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Angela Merkel: The Authorized Biography
With the Eurozone engulfed in an unprecedented crisis, one political figure looms largest of all, Angela Merkel, the leader of its most powerful economy. While foreign affairs have become the central issues of her chancellorship in this crucial election year, the entire world is anxiously looking to Germany to play its part in Europe’s rescue.This authorized biography sheds light on the person behind the politician – from her youthful days of hitchhiking in Tbilisi to being the guest of honour at a White House state dinner – and examines how a girl from East Germany rose to the highest echelons of European power. As well as explaining how Angela Merkel’s world view was shaped and influenced by her background and ideology, Stefan Kornelius’s lively account discusses her personal relations with international counterparts such as David Cameron, Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin, as well as her attitude towards the countries and cultures over which they rule.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2013
106 people are currently reading
1207 people want to read
About the author
Stefan Kornelius
8 books7 followersStefan Kornelius (born 1965 in Weinheim) is a German journalist und author.
He has written several biographies of contemporary politicians.
He has written several biographies of contemporary politicians.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 26, 2016
I like authorized biographies. We get spin and opinion from journalists all the time when analyzing a leader’s record, and often those journalists are judging from the outside what a leader is thinking. Here we have a writer who has a bit of access and can ask straightforward questions and get reasons for why a leader would choose one path over another. There may be some self-serving spin on the leader’s part, but many times the outcomes of decisions are not immediately known—it takes some time for them to play out in the European theatre—so we are looking at decision-making and rationale. Those are useful in judging the record of a leader.
Kornelius knew Merkel since she got her first political job as spokesperson for the East German Democratic Awakening Party in 1989, before it was eventually absorbed into the West German Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He reports on foreign policy for the Süddeutsche Zeitung. This authorized biography felt constrained and thin to this outsider at the start when we are unsure whether or not to trust the author’s perceptions. After Merkel’s election as Chancellor in 2005, however, Kornelius uses his experience watching events in Europe to sketch dynamic relationships as they unfolded, adding government rationale and commentary on public reactions. Many of the relationships and people discussed in this 2013 book are still in office, making it absolutely relevant.
Merkel believes in American exceptionalism, and firmly believes in the necessity for the U.S. to involve itself redressing imbalances in the world power structure: she finds the notion of Russian or Chinese overreach troubling because their autocratic systems are not as free. However, she did not go along with the intervention in Libya (Germany abstained from the U.N. vote) because she “viewed the rebel movement in Libya and the rest of the Arab world with skepticism…She thought the political currents in these countries gave no clear indication of their likely future character as states.” Kornelius calls this decision one of the worst foreign policy blunders in her career. I wonder what he would say now, when in America the decision to intervene in Libya, urged by Hillary Clinton, is now considered one of the most ill-considered decisions of Obama’s two terms.
Israel has a special place in Merkel’s list of countries important to Germany. She has felt their tied histories deeply, acknowledges a historical responsibility to the state of Israel and its “Jewish character,” and recognizes Israel’s place as a religious center for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. She has been a strong supporter of a two-state solution and when such an idea collapsed under Netanyahu’s decision to continue building new settlements on disputed land, she has distanced herself from that administration. “Relations cooled.”
A discussion of Merkel’s relationship with Putin reveals a refusal to be bullied, each by the other. It is a relationship of uneasy balance, and wary distrust. Merkel had hopes for a Medvedev government, only to have her hopes collapse at the handover back to Putin. Merkel opposed Ukraine and Georgia being a part of NATO early in her chancellorship, despite heavy lobbying by the George W. Bush administration. She could see weakness in the governments there, unresolved conflict, and a fiscally-tied closeness to the Russian regime that spelled future trouble. The decision to refuse NATO status to Georgia under Saakachvili turned out to be a good one since three months later Saakachvili was testing Russian mettle and being soundly beaten for it.
The debt crisis in Europe tested not only the financial structures but the political ones as well. It called into question the nature of the European union. One possibility was for the EU to become, in essence, a United States of Europe, or a European superstate where power is transferred to Brussels. Another possibility was a union that worked in parallel with the EU, where states keep existing treaties and conclude new ones with each other and solve problems (labor laws, tax laws, budgets, social security) though intergovernmental solutions. Merkel believed it better for individual states to retain their sovereignty and coordinate with others. The social models and national sensitivities in member states were too different to allow for a single solution in these areas.
