27 Books like The Sword and the Shield

The Billion Dollar Spy

by David E. Hoffman • 2015

A Soviet engineer's note gave the CIA billions in secrets; a single betrayal took it all away.

4.23

16k+

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🇺🇸 Cia History 📡 Intelligence Tradecraft 🤝 Agent Handling 🪞 Counterintelligence

The Billion Dollar Spy 96%

A Soviet engineer's note gave the CIA billions in secrets; a single betrayal took it all away.

by David E. Hoffman 2015

4.23

16k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🇺🇸 Cia History 📡 Intelligence Tradecraft 🤝 Agent Handling 🪞 Counterintelligence

Code Warriors

by Stephen Budiansky • 2016

Math, machines, and moral compromise: the NSA's secret Cold War against the Soviets.

3.72

760

🕵️ Cold War Intelligence 🔑 Codebreaking History 📡 Signals Intelligence 🧮 Cryptanalysis 🤫 Government Secrecy

Code Warriors 96%

Math, machines, and moral compromise: the NSA's secret Cold War against the Soviets.

by Stephen Budiansky 2016

3.72

760 ratings

🕵️ Cold War Intelligence 🔑 Codebreaking History 📡 Signals Intelligence 🧮 Cryptanalysis 🤫 Government Secrecy

In the Enemy's House

by Howard Blum • 2018

An FBI agent and a quiet linguist unraveled the Soviet codes that hid the atomic spies.

4.14

2k+

🕵️ Cold War Espionage ☢️ Atomic Espionage 🔐 Code Breaking 🗂️ Soviet Spy Networks 🛡️ Counterintelligence

In the Enemy's House 96%

An FBI agent and a quiet linguist unraveled the Soviet codes that hid the atomic spies.

by Howard Blum 2018

4.14

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold War Espionage ☢️ Atomic Espionage 🔐 Code Breaking 🗂️ Soviet Spy Networks 🛡️ Counterintelligence

The Spy and the Traitor

by Ben Macintyre • 2018

Soviet golden boy, MI6's greatest mole, and the desperate 1985 escape that saved him.

4.52

91k+

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🇷🇺 Soviet Intelligence 👥 Double Agents 🏃 Defection Stories ☢️ Nuclear Brinkmanship

The Spy and the Traitor 95%

Soviet golden boy, MI6's greatest mole, and the desperate 1985 escape that saved him.

by Ben Macintyre 2018

4.52

91k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🇷🇺 Soviet Intelligence 👥 Double Agents 🏃 Defection Stories ☢️ Nuclear Brinkmanship

Spies in the Family

by Eva Dillon • 2017

A Soviet general spied for the U.S. for two decades. His handler's daughter reveals why.

4.15

1k+

📡 Cold War Espionage 🕵️ CIA History 🏳️ Soviet Defectors 🔍 Mole Hunts 🤝 Handler-Agent Bonds

Spies in the Family 95%

A Soviet general spied for the U.S. for two decades. His handler's daughter reveals why.

by Eva Dillon 2017

4.15

1k+ ratings

📡 Cold War Espionage 🕵️ CIA History 🏳️ Soviet Defectors 🔍 Mole Hunts 🤝 Handler-Agent Bonds

Deep Undercover

by Jack Barsky • 2017

To escape the KGB, he told them he was dying of AIDS. He stayed for his American daughter.

4.08

3k+

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🛡️ Soviet Intelligence 📡 Intelligence Tradecraft 🎭 Assumed Identities 💔 Political Disillusionment

Deep Undercover 94%

To escape the KGB, he told them he was dying of AIDS. He stayed for his American daughter.

by Jack Barsky 2017

4.08

3k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🛡️ Soviet Intelligence 📡 Intelligence Tradecraft 🎭 Assumed Identities 💔 Political Disillusionment

Russia and the Russians

by Geoffrey Hosking • 2001

Russia built an empire but never lasting institutions. Geography made autocracy feel like survival.

3.97

604

🏰 Imperial Russia 🪆 Soviet History 🌍 Geopolitics 👑 Autocracy ⛓️ Totalitarianism

Russia and the Russians 94%

Russia built an empire but never lasting institutions. Geography made autocracy feel like survival.

by Geoffrey Hosking 2001

3.97

604 ratings

🏰 Imperial Russia 🪆 Soviet History 🌍 Geopolitics 👑 Autocracy ⛓️ Totalitarianism

The Master of Disguise

by Antonio J. Mendez • 1999

How the CIA disguise chief spirited 150 agents out of hostile territory without a single loss.

