This was an extremely eye opening exploration of Johnson & Johnson throughout the years.

While intriguing, I had to dose it out in small chunks, as I was so appalled at the deception. As a healthcare provider, we swear to do no wrong. It was heartbreaking to see how many providers broke that oath knowingly.

This was extremely well researched, and it provided a lot of novel information that I had not previously known. I also greatly appreciated the breakdown by product vs. by timeline. It was a smart way to approach the topics and made it easy to follow.

Thank you to to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC. All views and opinions are my own.

An instagram review will be up on 2/23.

The work entitled "No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson" by Gardiner Harris offers a thorough analysis of the business practices within capitalist America, specifically focusing on Johnson & Johnson. The narrative presents a critical examination of the company’s prioritization of profits over ethical considerations, which has, at times, placed lives at risk. While the text includes a number of individuals and medical descriptions that could potentially lead to confusion, Harris effectively clarifies these complexities for the reader. The author concludes with constructive recommendations for enhancing the FDA's oversight, aiming to ensure that companies prioritize human safety over financial gain. This book is highly recommended for those interested in understanding these important issues.

Wow. I worked in health care for decades and in pharmaceuticals for a chunk of that (including regulatory policy) and had no idea about the depth and breadth of so many of these issues! Despite not always agreeing with Harris's perspectives on health care policy issues, I've been a long-time fan of his writing style. He has an engaging voice that is informative and easy to read, and those elements are all on display here to a tee. This was a surprisingly quick read for something so weighty (and long), and is definitely going to make you think - and possibly question whether or not to trust anyone offering any product for sale!

I appreciated this book. I found it to be thoroughly researched and at times, gripping; I found it hard to put down. It was a fascinating look at mind-boggling corporate misbehaviour and lack of government oversight. That being said, I found some parts too detailed and with poor pacing. Nonetheless this was a very worthwhile read. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the advance reader copy.

It seems like these days there are books and documentaries one after another exposing the unethical business practices and practices of corporations. Before reading this, I didn’t realize how huge of an influence Johnson & Johnson had on the pharmaceutical industry, outside of baby products (and the infamous talc baby powder case) and the COVID-19 vaccine. There’s so much more that they created, including Tylenol, band-aids, cotton pads, plus Janssen, a company they acquired, created the fentanyl compound. Also who knew that J & J basically created the opioid crisis? Crazy.

I’ve also known about the talc in baby powder causing cancer since I was a teenager, so it’s insane to me that it wasn’t pulled off the shelves until as recently as 2023. Sadly, J & J has a steep history of sweeping things under the rug, and it’s good that these issues are being brought to light, so that we can advocate for consumer rights and protections in the future and make more informed choices, especially when regulatory authorities fail us. I also appreciate the fact that the book cover design resembles the baby powder bottle, which used to be the “crown jewel” of their products.

The book details the start of J & J in the late 1800s (with their shrewd business-minded strategies) to their habit of intimidating researchers and reporters in modern times, so quite an extensive history. Aside from their marketed image as a family company, I personally think that pharmaceutical companies tend to hold a lot of public trust based on the fundamental concept that they are helping to develop cures and medical treatments. So it’s always disappointing to see a company prioritize profits over consumers. J & J have caused a huge death toll and unnecessary loss of human lives with their poor decisions and frequent cover ups. It was infuriating to read about acetaminophen for me because of how many people I personally know that rely on it due to its purported safety. My biggest takeaway from this book is that I’ll probably read scientific publications of medications before taking anything at face value now.

The author, Gardiner Harris, is a former public health and pharmaceutical investigative reporter for the New York Times, so basically the perfect person to write this exposé. With the amazing wealth of information, you can trust that this book is well researched yet easy to digest (although the same cannot be stated of J&J’s business ethics).

Special thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest, independent review.

This was an infuriating, yet informing read. I appreciated how well researched and well written this was, easy to understand and digest. I'll definitely be picking up more books like this to continue to inform myself about how companies actually make money off the consumer while not working to protect us.