But Merkel still firmly believes that globalization will sweep away individual states unless there is a new European economic order that allows Europe is to get “big” enough as a bloc to be able to compete with other huge economies. Her suggestion that there be more unity and control within the EU involved a new system of economic supervision, a Council, which would be a chamber to advise on and structure a program of economic and individual state reform with heads of government. It is an ambitious suggestion that perhaps only someone like Merkel would make, with her step-by-step solution to problems.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TIIP) with the United States currently under scrutiny once again is another thing Merkel has been keen to finalize, despite hot debate in Germany. “Globalization” is a concept that was begun in the 1990’s and its efficacies have been called into question during the 2016 election in the United States. The debate rages in Europe at this time as well. Merkel's solutions for addressing weaknesses in Europe's position vis-à-vis a program of globalization may be enough to keep the system from being swept away wholesale.
Merkel’s low key style does not highlight the important place Germany has assumed in the years since she became Chancellor. The turmoil surrounding the Syrian migrant crisis was not addressed in this book but is sure to be part of Merkel’s legacy. Merkel has said that she does not want another term, though there are no term limits on chancellorships and her predecessors often stayed for up to 16 years. It is always hard to imagine who could follow a figure who has had such an influence on the lives of so many.
Kornelius did a good job covering a lot of ground. His book is just one of many needed to get a grip on the wide range of topics covered in this book. A lot happens in ten years and Kornelius wisely limited his scope to the crises in Europe which were in the forefront. I expect we will have many more detailed portraits of Merkel's time in office to come.
Kornelius knew Merkel since she got her first political job as spokesperson for the East German Democratic Awakening Party in 1989, before it was eventually absorbed into the West German Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He reports on foreign policy for the Süddeutsche Zeitung. This authorized biography felt constrained and thin to this outsider at the start when we are unsure whether or not to trust the author’s perceptions. After Merkel’s election as Chancellor in 2005, however, Kornelius uses his experience watching events in Europe to sketch dynamic relationships as they unfolded, adding government rationale and commentary on public reactions. Many of the relationships and people discussed in this 2013 book are still in office, making it absolutely relevant.
It is commonly held opinion that years of crisis are good years for chancellors.Merkel’s first term saw the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers the year before the general election, and from then on her main preoccupation would be the economy, the stability of the banks, the survival of a single currency, and a whole range of political issues that went with the euro crisis. Merkel’s approach to saving the banking system (tighten money supply) appeared to be opposite to what the Americans wanted to do (loosen money supply), and in fact there was a moment when Obama’s financial policy team led by then-U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner almost derailed Merkel’s attempt to orchestrate a response to the Greek debt crisis.
Merkel believes in American exceptionalism, and firmly believes in the necessity for the U.S. to involve itself redressing imbalances in the world power structure: she finds the notion of Russian or Chinese overreach troubling because their autocratic systems are not as free. However, she did not go along with the intervention in Libya (Germany abstained from the U.N. vote) because she “viewed the rebel movement in Libya and the rest of the Arab world with skepticism…She thought the political currents in these countries gave no clear indication of their likely future character as states.” Kornelius calls this decision one of the worst foreign policy blunders in her career. I wonder what he would say now, when in America the decision to intervene in Libya, urged by Hillary Clinton, is now considered one of the most ill-considered decisions of Obama’s two terms.
Israel has a special place in Merkel’s list of countries important to Germany. She has felt their tied histories deeply, acknowledges a historical responsibility to the state of Israel and its “Jewish character,” and recognizes Israel’s place as a religious center for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. She has been a strong supporter of a two-state solution and when such an idea collapsed under Netanyahu’s decision to continue building new settlements on disputed land, she has distanced herself from that administration. “Relations cooled.”
A discussion of Merkel’s relationship with Putin reveals a refusal to be bullied, each by the other. It is a relationship of uneasy balance, and wary distrust. Merkel had hopes for a Medvedev government, only to have her hopes collapse at the handover back to Putin. Merkel opposed Ukraine and Georgia being a part of NATO early in her chancellorship, despite heavy lobbying by the George W. Bush administration. She could see weakness in the governments there, unresolved conflict, and a fiscally-tied closeness to the Russian regime that spelled future trouble. The decision to refuse NATO status to Georgia under Saakachvili turned out to be a good one since three months later Saakachvili was testing Russian mettle and being soundly beaten for it.
