This book was absolutely wild! I had no idea that the CIA played any role in the Cold War unground and it was wild to hear just how big of a role they played in destabilizing that area with books. I love a nonfiction that brings to light aspects of history that are little reported on and never taught in schools. The risk and effort that people took on to keep the books and information flowing in in the modern age is extreme and the book does a good job of highlighting that. There were alot of players and names to remember but overall it was a great book and I learned so much!

“In October 1985, a Polish human rights group estimated that the majority of the 320 political prisoners still held in the country were printers, distributors, editors, or other collaborators with the social publishing movement. Punishments could be extreme. One man at that time was given an eight-year sentence for distributing a flyer.”

The title of this book, and the blurb describing it, are a little misleading. While it is true that the CIA smuggled reading material behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, most of this book is about Poland, the Solidarity movement and the risky work of many Polish people to keep the underground publishing business alive. Much of that work was financed by the CIA. Books may have been “beacons of hope”, but the reporting and distribution of accurate news was probably more important. The people responsible for spreading this uncensored news were harassed, threatened and imprisoned. The book was interesting and educational. Parts of it read like a spy novel.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

An excellent overview of the CIA’s efforts to win hearts and minds during the Cold War. Americans are likely not familiar with much of this activity.

"The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature" is a competently written and moderately engaging book that all but side steps its intended focus. There is actually, very little in this book about the CIA and its programs to disseminate banned books within the Soviet Union and Eastern Block countries. Instead this book focuses almost entirely on Poland and the efforts of underground publishers and Solidarity activists. This is not entirely surprising since a great deal is known about the struggle against censorship and state oppression in Poland. However, the portrayal of events in Poland is uneven, often devolving into a rehash of Solidarity's greatest hits while ignoring the actual effects of the CIA's support and the influence that it might have had, for good or bad, on developments within the country. Thus, in the end, although this book recaps a number of significant events on Poland's path to freedom and celebrates the exceedingly brave people who carried them out it does very little to shed light on the workings of the CIA or other intelligence services and does not produce any new revelations about Polish or Central European history of the period.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded to 3.

3.5! ⭐️

I definitely think the execution could have been better done. I was not expecting the narrative to be solely focused on Poland, that caught me off guard as I was expecting a discussion about the CIA (hence the title). Most of the book’s setting took place in Poland and most, if not all the discussions discussed communism in Poland and how Poland became under communist rule. There was a lot of focus on Poland and its characters in the story and less on CIA operatives and US intelligence. There were many run on sentences and/or sentence fragments whilst reading.

THE CIA BOOK CLUB by Charlie English was a LibraryReads selection for July and received a starred review from Booklist. Its subtitle is "The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature," but a fellow book group member and I agreed that it focuses more (sometimes graphically) on the resistance in Poland. This sentiment was echoed in The Wall Street Journal review which, while praising the book, noted: "The title of Mr. English's book is somewhat misleading" due to its sole focus on Poland and on its book smugglers, noting that the CIA's main role was financial support and smuggling equipment. The tales of dissidents and courage seem especially poignant as the world awaits the outcome of meetings on the war in Ukraine. Interesting, too, to note the books which were smuggled and circulated (Camus, Orwell, Vonnegut) in light of recent commentary like David Brooks' opinion piece "When Novels Mattered." Ironically, reading the entire text of THE CIA BOOK CLUB would likely be too much for most book group participants, but an excerpt could prompt discussion on international policy and funding cuts, on the role of truth in light of social media, and on domestic book banning efforts. "Literature, together with language, protects the soul of the nation." ~Solzhenitsyn

An additional reviews is available from The Washington Post ("This true story of CIA book smuggling reads like an Ian Fleming novel") and a portion of THE CIA BOOK CLUB was published recently in The New York Times ("'1984' Hasn't Changed, but America Has").

3.5 stars overall

This was an interesting look on how the CIA tried to smuggle western books, and thus western ideology into the eastern block during the Cold War.

