Charlie English begins “The CIA Book Club” by describing a 1970s technical manual: a dull cover, as uninviting as anything. A book that practically begs you to put it back on the shelf and move on.

Young people, especially, are choosing to read in English even if it is not their first language because they want the covers, and the titles, to match what they see on TikTok and other social media.

The first illustrated English book: Gossuin de Metz, ‘Myrrour of the Worlde,’ translated by William Caxton (1481), Westminster: William Caxton (courtesy the Morgan Library & Museum) John T. McQuillen, ...

In “The CIA Book Club,” Charlie English tells the story of America’s war of ideas in the Eastern Bloc. Credit...Maxime Mouysset Supported by By Joseph Finder Joseph Finder, who writes frequently about ...

The growth of English-language book sales in continental Europe is on the rise, fueled by interest generated on TikTok and fed in large part by Amazon. This has been cutting into local sales in some ...