3.85

3k+

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🔧 Tradecraft 🚁 Agent Exfiltration 🇺🇸 Cia History 🏛️ Agency Memoirs

The Master of Disguise 94%

How the CIA disguise chief spirited 150 agents out of hostile territory without a single loss.

by Antonio J. Mendez 1999

3.85

3k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🔧 Tradecraft 🚁 Agent Exfiltration 🇺🇸 Cia History 🏛️ Agency Memoirs

Kremlin Rising

by Peter Baker • 2005

Putin didn't seize Russia. Russians handed it to him, desperate for order after a decade of chaos.

3.90

332

🇷🇺 Post-Soviet Russia 🔒 Authoritarian Consolidation 📺 State Propaganda ⚔️ Chechen Wars 💰 Oligarchs

Kremlin Rising 94%

Putin didn't seize Russia. Russians handed it to him, desperate for order after a decade of chaos.

by Peter Baker 2005

3.90

332 ratings

🇷🇺 Post-Soviet Russia 🔒 Authoritarian Consolidation 📺 State Propaganda ⚔️ Chechen Wars 💰 Oligarchs

The Spymasters

by Chris Whipple • 2020

Fourteen men and one woman, one brutal job: telling presidents what they don't want to hear.

4.05

1k+

📜 Intelligence History ❄️ Cold War Espionage 🕵️ Covert Operations 🚨 Crisis Leadership ⚖️ Intelligence Ethics

The Spymasters 94%

Fourteen men and one woman, one brutal job: telling presidents what they don't want to hear.

by Chris Whipple 2020

4.05

1k+ ratings

📜 Intelligence History ❄️ Cold War Espionage 🕵️ Covert Operations 🚨 Crisis Leadership ⚖️ Intelligence Ethics

The Gun

by C.J. Chivers • 2010

3.95

3k+

🪖 Military History ☢️ Cold War History 🔧 Military Technology 📦 Weapons Proliferation 🩸 State Violence

The Gun 93%

by C.J. Chivers 2010

3.95

3k+ ratings

🪖 Military History ☢️ Cold War History 🔧 Military Technology 📦 Weapons Proliferation 🩸 State Violence

Russian Roulette

by Michael Isikoff • 2018

Putin ordered it, WikiLeaks delivered it, and Trump's team kept taking the meetings.

4.20

7k+

🇺🇸 Election Interference 🕵️ Russian Intelligence 🐻 Putin's Russia 📢 Disinformation Campaigns 💻 Cyber Warfare

Russian Roulette 93%

Putin ordered it, WikiLeaks delivered it, and Trump's team kept taking the meetings.

by Michael Isikoff 2018

4.20

7k+ ratings

🇺🇸 Election Interference 🕵️ Russian Intelligence 🐻 Putin's Russia 📢 Disinformation Campaigns 💻 Cyber Warfare

Spycatcher

by Peter Wright • 1987

MI5's first scientist built secret listening devices, then spent his career hunting a Soviet mole.

3.73

3k+

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🇬🇧 British Intelligence 📡 Technical Surveillance 🔍 Mole Hunts 🛡️ Counterespionage

Spycatcher 93%

MI5's first scientist built secret listening devices, then spent his career hunting a Soviet mole.

by Peter Wright 1987

3.73

3k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold War Espionage 🇬🇧 British Intelligence 📡 Technical Surveillance 🔍 Mole Hunts 🛡️ Counterespionage

Socialism Betrayed

by Roger Keeran • 2004

The Soviet collapse wasn't inevitable: a pro-market faction inside the Party dismantled it.

4.37

545

🏛️ Soviet History 📖 Marxist Historiography 🔨 Class Analysis 🕶️ Shadow Economies 🏢 One-Party State

Socialism Betrayed 93%

The Soviet collapse wasn't inevitable: a pro-market faction inside the Party dismantled it.

by Roger Keeran 2004

4.37

545 ratings

🏛️ Soviet History 📖 Marxist Historiography 🔨 Class Analysis 🕶️ Shadow Economies 🏢 One-Party State

Legacy of Ashes

by Tim Weiner • 2007

Born to inform presidents, the CIA chose covert action instead, and its failures are fatal.