This book was interesting, but the title was misleading. The book focuses mainly on Poland and the Polish Underground and only tangentially on the CIA. There were also a few too many extraneous details and tangents that were confusing, as was the author's tendency to use both first and last names of the subjects interchangeably throughout the book, which sometimes made it difficult to figure out who he was talking about. but those few things aside, the story was interesting and did highlight the power of the written word and the press to bring about change. In this age of misinformation and the silencing of the press and other dissenting voices from the American government and president, this was a welcome reminder of how freedom of information and the press is always the backbone of a functioning democracy by the people, of the people, and for the people.

*The CIA Book Club* by Charlie English is one of those nonfiction reads that feels stranger—and more fascinating—than fiction. I had no idea just how much power books held during the Cold War, and English lays it all out with such a compelling, almost novelistic touch. It’s part spy story, part literary history, and part political drama, and it completely hooked me. I loved learning how literature became a weapon of influence, and the behind-the-scenes details of the secret operations were wild. It’s smart, detailed, and surprisingly emotional in places. If you love books about books, or untold history with real-world impact, this is one you’ll want to pick up.

This book chronicled the CIA campaign to smuggle Western books and articles into Eastern Bloc nations - primarily Poland and Romania, disseminating the ideologies of the West during the Cold War of the 1980s until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Charlie English did an extraordinary amount of research into the individuals and the Communist governments of the time and the book details the schemes to bring books, printing machines and typewriters into Communist countries. He also described the arrests and imprisonments of some of the resisters as well as CIA operatives who circulated among the people. It was amazing to learn that nearly 10 Million publications were smuggled into theses countries to promote Western ideas including 1984, Animal Farm, Brave New World, John LeCarre's spy novels and Cosmopolitan magazine!
However, I was disappointed that the title did not really describe the contents which read more like a history of Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain especially the Polish resistance and revolution. I had a hard time getting through this book - it took me almost a month to read it- and I think there was too much detail. I am glad that I read it though as it opened my eyes to Communism and the restrictive society it engenders.

I have to agree with many readers who consider the title very misleading. This is really much more a history of the Polish resistance and revolution during the cold war. While it is quite interesting it is not really about the CIA or any wide-ranging program to foment revolution with western literature. Which is disappointing.

CHARLIE ENGLISH - THE CIA BOOK CLUB
The words “Book Club” always grab my attention. Seeing them next to “The CIA” -- more interesting, still. The description of reading as a form of protest, that was a game-changer. I have to say, it felt personal and matched my interests and capacity. Now it was a “Must Read.”

No dusty history here – a vivid struggle of a modern nation in revolt. Charlie English shows us a Poland so inundated in Russian propaganda, that the idea of some other form of looking at the world was electrifying. Doublethink, unmasked. It opened minds. [“How did Orwell know our life so well?”]

Sharing banned books and travelling libraries was the beginning. It became one part of the coalescing Solidarity movement, that harnessed the reproducing of books and printed materials. Thanks to author English, we learn about a network of supporters including CIA and beyond. At times his prose is like finery, but generally he lets the characters speak.

Now, we enter the scenes alongside some of the workers (even heroes) of this chapter of Poland. Inside Poland, like a play unfolding, the author brings the personalities and interactions of the core figures alive in full dialogue. The risks are high. The goal is glorious. This is all a grass roots movement to end Soviet control --spycraft needed for their own safety as they worked.

The CIA provided funding…through various secret means. The book program and printing changed the game. Solidarity, strengthened this way, undermined --and ultimately felled--the iron curtain.

I highly recommend hearing some of the authentic voices recorded in interviews in the Bush Freedom Collection online, one of the author’s sources. Bielecki, Celinski, and others. https://www.bushcenter.org/search?s=poland/
The story outlined in this book took place from roughly 1980 to 1989, when Poland held the 1989 Polish parliamentary election.

#TheCIABookClub #NetGalley

I found this an inspiring read for today's times. Not that America is as oppressive as Communist Poland, but we now have the most oppressive American presidential administration yet, and this is the kind of moment that puts democracy to the test.

