Book · 2018 · History
The Spy and the Traitor
The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
Why people recommend it
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre is a gripping non-fiction book that chronicles the true story of Oleg Gordievsky, a high-ranking KGB double agent who secretly worked for British intelligence during the Cold War. Jonathan Blitzer strongly recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show in January 2026, describing it as an astonishing true story that reads like a thriller and centering on a Soviet double agent operating against the KGB. Jon Lovett also highlighted the book on Pod Save America in December 2019, sharing his surprise at discovering the incredible Cold War spy tale pre-loaded onto his Kindle device. Across these podcast episodes, speakers praised the book for its riveting narrative pacing and deep historical insight into espionage, making it a standout recommendation for those interested in real-life intelligence operations and the high-stakes intrigue of the Cold War era. The work continues to captivate readers and media personalities alike due to its meticulous historical research and the sheer dramatic tension inherent in the double agent's perilous espionage activities.
Who recommended it
- Jon Lovett Recommended
- Jonathan Blitzer Recommended
Jon Lovett — 2 mentions
“didn't realize there's a book called the spy and the traitor by Ben MacIntyre it's about it's an incredible Cold War spy story about this”
“didn't realize there's a book called the spy and the traitor by Ben MacIntyre it's about it's an incredible Cold War spy story about this”
Jonathan Blitzer — 1 mention
“Uh and my last recommendation would be The Spy and the Trader by Ben McIntyre from several years back uh about a Soviet uh double agent uh who was uh you know working for the KGB but became a double agent for uh British intelligence during the Cold War. Absolutely astonishing true story that reads like fiction.”