On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, effectively and symbolically ending the Cold War. Twenty-five years later, we're still making sense of the decades of fear and east-west divisions. One need only watch FX's The Americans to see that the Cold War is still alive and well in the American imagination. As we look back at The Fall, here are the books we'll be reading.

The Karla Trilogy Digital Collection Featuring George Smiley by John Le Carré
You might call British intelligence agent George Smiley the "Anti-Bond." Neither handsome nor slick, he compensates with strategic brilliance.

Iron Curtain by Anne Applebaum
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anne Applebaum investigates how communism transformed Eastern Europe following World War II.

The Sword and the Shield by Christopher M. Andrew
What if the FBI found a treasure trove of KGB documents? In fact, they did, and the agency refers to it as their "most complete and extensive intelligence ever received."

The Charm School by Nelson Demille
A young American tourist discovers the secret KGB plot aimed at the American heartland.

Spy Handler by Victor Cherkasin
In this thrilling memoir, a former KGB officer tells the story of how he recruited two of America's most dangerous traitors, Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames.

Comrade J by Pete Earley
Comrade J was the highest ranking official in the SVR, the agency that succeeded the KGB. He directed all Russian spies in New York City, oversaw covert operations against the U.S. and its allies, and secretly, turned double agent for the FBI.

Iron Curtain: From Stage to Cold War by Patrick Wright
The "iron curtain" didn't always evoke its current political meanings. In fact, it began as a theater term. This fascinating history reveals the term's rich life.

The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis
Informed by newly opened Soviet, Eastern European, and Chinese archives, this history of the Cold War focuses on the strategic relationships that marked the era.

Within the Context of No Context by George W.S. Trow
A prescient look at American pop culture.

Anthropology of an American Girl by Hilary Thayer Hamann
A young artist in the 1970s and 1980s discovers her true passions and a longterm love for a professional boxer.