Firebrand

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Set in the early 2000s, a young lawyer is drawn into the morally complex world of a multinational company that produces cigarettes—arguably the most controversial consumer product ever. Initially unaware of the company's true nature, he soon finds himself traveling the globe as legal counsel, navigating the seductive yet deadly landscape of tobacco marketing. Over the next decade, he learns how cigarette companies, despite being targets of health campaigns, adapted and thrived after the pivotal 1964 Surgeon General's Report and the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, which left them with a staggering debt. The narrative explores the paradoxes of capitalism through the lens of the tobacco industry, revealing how these companies continue to profit from over a billion smokers worldwide. As the lawyer's journey takes him from factories to corner stores and luxury events across Europe and Asia, the story unfolds with a gripping mix of character-driven storytelling and behind-the-scenes intrigue. This contemporary tale reflects our ambiguous times, presenting a morally dubious yet legal enterprise through the eyes of an anti-hero shaped by corporate culture. With a narrative style reminiscent of Michael Lewis and the compelling intrigue found in works like Bad Blood, this account delves into corporate responsibility and public health in a captivating manner.