What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe American School of Spies
Stephan Talty · Book · 2026
If you loved The American School of Spies, start with Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra (Rachel Maddow, MS NOW, 2026) — a podcast on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The American School of Spies across media.
What hooked you in The American School of Spies is the way ordinary professionals transform into clandestine operatives during the chaos of war.
Films on the same thread
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Film · 2024
Explores: Espionage, Special Operations, Anti-Nazi Resistance.
Much like the academics in The American School of Spies, this story follows unconventional individuals operating behind enemy lines to execute high-stakes missions against the Nazi regime.
Man of War
Film · 2026
Explores: war zone rescue, haunted past, mercenary warfare.
If you enjoyed the high-pressure intelligence work in The American School of Spies, you will appreciate this intense narrative about a specialized operative navigating dangerous, shifting geopolitical battlefields.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War
Andrew Bernstein · Film · 2026
This story mirrors the urgent, covert-mission atmosphere of The American School of Spies by placing a dedicated intelligence operative at the center of a complex, time-sensitive international conspiracy.
Sniper: No Nation
Trevor Calverley · Film · 2026
Explores: hostage rescue, lone wolf operator, geopolitical conflict.
The focus on tactical extraction and lone-wolf operations here echoes the spirit of clandestine survival found in The American School of Spies, emphasizing the human cost of intelligence work.
Series on the same thread
Secret Service
Tom Bradby · Series · 2026
Explores: Drama, War & Politics.
This drama captures the same internal tension and high-stakes political maneuvering that defined the intelligence operations within The American School of Spies, where every choice carries grave consequences.
SAS Rogue Heroes
Steven Knight · Series · 2022
Explores: World War II, Military History, Underdog Story.
Just as The American School of Spies highlights the birth of the OSS, this series chronicles the formation of the SAS, showcasing how elite military units adapt during wartime.
The Spy
Gideon Raff · Series · 2019
Explores: Undercover Operations, National Security, Identity.
This biographical drama mirrors the scholarly, undercover intensity of The American School of Spies, focusing on the psychological toll of deep-cover espionage and the sacrifice required for national security.
CIA
Dick Wolf · Series · 2026
Explores: forced partnership, bureaucratic friction, covert operations.
The bureaucratic friction and forced partnerships in this series provide a modern counterpart to the complex, multi-agency intelligence environment detailed in The American School of Spies.
Podcasts on the same thread
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Authoritarianism, Domestic Espionage, Threats to Democracy.
This podcast explores historical threats to democracy, offering a deep, investigative perspective on domestic espionage that complements the wartime intelligence history found in The American School of Spies.
The Rest Is Classified
Podcast
Explores: Cold War, Intelligence agencies, Covert operations.
This podcast series mirrors the analytical approach of The American School of Spies, providing expert insight into the real-world covert operations and intelligence histories that shaped the modern era.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The American School of Spies based on a true story?
Yes, The American School of Spies is a true story. It recounts the experiences of American archaeologists and classicists who were recruited to serve as undercover OSS spies during World War II to combat the Nazis and preserve historical artifacts.
Who is the author of The American School of Spies?
The American School of Spies was written by Stephan Talty. He is a New York Times bestselling author who chronicles the history of the OSS and the scholars who went undercover in Europe and across the globe starting in 1942.
What historical period does The American School of Spies cover?
The American School of Spies focuses on the events of World War II, specifically beginning in 1942. The narrative follows the formation of the OSS under Wild Bill Donovan and the role that academics played in intelligence operations during that global conflict.
What is the primary mission described in The American School of Spies?
In The American School of Spies, the primary mission involves American archaeologists and classicists acting as OSS spies. They were tasked by Wild Bill Donovan to thwart Nazi operations and protect the world's most precious relics while operating undercover across Europe and other regions.