Hollywood Ending

Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence

By: Ken Auletta

Narrated by: Jonathan Coleman

A vivid biography of Harvey Weinstein—how he rose to become a dominant figure in the film world, how he used that position to feed his monstrous sexual appetites, and how it all came crashing down, from the author who has covered the Hollywood and media power game for The New Yorker for three decades

Twenty years ago, Ken Auletta wrote an iconic New Yorker profile of the Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was then at the height of his powers. The profile made waves for exposing how volatile, even violent, Weinstein was to his employees and collaborators. But there was a much darker story that was just out of reach: rumors had long swirled that Weinstein was a sexual predator. Auletta confronted Weinstein, who denied the claims. Since no one was willing to go on the record, Auletta and the magazine concluded they couldn’t close the case. Years later, he was able to share his reporting notes and knowledge with Ronan Farrow; he cheered as Farrow, and Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, finally revealed the truth.

Still, the story continued to nag him. The trail of assaults and cover-ups had been exposed, but the larger questions remained: What was at the root of Weinstein’s monstrousness? How, and why, was it never checked? Why the silence? How does a man run the day-to-day operations of a company with hundreds of employees and revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and at the same time live a shadow life of sexual predation without ever being caught? How much is this a story about Harvey Weinstein, and how much is this a story about Hollywood and power?

In pursuit of the answers, Auletta digs into Weinstein’s life, searching for the mysteries beneath a film career unparalleled for its extraordinary talent and creative success, which combined with a personal brutality and viciousness to leave a trail of ruined lives in its wake. Hollywood Ending is more than a prosecutor’s litany; it is an unflinching examination of Weinstein's life and career, embedding his crimes in the context of the movie business, in his failures and the successes that led to enormous power. Film stars, Miramax employees and board members, old friends and family, and even the person who knew him best—Harvey’s brother, Bob—all talked to Auletta at length. Weinstein himself also responded to Auletta’s questions from prison. The result is not simply the portrait of a predator but of the power that allowed Weinstein to operate with such impunity for so many years, the spiderweb in which his victims found themselves trapped.

©2022 Ken Auletta (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“It is impossible to read Hollywood Ending without an escalating sense of dread and fury. Ken Auletta offers a riveting account of the ascent and savagely abusive behavior of one of the movie industry’s most powerful figures. And he meticulously documents a story that’s equally disturbing: the dismal pattern of willful ignorance, complicity and cover-up among film producers, financiers, executives, lawyers, and actors who, with just a bit of courage, could have put a stop to Harvey Weinstein’s sociopathic assaults against so many women.” - Martin Baron, Executive Editor (Retired), The Washington Post

“You think you know everything about the deplorable Harvey Weinstein? You don’t. The incomparable Ken Auletta delivers revelation after revelation.” - Graydon Carter, editor, Air Mail

"Excellent . . . The world turned a blind eye, Auletta explains, in large part because of the perception that Weinstein’s contributions to the industry outweighed his transgressions.” —Bloomberg, The 10 Best Books for Your Summer Reading List

Not Boring

Well read and documented background on Harvey. A lot of interesting facts, that keeps the listener wanting more.

Shocking to the core

Auletta does an incredible job of attempting to unravel a complex, sordid universe that has been created around the vile HW. He eloquently attempts to present a two-sided story that shocks you to the core!

Not bad, but not particularly well executed

I think this audiobook could have been significantly less than 19 plus hours in length had someone else narrated it. That being said, I found it entertaining and informative. I think Auletta tried to be fair and balanced when examining the rags to riches rise, as well as the horrific excesses and eventual fall of Harvey Weinstein.

Excellent Recount—so much I didn’t know

I valued the perception and growth of Bob, Harvey’s brother, as he eventually came to understand for Harvey relationships are sadly only transactional. Needless to say, Harvey demonstrates many of the character traits and fatal flaws of a individual who is currently facing four indictments. And certainly a disruptive attachment to one’s primary caregiver is a significant factor (along w genetic predisposition, other environmental factors) in those with a dysfunctional personality structure.

I will definitely listen to this book a 2nd and 3rd time, as the psychiatrist in me really values the author’s depiction of Harvey’s day to day interactions.

Definitive

The definitive chronicle on the HW matter. Twenty years in the making, Auletta does his homework. His detailed research makes this book a very deep dive into the "how" and "why" HW became an openly famous predator.

Riveting

Real hard-to-put-down listen. Excellent reading. Seemingly unbiased reporting of how the Harvey Weinstein story unfolded. This book will not disappoint.

Outstanding listen

This was an outstanding book in every way and incredibly well researched, fast paced, and fascinating. If all you know are the headlines about Harvey Weinstein, I definitely recommend listening to this book. It takes you through his first trial and up to, but not including the trial scheduled in Los Angeles soon. You learn who enabled him and hid his crimes, who had the courage to step forth, and lots of other fascinating details about how Hollywood operates.

Truly a harrowing tale of abuse and insanity

Harvey was known for what he did yet so many people aided him. This book opens the door to stop and ask - why so many helped him abuse women? And why so many key him walk over them?

Great book.

Well researched and narration was great.
Hard to put into words the depravity of this creeps life .

A legal accounting of the Weinstein difficulties

I like how it clarified how hard it is then and now to prosecute even with no reasonable doubt and a hearty explanation of the historical reality of corporate corruption even at a human cost.