I usually think of resistance in terms of writing to elected officials, participating in local politics, and rallies, not necessarily books and underground journalism. But given Trump's recent $60 million settlement with CBS for a critical report on 60 Minutes, and the subsequent cancellation of outspoken Trump critic Colbert for supposed "financial reasons," it's clear why despots target freedom of information first. The pen is mightier than the sword after all. For all those reasons I found this book hopeful, prescient, and it gave me ideas for resistance that I had not considered before.

I never knew that the CIA, which I typically picture as action-oriented dudebro spies, engaged in this type of quiet, intellectual ideological warfare. During the Cold War, Poles behind the Iron Curtain faced incredible censorship. Possession of a printing press or even a dogeared copy of Orwell's 1984 was equivalent in punishment to manslaughter or drug trafficking. There was a good reason why the regime was so terrified of the free exchange of ideas.

An underground network sprung up with the support of the labor movement, focused on distributing literature and poetry, and printing newspapers that published just the facts. This movement received generous funding and operational support from the CIA. Over time it evolved from "just the facts" to more propaganda, which was disappointing, but just the presence of these books gave people hope that a different way of life was possible.

The book could get complicated in that there was a very large cast of characters, and I don't know Polish, and so I had a hard time keeping track of the people and telling them apart. I think the narrative would have benefited from a little more color into the personal lives of the dissidents. It focused quite heavily on the meticulous logistics of the international smuggling operation, and I could tell this oral history was thoroughly researched and reported.

But overall, for a historian, I found this to be a gripping account of revolutionaries fighting against all odds for democracy with an eye to the nonviolent long game. I was surprised the author was a historian because this read more like a high-octane thriller than a dry academic text.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5

The research for The CIA Book Club is super solid and honestly, I was completely absorbed. I love when nonfiction teaches me about something I never knew was happening. The impact on Poland especially, how underground book reproduction eventually helped break down censorship, shows how powerful literature really is.

I found Jerzy Popiełuszko's story very moving. English doesn't just give you the facts, he makes you feel what Popiełuszko went through. That emotional, narrative approach was incredible and honestly what I was hoping for throughout the entire book.

My only thing is I wanted more of that intimate storytelling everywhere else. The historical stuff is thorough but I craved more personal stories like how English handled Popiełuszko.

Definitely worth reading if you're into Cold War history or want to understand how books can literally be tools of resistance. Pretty mind-blowing stuff.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is heartening to know, as a book person, that the CIA once thought books could be subversive enough to take down Communism. While the relative effect of the books program in Poland that is detailed in the book is unknown, there was real effort behind. Seeing as the costs were minimal, it seemed worthwhile. Moving the books and printing supplies around seemed to train the resistance and help spread information. I don't think I'll remember most of the names from the book.

This is an incredibly well-researched book that suffers from false advertising. It’s not really about the CIA or the Cold War. The title does a disservice to the story that’s told.

It’s an incredible account of the Polish underground resistance in the waning days of the communist era. As someone of Polish descent and an advocate for the freedom to read, it’s right up my alley.

It is a dense book however and not the easiest read due to the sheer number of people and parties involved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review.

Charlie English's The CIA Book Club discusses in detail the way a banned book network helped bring about the end of the Cold War in Poland. There couldn't be a timelier moment for this book’s release as Lech Walesa, Poland’s Nobel Prize-winning former President, will soon begin his 28-city U. S. lecture tour, in part, to emphasize current threats to democracy.

Although the book’s title is somewhat misleading and its scope mostly limited to Poland rather than encompassing the entire Soviet Bloc, Charlie English has contributed an important book showing how literature can open minds and contribute to the establishment of democracy. Filled with clandestine roles the CIA and foreign editors, publishers, and smugglers played in the availability of banned books such as 1984, Animal Farm, Brave New World, and The Gulag Archipelago, The CIA Book Club not only brings to life a critical piece of history but also reminds Americans of the importance of literature and free expression of ideas to democracy’s survival in the 21st century.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance reader egalley of this thought-provoking new book

The only problem I have with this excellent account of the Polish underground press during the Solidarity movement of the 1980s is its title. The CIA may have provided the money, but the impetus, planning, courage, and even the tradecraft was provided by the Poles themselves. And although the title implies that the book is about winning the Cold War, the focus is almost entirely on Poland and tells little about parallel efforts in other countries.

