The Fall

The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty

By: Michael Wolff

Narrated by: Michael Wolff - introduction, Holter Graham

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Bestseller

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
—Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

“Michael Wolff’s books were my foundation and port of entry for working on Succession.”
—Jeremy Strong (“Kendall Roy”)

Meet the Murdochs and the disastrously dysfunctional family of Fox News. Until recently, they formed the most powerful media and political force in the land, for better or worse. Now their empire is cracking up and crashing down.

For almost three decades, Fox News has not only made political careers (see: President Donald J. Trump) but also fundamentally altered the political landscape of the United States. It is a truism: as Fox goes, so goes the nation—into further divisiveness and awash in fake news, a gleefully polarizing company. But just as Fox has pushed America apart, now it too is coming apart. As is the family dynasty behind it.

In his irresistible trilogy on the chaotic presidency of Donald Trump—Fire and Fury, Siege, and Landslide—the gadfly journalist Michael Wolff led readers deep into the twisted corridors of the White House. Now, drawing on years of unprecedented access to the Murdoch family and key players in the world of Fox, he plunges us behind the scenes of another empire of influence, and the result is astonishing and unforgettable.

Here is Rupert Murdoch, the ninety-two-year-old Australian billionaire—a fading titan, concerned about his legacy but more concerned about profits. Here are his contentious progeny, jockeying to take over when the old man is gone. Here is star anchor Tucker Carlson, hiding out in his island homes, considering a run for the presidency while his bosses have other plans for him. Sean Hannity, the richest man in television, has his own plans: to put the former POTUS back in office, against the bosses’ wishes. Meanwhile, Laura Ingraham is just trying to survive in the last man’s man’s world.

Empires fall. Kingdoms come to an end. As lawsuits pummel the financial bedrock and reputation of the network, anchors scramble, and the battling Murdoch heirs make the Roys of TV’s Succession seem downright Brady Bunch, Michael Wolff documents, in riveting and revelatory real time, the final days of Fox News.

©2023 Michael Wolff (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

"Riveting.... A dishy look at the decline of Fox News. Wolff offers his typically no-holds-barred look at the powerful personalities at the top of the network.... He harbors no qualms about consorting with some of America’s worst people—nor about burning them blithely in service of his narrative.... Fox’s marquee talents are not spared Wolff’s gimlet eye.... He offers countless lacerating portraits." (The Washington Post)

"Amusingly vicious and very well-timed.... In Wolff’s telling, Murdoch is a sort of hapless Frankenstein, abominating the monster he set loose on the world but unsure how to fight him." (Michelle Goldberg, The New York Times)

"Wolff, author of a spate of books skewering the dysfunctional Trump presidency, returns to his investigation of the Murdochs with a fast-paced, gossip-filled recounting of family drama—rivaling Succession in intrigue and bitter strife—and the travails and scandals that have roiled Fox News.... Wolff is merciless." (Kirkus Reviews)

The Most Disturbed Vision of Wonderland

Wolfe tells a brilliant story that is probably about 75% facts from the source, 15% 3rd party “remembrances” and 10% speculation.

But it’s the inside game of it all that makes Wolfe’s book a great read with a terrifying vision of what Fox “News” has been all about this entire time. And Wolfe brilliantly shows how easily their audience was fooled by simplistic rhetoric (often jingoistic) brought by a weak and creepy sadist Roger Ailes.

I must also acknowledge the person who brought this stunning story to life. Holter Graham is an absolutely incredible narrator whose ability to weave the narrator through with exceptional voiceover work.

Fox in its Den

Despite a thread of the author's political leanings, this is a great window into the Murdaugh family dynamics and the workings of Fox.

Great!

Love the narrative and the info. Would definitely recommend. Love the author. Read a lot of his work.

Gossipy but good

Some more insights on Murdoch , a bit too much US CS Reid but then Fox is

A look behind the curtain.

You wonder what was going on in their heads. This book gives it to you both barrels.

This book likely prompted Rupert’s abrupt retirement

There was no hesitation whatsoever to buy this book, and it delivered on the promise to get an insider’s view of what really explains the paradox of the Murdoch’s Fox News empire and the corrosive forces it has unleashed on the world for almost 30 years. I wasn’t sure at first that I would like the narrator, however his impression of Rupert Murdoch was hilarious and worth the price of admission all by itself. Wolff’s description of the senior Murdoch as a mumbler and barely articulate speaker and singleminded nature were likewise comedic. But a question I’ve long harbored wasn’t answered: If the entire family found Fox News so revolting, why after the 21st Century Fox sale to Disney for $71 billion (a true genius move by those involved, selling at the absolute peak of the market, valuation that will never again be possible), and after all the adult children received $2 billion a piece disbursements, why not similarly dump Fox News to a P/E firm and be done with it, or at least, “clean house”. The infernal propaganda machine is still a platform for Trumpism, connecting Trump’s core audience to his shambolic and self-serving agenda.

Still left wondering???

I guess no more insightful info can be given on Fox’s actual direction futuristically. I was looking for an informative take on that. Very interesting in regards to the brick by brick building of Fox and constant turmoil behind the scenes. Rupert won’t be around to see the full ramifications of the monster his network created, but the family will have quite the tarnished legacy. They might be at a crossroad where the two decisions they are left with will definitely be history changing. Do we stay on the money train, or do we (if all being honest) do what we know to our core is right. One can and very most likely will lead to the ruination of a country and its democracy.

I learned a lot

I’m not a Fox News watcher so I thought this book might help me understand some of the dynamics. I learned a lot about the Murdoch family and the complicated relationships between the patriarch, his wives and children, and the media empire Rupert made. Fascinating and upsetting and so, so cynical.

The performance was pitch perfect, the pacing relentless.

Recommended.

A Good Read Only If Fan of Fox News & Murdocks

I have listend to two of Michael Wold's book and am a fun. Fail is a good read but only if one is a fan of Fox News, Trump or the Murdocks. Fans will recognize the thousands of names referrenced in this book. Without these referents the book did not hold my attention. Wolf is a good writer with a good sense or humor. Trumps and the Murdock's should go on a picnic together and call it the new Twilight Zone or as Wolf imples a "parallel univere." Hopefully they would invite Ailes, Hanratty and Carlson who are often presented as "batshit crazy." Those that are regular viewers of Fox News will find thies book more interesting, despite the fact that Wolf, as usual, present a very honest appraisal.

Rupert Murdoch mumbles

I liked the insight about it all, I didn’t beer much about the inner workings.