What a bleeping train wreck.

Lies; bullying; unending red flags; secrecy, suspicion, mistrust; constant firings for competence and promotion of sycophants; cult of personality. Lives permanently damaged; some destroyed. The great tragedy of con artists is how they bring down otherwise-decent people, sucking them into their sphere to the point where they can’t back down: doing so would force them to admit to being fooled, so they hunker down and redouble their devotion. In the process causing irreparable harm to people, relationships, public trust. Perhaps you can think of other examples in recent history.

My friend A. pushed this book on me. I was skeptical that there was enough material in the Theranos story to fill an entire book, but I trust A. so I placed the book high on my to-read list — and was it ever worth it. More than enough material, grippingly presented to boot. The story is riveting, frightening, depressing... and encouraging. A reminder that there are good people out there, ethical, courageous; that corruption is always outed in the end (even if it comes at too high a cost); that it is possible to live with integrity.

It’s also a reminder of hope. Perhaps one morning we’ll wake up to a news blurb about certain people accidentally falling from thirty thousand feet onto a field of rusty metal spikes (possibly twice for good measure). Perhaps we might recognize some names, and nod quietly and not feel too much grief. I won’t hold my breath—but I will go to bed tonight with a small prayer on my lips.