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The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden
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ApproximatelyS$ 43.35
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Located in: Livingston, NJ, United States
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Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:157445303704
Item specifics
- Condition
- Brand New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
- EAN
- 9780593447901
- UPC
- 9780593447901
- ISBN
- 9780593447901
- MPN
- N/A
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Book Title
- The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the C
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-10
0593447905
ISBN-13
9780593447901
eBay Product ID (ePID)
3073622879
Product Key Features
Number of Pages
384 Pages
Publication Name
Cia Book Club : the Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature
Language
English
Publication Year
2025
Subject
Communication Studies, United States / 20th Century, Russia & the Former Soviet Union, Europe / Poland
Type
Textbook
Subject Area
Language Arts & Disciplines, History
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.2 in
Item Weight
21.2 Oz
Item Length
9.5 in
Item Width
6.3 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2025-008065
Reviews
"Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known Cold War moment." -- The Observer "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." -- The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." -- The Spectator "A story as fascinating as it is undersung. The CIA Book Club , delivers a riveting account centered on Poland in the turbulent 1980s, when the 'war of ideas' could exact real casualties. This was spycraft as soulcraft . . . The publication of 'The CIA Book Club' feels perfectly, painfully timely . . . a reminder of what's lost when a government no longer believes in the power of its own ideals." --The New York Times Book Review "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times "English's book reads like a thriller . . . This literary history is a prescient one. . . a reminder that words are powerful and that stories matter. Sometimes the most rebellious thing one can do is read a book." --Los Angeles Times "English's true tale of the federal government smuggling subversive books through the Iron Curtain sounds like a current-times call to action from the American Library Association. . . . [English] reports a CIA spy caper to flood the communist zone with The Gulag Archipelago, among other titles. The book's allure is intrigue, danger, and suspense in the service of meaning." --NPR "A gripping lesson in long-term resistance and the resilience of the human spirit. . . . Journalist Charlie English explores the underground culture of literary smuggling into Poland before the fall of [the] Iron Curtain." -- Shelf Awareness "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Vivid history of a CIA-funded program to introduce subversive literature to Eastern Europe during the Soviet bloc era. . . . A well-crafted book about books--and spooks, skullduggery, and a time when ideas mattered." --Kirkus Reviews, "English's true tale of the federal government smuggling subversive books through the Iron Curtain sounds like a current-times call to action. . . . The book's allure is intrigue, danger, and suspense in the service of meaning." --NPR "Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known Cold War moment." -- The Observer "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." -- The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." -- The Spectator "A story as fascinating as it is undersung. [ The CIA Book Club ] delivers a riveting account centered on Poland in the turbulent 1980s, when the 'war of ideas' could exact real casualties. This was spycraft as soulcraft. . . . The publication of The CIA Book Club feels perfectly, painfully timely. . . . A reminder of what's lost when a government no longer believes in the power of its own ideals." --The New York Times Book Review "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times "English's book reads like a thriller. . . . This literary history is a prescient one. . . . A reminder that words are powerful and that stories matter. Sometimes the most rebellious thing one can do is read a book." --Los Angeles Times "A gripping lesson in long-term resistance and the resilience of the human spirit. . . . Journalist Charlie English explores the underground culture of literary smuggling into Poland before the fall of [the] Iron Curtain." -- Shelf Awareness "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Vivid history of a CIA-funded program to introduce subversive literature to Eastern Europe during the Soviet bloc era. . . . A well-crafted book about books--and spooks, skullduggery, and a time when ideas mattered." --Kirkus Reviews, "Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known cold war moment." -- The Observer "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." -- The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." -- The Spectator "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times "English's true tale of the federal government smuggling subversive books through the Iron Curtain sounds like a current-times call to action from the American Library Association . . . [English] reports a CIA spy caper to flood the communist zone with The Gulag Archipelago, among other titles. The book's allure is intrigue, danger, and suspense in the service of meaning." --NPR "A gripping lesson in long-term resistance and the resilience of the human spirit. Journalist Charlie English explores the underground culture of literary smuggling into Poland before the fall of Iron Curtain." -- Shelf Awareness "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Vivid history of a CIA-funded program to introduce subversive literature to Eastern Europe during the Soviet bloc era. . . . A well-crafted book about books--and spooks, skullduggery, and a time when ideas mattered." --Kirkus Reviews, "Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known cold war moment." -- The Observer "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." --Dominic Sandbrook, co-host of The Rest Is History podcast, in The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian (Book of the Day) "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." --Nicholas Shakespeare in The Spectator "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times, "Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known cold war moment." -- The Observer "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." -- The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." -- The Spectator "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Vivid history of a CIA-funded program to introduce subversive literature to Eastern Europe during the Soviet bloc era . . . A well-crafted book about books--and spooks, skullduggery, and a time when ideas mattered." --Kirkus Review, "Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known cold war moment." -- The Observer "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." -- The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." -- The Spectator "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Vivid