3.96

16k+

🕵️ Intelligence Agencies 🕶️ Covert Operations 🚨 Institutional Failure 🧠 Intelligence Failures ❄️ Cold War History

Legacy of Ashes 93%

Born to inform presidents, the CIA chose covert action instead, and its failures are fatal.

by Tim Weiner 2007

3.96

16k+ ratings

🕵️ Intelligence Agencies 🕶️ Covert Operations 🚨 Institutional Failure 🧠 Intelligence Failures ❄️ Cold War History

Killing Hope

by William Blum • 1995

For forty years, the CIA overthrew governments across the globe. The full ledger is in one book.

4.27

2k+

❄️ Cold War Politics 🕵️ Covert Operations 🌎 American Empire 🏛️ Regime Change 💰 Corporate Imperialism

Killing Hope 93%

For forty years, the CIA overthrew governments across the globe. The full ledger is in one book.

by William Blum 1995

4.27

2k+ ratings

❄️ Cold War Politics 🕵️ Covert Operations 🌎 American Empire 🏛️ Regime Change 💰 Corporate Imperialism

Winter Is Coming

by Garry Kasparov • 2015

Western money and misplaced goodwill built Putin's war machine: a warning from the front lines.

4.04

4k+

🪆 Russian Politics 🗺️ Post-Soviet Studies 🤦 Foreign Policy Failures ⛽ Energy Geopolitics ✍️ Dissident Literature

Winter Is Coming 92%

Western money and misplaced goodwill built Putin's war machine: a warning from the front lines.

by Garry Kasparov 2015

4.04

4k+ ratings

🪆 Russian Politics 🗺️ Post-Soviet Studies 🤦 Foreign Policy Failures ⛽ Energy Geopolitics ✍️ Dissident Literature

American Kompromat

by Craig Unger • 2021

The KGB spent decades turning a developer into a candidate; money was the kompromat.

3.91

1k+

🕵️ Russian Intelligence 🕸️ Political Conspiracy 💸 Money Laundering 🕶️ Espionage Tradecraft 🔍 Investigative Journalism

American Kompromat 92%

The KGB spent decades turning a developer into a candidate; money was the kompromat.

by Craig Unger 2021

3.91

1k+ ratings

🕵️ Russian Intelligence 🕸️ Political Conspiracy 💸 Money Laundering 🕶️ Espionage Tradecraft 🔍 Investigative Journalism

Russian History

by Geoffrey Hosking • 2012

Constant invasions, one Russian answer: centralize power. The pattern from the Mongols to Putin.

3.64

769

🏛️ Russian History 🌏 Eurasian Geopolitics 👑 Autocracy And State Power 🗺️ Imperial History 🏭 Modernization And Tradition

Russian History 92%

Constant invasions, one Russian answer: centralize power. The pattern from the Mongols to Putin.

by Geoffrey Hosking 2012

3.64

769 ratings

🏛️ Russian History 🌏 Eurasian Geopolitics 👑 Autocracy And State Power 🗺️ Imperial History 🏭 Modernization And Tradition

The Invention of Russia

by Arkady Ostrovsky • 2015

Television became the new Kremlin: how post-Soviet Russia was built on air, not on law.

4.01

2k+

🏚️ Post-Soviet Russia 🏛️ Russian Politics 📺 State Propaganda 📰 Media Manipulation 🏭 Manufacturing Consent

The Invention of Russia 92%

Television became the new Kremlin: how post-Soviet Russia was built on air, not on law.

by Arkady Ostrovsky 2015

4.01

2k+ ratings

🏚️ Post-Soviet Russia 🏛️ Russian Politics 📺 State Propaganda 📰 Media Manipulation 🏭 Manufacturing Consent

The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956

by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn • 1973

A secret network of camps swallowed millions on quotas, using bodies until nothing remained.

4.33

35k+

🏛️ Soviet History ⛓️ Totalitarian Regimes 🚫 Political Repression 🔒 Prison Memoirs 🏗️ Forced Labor Camps

The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956 92%

A secret network of camps swallowed millions on quotas, using bodies until nothing remained.

by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1973

4.33

35k+ ratings

🏛️ Soviet History ⛓️ Totalitarian Regimes 🚫 Political Repression 🔒 Prison Memoirs 🏗️ Forced Labor Camps

Secondhand Time

by Svetlana Alexievich • 2013

A civilization vanished with the USSR, leaving millions unprepared for the freedom they craved.

