From 1985 to 1988, I served as a soldier in the United States Berlin Brigade, which was in the American sector of West Berlin. While there, I visited East Berlin a few times. The difference between West Berlin and East Berlin stood out to me. The infrastructure, consumer products and urban aesthetic in East Berlin paled compared to West Berlin. In the East, there were visible East German Police within a block or two of each other. I always felt watched.
I stumbled on the book Stasiland by Anna Funder when I came across an article that mentioned the Stasi Archives, which became accessible to the West once the wall fell.
Funder’s book is a thought-provoking read, which balances journalism with human stories. Funder interviewed former Stasi officers and the ordinary people who had to live their life under surveillance. A society built on fear and mistrust takes a psychological toll on its citizens.
Funder’s writing is informative and although the book is about historical events, the personal stories in a historical context ensure the book is engaging. For those fascinated by the Berlin Wall or the experience of living under a centralized, dictatorial state, Stasiland is an excellent choice.
If you value freedom and truth, you may find this book relevant to events in today’s world.
Terry Ebaugh 