This should be required reading for the American consumer. I feel like this hit harder because of how relevant and important these exposes will become with where we are at in Jan 2025. While it was diseheartening to find myself reading about 510(k)s, warning letters, and clinical trials in my free time, it only validated my decision to never work in healthcare consulting again. nightmares all around.
This was an incredibly well-researched, accessible, unbiased, and unsettling expose that I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the how the FDA and big pharma aren't really who the typical consumer thinks they are.
This is the book that brought me to NetGalley in the first place, so sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

A few pages in, and I am ultimately hooked. I'm sick to my stomach with the evidence and the horrible enterprises that are mandated through the big pharmaceutical companies. This book is heavy with intel, and there is no way to go back to being blind to the knowledge of such circumstances that put on a happy face and claim to be a family company.

Thank you, NetGalley and
Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House books for this ARC for review. When I saw this book I was coming out, I knew I had to read it! I remember the signs for J&J up in my hospital when I was a new labor & delivery nurse advertising for new moms and encouraging them to “Go the full 40” as in go the full 40 weeks and not deliver early. I thought it was a great campaign as at the time there were some celebrities who were saying they wanted to deliver early to have a smaller baby for an easier delivery and to fit into their pre pregnancy jeans sooner. This book is well-researched, extremely eye opening and at times, shocking, how much J&J has helped and also harmed people over the course of the many years since it’s conception. There is the very familiar medication issue with Tylenol and they recalled all bottles and instituted protective caps. Then the baby powder and the decades long coverup on how it causes cancer. And their Covid vaccine and it’s efficacy or lack thereof in comparison to others on the market, to name a few. J&J is a pharmaceutical company first and foremost. It was originally family owned and developed and it earned the reputation in the industry as a good company and it still coasts on that good reputation even when it does bad business and hides bad practice. Nothing is all good and J&J sounds like it’s not all bad either.

Well written and very informative. One things for sure I will make sure others read this and never buy from J& J again. .

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC.

This book is so hard to get through. To know that a company was aware of the things they were doing and do it anyway is so blatantly wrong it is absurd. Being personally impacted by a loss due to ovarian cancer, I struggled to finish this book. It hurt my heart in so many ways. I will never buy from J&J again. Horrific.

Read this and you will never want to buy from J&J again. With meticulous research and an abundance of sources, Harris lays out the case that Johnson and Johnson has never, ever, been a company worth trusting. Over time, its executives and salesforce knowingly put people in danger over and over again, not caring as long as they didn't get caught. And when they did, they did everything possible to deny it, including false evidence and lying under oath. Harris is a clear and thorough reporter in documenting both OTC and rx medications and products that raised health risks, caused early deaths, actually made cancers grow more quickly and larger, helped spur the opioid crisis, and much more.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson" by Gardiner Harris is a riveting exposé that peels back the layers of one of America's most trusted pharmaceutical companies, revealing a disturbing history of unethical practices and corporate deceit. Harris, an award-winning investigative journalist, meticulously uncovers decades of dangerous and deceptive actions that have had far-reaching consequences on public health.

The book begins with a compelling anecdote from 2004, where Harris, while waiting for a flight, strikes up a conversation with a Johnson & Johnson sales representative. Her harrowing story about the company's unethical sales practices profoundly impacts Harris and sets him on a path of deep investigation into the company's operations. This personal touch adds a human element to the narrative, making the revelations even more deeply impactful.

Harris delves into several high-profile controversies involving Johnson & Johnson, including the link between their talcum powder and cancer, the hidden dangers of Tylenol, and the aggressive marketing of anti-psychotic drugs to children. He also exposes the company's role in the opioid crisis, highlighting how their product Duragesic (fentanyl) contributed to widespread addiction and countless deaths.

One of the book's strengths is its thorough research and detailed reporting. Harris leaves no stone unturned, presenting a wealth of evidence that supports his claims. His writing is clear and engaging, making complex medical and legal issues accessible to a broad audience. The book is filled with shocking revelations that challenge the reader's perception of a company long associated with baby care and trustworthiness.

The narrative is balanced, providing not only a critique of Johnson & Johnson's practices but also insights into the broader issues within the pharmaceutical industry. Harris's investigative prowess shines through as he connects the dots between corporate greed, regulatory failures, and the devastating impact on individuals and families.

