Book & podcast collection

Bonfire of the Murdochs: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family –– and the World

★ 2026 Financial Times and Standard Chartered Business Book of the Year — Longlist

Gabriel Sherman follows the struggle over Rupert Murdoch’s media empire as family ambition, political ideology, and corporate control collide. Drawing on extensive reporting, he traces Murdoch’s rise from Australia to an international network of newspapers and television outlets, then examines the conflict among the children expected to inherit it. The succession battle culminates in efforts to reshape the family trust and determine the company’s direction. Sherman connects private rivalries with public consequences, showing how decisions within one family helped influence journalism and politics across several countries.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: 2026-02-03
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781982167417

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Biography & Autobiography: Business Business & Economics: Industries – Media & Communications

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Interview with the Author

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1. Fresh Air — How Rupert Murdoch built an empire and broke his familyChecked

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2. Politics and Prose Presents — Gabriel Sherman - BONFIRE OF THE MURDOCHS: How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family and the World - WITH JULIA IOFFEChecked

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3. The Media Show — Revelations about the Murdoch dynasty in new book, Reporting on the Starmer crisis, Washington Post cuts, Ofcom under scrutinyChecked

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