4.46

22k+

🎙️ Oral History 🪆 Post-Soviet Russia 🧠 Collective Memory ⛓️ Totalitarian Legacies 🏢 Everyday Socialism

Secondhand Time 92%

A civilization vanished with the USSR, leaving millions unprepared for the freedom they craved.

by Svetlana Alexievich 2013

4.46

22k+ ratings

🎙️ Oral History 🪆 Post-Soviet Russia 🧠 Collective Memory ⛓️ Totalitarian Legacies 🏢 Everyday Socialism

Bedingt dienstbereit. Im Herzen des BND - die Abrechnung eines Aussteigers

by Norbert Juretzko • 2004

The inside story of an intelligence agency so inept the Americans bought their agents a Winnebago.

3.67

🕵️ German Intelligence 📋 Bureaucratic Failure 📢 Whistleblowing 🔎 Espionage Tradecraft 💼 Institutional Corruption

Bedingt dienstbereit. Im Herzen des BND - die Abrechnung eines Aussteigers Summary

Bedingt dienstbereit. Im Herzen des BND - die Abrechnung eines Aussteigers 92%

The inside story of an intelligence agency so inept the Americans bought their agents a Winnebago.

by Norbert Juretzko 2004

3.67

21 ratings

🕵️ German Intelligence 📋 Bureaucratic Failure 📢 Whistleblowing 🔎 Espionage Tradecraft 💼 Institutional Corruption

The Return of the Russian Leviathan

by Sergei Medvedev • 2017

Governance traded for spectacle: how resentment and distorted history built Putin's Russia.

4.06

337

🏛️ Post-Soviet Politics 🕯️ Historical Memory 📢 State Propaganda 🗺️ National Identity 🩹 Collective Trauma

The Return of the Russian Leviathan Summary

The Return of the Russian Leviathan 92%

Governance traded for spectacle: how resentment and distorted history built Putin's Russia.

by Sergei Medvedev 2017

4.06

337 ratings

🏛️ Post-Soviet Politics 🕯️ Historical Memory 📢 State Propaganda 🗺️ National Identity 🩹 Collective Trauma

House of Trump, House of Putin

by Craig Unger • 2018

Trump's condos laundered billions for the Russian mob, tied to Putin through a single crime boss.

4.02

2k+

🕴️ Russian Mafia 💸 Money Laundering 🏛️ Kleptocracy 🗳️ Election Interference 🕵️ Soviet Intelligence

House of Trump, House of Putin 92%

Trump's condos laundered billions for the Russian mob, tied to Putin through a single crime boss.

by Craig Unger 2018

4.02

2k+ ratings

🕴️ Russian Mafia 💸 Money Laundering 🏛️ Kleptocracy 🗳️ Election Interference 🕵️ Soviet Intelligence

Dressed Up for a Riot

by Michael Idov • 2018

a GQ editor's Moscow: protests fill squares, Pussy Riot faces trial, and cheese turns patriotic.

3.62

274

🇷🇺 Russian Politics 🧱 Post-Soviet Transition 🎭 Cultural Memoir ✊ Protest Movements 📺 Media Control

Dressed Up for a Riot 92%

a GQ editor's Moscow: protests fill squares, Pussy Riot faces trial, and cheese turns patriotic.

by Michael Idov 2018

3.62

274 ratings

🇷🇺 Russian Politics 🧱 Post-Soviet Transition 🎭 Cultural Memoir ✊ Protest Movements 📺 Media Control

The Red Web

by Andrei Soldatov • 2015

The Soviet Union fell but its surveillance state survived, rewired for the internet age.

3.95

700

🏛️ Digital Authoritarianism 🇷🇺 Putin's Russia 👁️ Surveillance State 🌐 Internet Governance ⚔️ Information Warfare

The Red Web 92%

The Soviet Union fell but its surveillance state survived, rewired for the internet age.

by Andrei Soldatov 2015

3.95

700 ratings

🏛️ Digital Authoritarianism 🇷🇺 Putin's Russia 👁️ Surveillance State 🌐 Internet Governance ⚔️ Information Warfare

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