"No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson" is a powerful and necessary read for anyone interested in corporate accountability and public health. Gardiner Harris's meticulous research and compelling storytelling make this book a landmark work of investigative journalism. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and transparency in the industries that shape our lives.

Firstly, thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

'No More Tears' by Gardiner Harris is a well researched and through book that brings to light various scams and scandals of Johnson & Johnson, the pharma conglomerate.. The scams include J&J Baby Powder, Tylenol, Procrit, Risperdal, Duragesic, Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch, Pinnacle Hip Implant and Prolift Vaginal Mesh among other things. The author has done a great job in showing how J&J has put profits ahead of user and patient safety, not just once but in multiple instances.

At times, the narrative got too technical and I felt that it may get a bit boring for a layman reader. Some of the less important text could have been moved to footnotes or the reference section so that the salient points could be delivered more concisely and to the point. Other than that, this is a very good book, especially for someone interested in knowing the inner workings and dealings of the pharma giants.

This book dives into great detail on each of the big J&J scandals and lawsuits that have involved the company over the years. Quite frankly it’s disturbing and horrifying what they’ve been able to get away with, particularly for the instances involving children. Can’t say I totally enjoyed the content, but the writing and research was extremely thorough,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book!

First off, “No More Tears” by Gardiner Harris is the perfect title to the book. It is a history of Johnson & Johnson; it recounts the early history of the family who created the company and how their products grew in popularity. After that it gets to about the 1960s to present and is an unrelenting history of how this company has destroyed lives in the name of greed.

Review of baby powder and talc in particular. So interesting and depressing that it was not until very recently that J&J had to stop using talc. Then the Tylenol murders of the 1980s mostly in the Chicago area; opioid epidemic (worse than Purdue Pharma); anti psychotics in children causing them to have their bodies disfigured; ortho evra birth control patch - in every sector they have been terrible and known the dangers of their products, but money was the name of the game.

The most recent section is on the Covid vaccine - in an effort for good PR, they wasted millions of tax payer money and had to throw out hundreds of millions of contaminated covid vaccines. They were warned of cross contamination and other issues but chose to ignore it in favor of “saving the world” and being on television. Once again they cared only for J&J and not for the people they were supposed to be helping. Their errors and carelessness also led to anti-vax statements growing during this critical time.

My only complaint with the book is the timeline was a little confusing as it wasn’t chronological, how the author wrote it was confusing a bit but not enough to remove any stars. It is a very well written and interesting book but also so depressing that J&J has caused, and gotten away with, so much death and destruction. I’ve been bringing up this book in almost every conversation and. I can’t wait to buy a copy of this book when it is published.

Everyone will be shedding tears after reading this book - consumers, doctors, drug companies, and the FDA alike. A damning expose looking back at decades of market manipulation through lies, incentives, and other morally bankrupt actions by nearly all parties involved. The biggest irony of the story, the FDA, has surprisingly far narrower a scope than anyone realizes, while also being funded by the drug companies (but only enough to be a big government boogeyman).

For the once nearly “sainted” brand, J&J is consistently exposed for their sometimes lackadaisical, often malicious (and illegal) approaches to producing and promoting medicines and equipment. From covid vaccines to asbestos packed powders, dangerous contraceptives, and ADHD meds that give boys breasts… it’s all there. My heart goes out to any of the millions of people that lost a loved one due to the negligence of those involved.

I give it 5 stars for its importance, but far less for how it felt to read.

This was a great, in depth, exposé of the corporate crimes of J & J. I thought I had a pretty good idea about some of their crimes from my own previous research, but this book offered so much more. I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in J & J history and their more shady practices.

Excellent insight into the corruption in the pharmaceutical company. Hard to read around the election knowing that deception will become even worse. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC

Dang. I knew the cover-ups and behind the scenes at J&J were bad, but I didn’t realize how bad. The blatant hiding of information was unfortunately not surprising, but still shocking. The section on baby powder and talc was terrifying as a woman and as a mother. A great book exposing how corrupt corporations can be.