novel. Incredibly well researched. Riveting story. Narrated to perfection. Just brilliant.

Absolutely fantastic!

About the only negative I have to write about this story was that I was sad it was over. For computer geeks and non-geeks alike. Part cyber crime mystery, part love story, and part court drama all in one. The best part was that it’s based on a really life story.

Amazing story, reads like a fictional thriller

What an amazing story! This well researched and documented true story reads like a fictional thriller. Very well narrated.

Fascinating true story, but poor construction

The story of the Silk Road had me from beginning to end, but the writing leaves something to be desired, feeling like a collection of separate articles from a newspaper instead of a cohesive tale. The default whiteness and maleness of the characters is also a pain point (in other words, the author only describes a character's gender or ethnicity if they are NOT a white male. Example: "the female FBI agent" but you never read "the male FBI agent."). Disappointing!

Amazing!

Enjoyed the whole book start to finish. Great writing and great narration. This is a must read.

Excellent

This book reads like a thriller but the fact that it is a true story makes it even more amazing. The author takes a complex event with many twists and multiple characters and makes it totally understandable. The narration is perfect. It is so great when you love your Audible selection.

Riveting

This is one of the most amazing books I have listened. to. What one young man accomplished compared to other web Startups is astounding. Ross was clearly a man with a passion. Driven by values, he got caught up as so many criminals do in what he was doing.This is the real life “breaking bad.”
I have been recommending this book to everybody I see who either likes a good story, a good book, an amazing take,or just a wonderful way to pass the time.
I don’t know how to describe the activity of not being able to put an audible book down. I guess this is a story you can’t turn off!!