The struggle for books and consciousness. Christian Adam explores a highly contested terrain: the book market of the post-war period in East and West. World War II is over, and the Germans have been decisively defeated. There is a sense of disorientation among the population – and the occupiers in East and West quickly realize: newspapers and books can effectively influence the consciousness of the people. Libraries are swiftly cleared of old Nazi literature, printing licenses are issued, and new structures are established. There is a desire for a radical fresh start, a dream of a clean slate. However, with the Cold War, books and authors increasingly become a bone of contention between the systems; publishers are funded by parties and intelligence agencies, and books turn into ideological weapons. Christian Adam examines the mentality of the Germans through the bestsellers in East and West.