The oppressive governments of the Eastern Bloc had many enemies both real and perceived, but it seems their biggest enemy was the truth. The effort to disseminate the truth was led by regular citizens who showed incredible imagination, courage and resourcefulness under rather dire conditions. Somehow (explaining the "somehow" is the raison d'etre of the book) they circulated newspapers with circulations of up to 100,000 (each copy was likely read by many people) and got the word out. In addition, they circulated Polish translations of western literature, with Orwell's 1984 as a perennial favorite.

The story would make a great movie, with heroes, villains, plenty of suspense, and it's not a spoiler to say that there is a happy ending. It's also nice to see the CIA be the good guys for a change; I think the key difference is that in this part of the world they actually had partners one could root for, and an unambiguously repressive regime to oppose.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for providing a pre-release egalley.

The works of Charlie English tend to have illustrative titles that serve as thesis statements and for his latest, The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature readers will learn about the repressive Soviet governments of Eastern Europe and the soft power of literature that helped bring about their end.

Repressive governments seek to control as much as possible, especially what people can read and learn. Education has historically been seen as a means of both betterment and knowledge of the world. When these two are in conflict, education typically loses out to a state mandated party line and knowledge distrusted through highly controlled channels. Undergrounds exist, but their operations can be hazardous or come under harsh penalties.

Never the less, the peoples in Soviet controlled Eastern Europe looked to know of the outside world. Some worked to translate and distribute copies of banned literature while others created newspapers and other methods to distribute news the party didn't want shared. A few of the key personalities featured include George Minden and Miroslaw Chojecki. Minden was Romanian born, but ran the International Literacy Center that was financed by the CIA. Minden oversaw the selection of titles, choosing ones that focused on liberalism, philosophy or challenged totalitarianism. Chojecki graduated from the University of Warsaw's department of Chemistry but was frequently arrested for his work as a democratic activist.

While English uses the experiences of these two figures to help expand the narration, there is a large number of people whose work is detailed in this multi decade, international effort. It is a well written tale of another side of the political machinations between the two post war super powers, but one much more focused on hearts and minds.

I was particularly fascinated by the the transition from ad-hoc and farcical smuggling methods to the more professionalized smuggling of printing presses and distribution systems.

Recommend to readers of World History, the power of literature or lessons of history that could be useful to contemporary society.

The CIA Book Club is a compelling and important book, especially for those interested in censorship, resistance and history of the Iron Curtain. Though the CIA is prominent in the title, there is less about the role of the CIA than I expected. However, I'm ok with that as the Iron Curtain side of things intrigues me more. After World War II to 1985, Poland was under Soviet control and censorship was insidious and covert. Authors were suppressed and lists of banned books were created behind the scenes to trick the population. George Orwell's eerily accurate Animal Farm and 1984 were amongst the most dangerous and threatening books to the Soviets. The CIA smuggled ten million books during the psychological war and people such as publisher Miroslaw Chojecki amazingly risked their lives to get banned books into readers' hands. A copy of The Archipelago Gulag was smuggled in a nappy! Chojecki was imprisoned and beaten many times but remained a huge part of the resistance. The "flying library" was crucial.

Aside from the courage, intelligence and determination of the resistance, what fascinates me most details including the painstaking method of underground printing and the tight restrictions on typewriters and reams of paper. Descriptions of meat lines during a time of food shortages are sobering. Strikes, terror and violence were rife as were subterfuge and the black market out of necessity. But the resistance persisted. Photographs are included as well, personalizing the densely informative book.

Hundreds of hours of research and interviews in several countries went into this book and it shows. I feel more knowledgeable after reading it and have been mulling it over in my mind all day. Truly a riveting topic!