Best Books about Berlin

"Berlin - Imagine a City" by Rory MacLean takes readers on a journey through Berlin's complex and tumultuous history through the eyes of its famous and not-so-famous residents, including David Bowie and Marlene Dietrich. 

"Stasiland" by Anna Funder is an eye-opening account of life in East Germany before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Funder's interviews with Stasi spies and East Germans who were spied on provide a firsthand look at the devastating effects of surveillance and oppression.

"Iron Kingdom" by Christopher Clark provides an insightful overview of the rise of Prussia and the downfall of the German Empire, detailing the political, social, and economic factors that led to the emergence of Prussia as a European power. Read this to understand Potsdam better!

"Outcast: A Jewish Girl in Wartime Berlin" by Inge Deutschkron is a moving memoir of survival during the Holocaust, chronicling Deutschkron's experiences as a Jewish girl in Berlin and her interactions with Otto Weidt, a factory owner who protected blind Jews. We will see it on my Jewish Berlin Tour.

"Berlin Soldier" by Helmut Altner is a gripping memoir that offers a firsthand account of the Battle of Berlin during World War II. Altner was only 17 years old when he was drafted into the German army. It provides a powerful and poignant firsthand account of the physical and emotional tolls of war on both soldiers and civilians. 

"The House by the Lake" by Thomas Harding traces the history of Berlin—and Germany itself—through the story of a single lake house and its inhabitants. From its early days as a holiday home for a Jewish family, through the upheavals of the Second World War, the house’s survival on DDR territory, and even the Berlin Wall cutting through its garden, the book captures decades of German history in intimate detail. You can visit this house upon request on my Potsdam tour. 

"Destined to Witness: Growing up Black in Nazi Germany" by Hans Massaquoi offers a unique perspective on life in Nazi Germany as a person of color, exploring the challenges and discrimination faced by black people in a country that embraced Aryan supremacy.

"In Europe" by Geert Mak is one of my all time favorites: a captivating exploration of the history, culture, and identity of the diverse countries that make up the European continent. Through personal anecdotes and historical accounts, Mak offers readers a multifaceted perspective on Europe's troubled 20th century history.

"The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown is a captivating account of the US Olympic rowing team's journey to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, providing insight into the political and social tensions of the time.

"In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson is a fascinating portrayal of the US ambassador to Nazi Germany during the early years of Hitler's regime, shedding light on the complex dynamics of diplomacy and politics in a time of growing global instability. We will visit the locations of this book on my Third Reich Tour.

"Alone in Berlin" by Hans Fallada is a powerful portrayal of two ordinary Berliners who resisted the Nazi regime in their own small way, highlighting the bravery and resilience of those who stood up against tyranny. I often talk about this at the former Gestapo HQ.

"Zoo Station" by Christiane F. delivers a raw and gripping portrait of West Berlin’s drug scene in the 1970s, following her descent into addiction and the harsh realities faced by teenagers living on the city’s fringes. Honest, unsettling, and deeply human, it became a defining account of a turbulent era. The book reached an international audience through the acclaimed film adaptation, featuring music by David Bowie.

"Goodbye to Berlin" is a 1939 novel by Christopher Isherwood set in Berlin during the early 1930s. The novel captures the atmosphere of pre-war Berlin and features complex characters, including the narrator and a British cabaret singer named Sally Bowles. It was the inspiration for "Cabaret". We can visit Isherwood's house on the Weimar Berlin Tour. 

"Emil and the Detectives" is a classic 1929 children's novel by German author Erich Kästner. The story follows young Emil Tischbein as he travels alone from a small town to Berlin to visit his grandmother. Along the way, Emil's money is stolen by a thief, and he teams up with a group of local children to track down the culprit and retrieve his money. 

Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy brings the major upheavals of the 20th century vividly to life through the intertwined stories of five families, with Berlin playing a central role. Through personal narratives, Follett captures Berlin as a powerful symbol of the century’s darkest and most transformative moments.

In "Blitzed", Norman Ohler uncovers a startling and often overlooked aspect of Nazi Germany: the widespread use of drugs throughout the Third Reich. From factory workers to frontline soldiers—and even Hitler himself—methamphetamines and other narcotics played a key role in sustaining morale, fueling aggression, and clouding judgment. 

“The Invention of Nature” tells the remarkable story of Alexander von Humboldt, the great overlooked scientist. Andrea Wulf takes us on his adventures—from the rainforests of South America to the world’s highest volcanoes—and shows how Humboldt’s ideas on nature, climate change, science, and politics continue to shape our world today. 

Secret Berlin uncovers 200 unusual and overlooked spots across the city—from medieval ruins under a hotel lobby and an amphitheatre once used for dissections to an Art Nouveau bathing complex, WWII bunkers, the world’s first computer, and hidden Baroque vaults. A perfect guide for anyone who wants to explore the Berlin most visitors never see.

Secret Potsdam uncovers the city’s hidden side—from royal oddities and Masonic clues to Expressionist tombs, scientific relics, and long-forgotten architectural gems. A compact guide to Potsdam’s most surprising and off-the-radar places.

A sharp dual biography of two Berlin icons whose lives split in opposite directions: Marlene Dietrich—Hollywood star and anti-Nazi—and Leni Riefenstahl—Hitler’s celebrated but forever-tainted filmmaker. A gripping study of fame, ideology, and moral choice.

“Checkpoint Charlie” by Iain MacGregor tells the gripping story of the Berlin Wall’s most famous crossing. From deadly escape attempts to the 1989 revolt, the book combines meticulous research with firsthand accounts from soldiers, spies, escapees, and politicians, capturing the tension and human drama at the heart of the Cold War.

“A Woman in Berlin” is the anonymous diary of eight weeks in 1945 as the city fell to the Russian army. With stark honesty and haunting lyricism, it depicts the daily struggles, fears, and moral complexities of civilians, especially the mass sexual violence endured by women, offering a powerful, unforgettable account of life in a conquered city.

“Frederick the Great: King of Prussia” by Tim Blanning is a masterful biography of one of Europe’s most complex rulers. Blanning brings to life Frederick’s brilliance as a military commander, musician, philosopher, and patron of the arts, capturing his charisma, flaws, and enduring influence, while vividly portraying the vibrant, tumultuous world of 18th-century Prussia.

“The Hitler Conspiracies” by Richard J. Evans examines the most persistent and sensational conspiracy theories about Hitler and the Nazis. Evans subjects claims—from the Reichstag fire to Hitler’s alleged escape to South America—to meticulous historical scrutiny, revealing how such myths persist. A timely, insightful book for our age of “post-truth” and alternative facts.