history of a CIA-funded program to introduce subversive literature to Eastern Europe during the Soviet bloc era. . . . A well-crafted book about books--and spooks, skullduggery, and a time when ideas mattered." --Kirkus Reviews, "English's true tale of the federal government smuggling subversive books through the Iron Curtain sounds like a current-times call to action. . . . The book's allure is intrigue, danger, and suspense in the service of meaning." --NPR "Spring-loaded with tradecraft, English's account feels like it's torn from the pages of Ian Fleming. . . . An indelible reminder . . . that words matter, and that perhaps the most patriotic thing one can do is read." -- The Washington Post "Entertaining and vivid . . . [Charlie] English writes thrillingly about the activists inside Poland. . . . This is a gripping account of an intriguing and little-known Cold War moment." -- The Observer "Charlie English tells the tale of a 1980s secret operation in communist-controlled Poland. . . . A vivid and moving story. [English] is terrific at evoking the atmosphere of Poland in the 1970s and 1980s--not just the regime's narrowed horizons and suffocating repression, but the excitement of the Solidarity trade union movement and the idealism of the young dissidents." -- The Times "Vibrant, beautifully researched and exciting . . . a real pleasure to read--a finely written page-turner full of well-researched stories of smuggling, intrigue and survival." -- The Guardian "This covert CIA programme to undermine censorship in the Soviet bloc is the subject of Charlie English's impressively detailed account. . . . English does a first-rate job in piecing together this patchily known story in efficient, pacy prose." -- The Spectator "A story as fascinating as it is undersung. [ The CIA Book Club ] delivers a riveting account centered on Poland in the turbulent 1980s, when the 'war of ideas' could exact real casualties. This was spycraft as soulcraft. . . . The publication of The CIA Book Club feels perfectly, painfully timely. . . . A reminder of what's lost when a government no longer believes in the power of its own ideals." --The New York Times Book Review "A timely look at how CIA money helped Poland's underground print banned books . . . [English] has a knack for suspense. . . . This book reads like a spy novel." -- Financial Times "English's book reads like a thriller. . . . This literary history is a prescient one. . . . A reminder that words are powerful and that stories matter. Sometimes the most rebellious thing one can do is read a book." --Los Angeles Times "A gripping lesson in long-term resistance and the resilience of the human spirit. . . . Journalist Charlie English explores the underground culture of literary smuggling into Poland before the fall of [the] Iron Curtain." -- Shelf Awareness "A fascinating account of a world-changing covert operation and a first-rate contribution to the history of the CIA." --Tim Weiner, author of Legacy of Ashes "Vivid history of a CIA-funded program to introduce subversive literature to Eastern Europe during the Soviet bloc era. . . . A well-crafted book about books--and spooks, skullduggery, and a time when ideas mattered." --Kirkus Reviews
TitleLeading
The
Synopsis
"A story as fascinating as it is undersung . . . a riveting account" ( The New York Times Book Review , Best Books of 2025 So Far) of the CIA's secret program to smuggle millions of books through the Iron Curtain during the Cold War "Brimming with poetic detail, spring-loaded with tradecraft, English's account feels like it's torn from the pages of Ian Fleming. . . . An indelible reminder that words matter, and that perhaps the most patriotic thing one can do is read."-- The Washington Post For nearly five decades after the Second World War, the Iron Curtain divided Europe, forming the longest and most heavily guarded border on earth. No physical combat would take place along this frontier: the risk of nuclear annihilation was too high for that. Instead, the war was fought psychologically. It was a battle for hearts, minds, and intellects. Few understood this more clearly than George Minden, head of a covert intelligence operation known as the "CIA book program," which aimed to undermine Soviet censorship and inspire revolt by offering different visions of thought and culture. From its Manhattan headquarters, Minden's "book club" secretly sent ten million banned titles into the East. Volumes were smuggled aboard trucks and yachts, dropped from balloons, hidden aboard trains, and stowed in travelers' luggage. Nowhere were the books welcomed more warmly than in Poland, where they would circulate covertly among circles of like-minded readers, quietly making the case against Soviet communism. Such was the demand for Minden's texts that dissidents began to reproduce them in the underground. By the late 1980s, illicit literature was so pervasive in Poland that censorship broke down: the Iron Curtain soon followed. Charlie English narrates this tale of Cold War spycraft, smuggling, and secret printing operations for the first time, highlighting the work of a handful of extraordinary people who fought for intellectual freedom--people like Miroslaw Chojecki, who suffered beatings, imprisonment, and exile in pursuit of his clandestine mission. The CIA Book Club is a story about the power of the printed word as a means of resistance and liberation. Books, it shows, can set you free.
LC Classification Number
Z1003.5.E92E54 2025
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- v***0 (377)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseItem arrived well packed and in good condition, alas it was over 1 month to get it, and seller offered no explanation. Item perfectly described and in good order, but extremely slow service.A New Voyage Round the World by William Dampier (#157174725019)
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- l***b (1699)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent item and good seller communication. Shipping time was good once it shipped, but it was a little bit of a wait before that happened. For the price I paid, the wait was worth it because it was everything expressed in the listing.Doctor Who: What Still Remains: 7th Doctor Audio Original [Audio] (#167709356094)
Seller feedback (8,254)
- v***0 (377)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseItem arrived well packed and in good condition, alas it was over 1 month to get it, and seller offered no explanation. Item perfectly described and in good order, but extremely slow service.A New Voyage Round the World by William Dampier (#157174725019)
- e***e (602)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseLongest shipping time I've ever experienced. Bought 8/11, arrived 9/18. Responded to emails quickly and item arrived brand new as described. Didn't note the 20 day shipping window until after purchased, took even longer than that.Deadendia: The Divine Order: Volume 3 by Steele, Hamish (#157213924084)
- l***b (1699)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent item and good seller communication. Shipping time was good once it shipped, but it was a little bit of a wait before that happened. For the price I paid, the wait was worth it because it was everything expressed in the listing.Doctor Who: What Still Remains: 7th Doctor Audio Original [Audio] (#167709356094)