At the top of Merkel’s scale of values is freedom… “Freedom is the joy of achievement, the flourishing of the individual, the celebration of difference, the rejection of mediocrity, personal responsibility.” …Now, after over seven years as Chancellor, freedom is more than ever the leitmotiv if her foreign policy.
The debt crisis in Europe tested not only the financial structures but the political ones as well. It called into question the nature of the European union. One possibility was for the EU to become, in essence, a United States of Europe, or a European superstate where power is transferred to Brussels. Another possibility was a union that worked in parallel with the EU, where states keep existing treaties and conclude new ones with each other and solve problems (labor laws, tax laws, budgets, social security) though intergovernmental solutions. Merkel believed it better for individual states to retain their sovereignty and coordinate with others. The social models and national sensitivities in member states were too different to allow for a single solution in these areas.
But Merkel still firmly believes that globalization will sweep away individual states unless there is a new European economic order that allows Europe is to get “big” enough as a bloc to be able to compete with other huge economies. Her suggestion that there be more unity and control within the EU involved a new system of economic supervision, a Council, which would be a chamber to advise on and structure a program of economic and individual state reform with heads of government. It is an ambitious suggestion that perhaps only someone like Merkel would make, with her step-by-step solution to problems.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TIIP) with the United States currently under scrutiny once again is another thing Merkel has been keen to finalize, despite hot debate in Germany. “Globalization” is a concept that was begun in the 1990’s and its efficacies have been called into question during the 2016 election in the United States. The debate rages in Europe at this time as well. Merkel's solutions for addressing weaknesses in Europe's position vis-à-vis a program of globalization may be enough to keep the system from being swept away wholesale.
Merkel’s low key style does not highlight the important place Germany has assumed in the years since she became Chancellor. The turmoil surrounding the Syrian migrant crisis was not addressed in this book but is sure to be part of Merkel’s legacy. Merkel has said that she does not want another term, though there are no term limits on chancellorships and her predecessors often stayed for up to 16 years. It is always hard to imagine who could follow a figure who has had such an influence on the lives of so many.
Kornelius did a good job covering a lot of ground. His book is just one of many needed to get a grip on the wide range of topics covered in this book. A lot happens in ten years and Kornelius wisely limited his scope to the crises in Europe which were in the forefront. I expect we will have many more detailed portraits of Merkel's time in office to come.
November 21, 2013
By Olaf Storbeck
Angela Merkel is usually described as an utterly pragmatic politician, lacking either strong convictions or a grand political vision. Stefan Kornelius, foreign editor of Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung, takes issue with this view. In his biography of the German chancellor, published in English on the eve of the Sept. 22 German elections, he claims that Merkel has a bold blueprint of Europe’s future. She just stays mum about it in public.
According to Kornelius, Merkel was quite sincere when she said she wanted “more Europe” at the height of the euro crisis. She is in favour of more centralisation of economic policies - taxes, budgets and social-security systems. However, she does not want a United States of Europe based on an ever more powerful Brussels bureaucracy. Rather, Merkel prefers a new layer of inter-governmental cooperation between individual countries which retain their sovereignty but coordinate their policies more closely.
“Member states should make their own arrangements,” Kornelius summarises Merkel’s thoughts. “The chancellor wants a parallel organisation, one that will coordinate individual nations’ requests, with a supervisor who might work in the President of the Council’s office and supervise the implementation of treaties concluded between individual states.”
Up to a point, Merkel’s idea of a more inter-governmental Europe resembles David Cameron’s European vision. But there is an important difference. While the British prime minister wants Brussels to give back some existing powers to EU members, the Germans’ thoughts refer merely to future integration.
Is this theory of a grand European vision plausible? Kornelius acknowledges that Markel “would never openly admit that she has a master plan to rescue the European Union.” Her silence might suggest that the biographer is misreading the data.
But the reticence corresponds with his subject’s pragmatism - “Angela Merkel will only get involved in an argument if she knows that she will win in the end” - and with the lessons learned in her youth in East Germany. There, “learning when to keep quiet was a great advantage… It was one of our survival strategies,” as Merkel later recalled.
Kornelius stresses that red lines and overarching principles guide Merkel’s policies. The survival of the euro is one of them. “If the euro fails, Europe will fail,” he cites a cornerstone of Merkel’s reasoning. And he stresses that this statement should not be taken lightly. “Merkel always means what she says.” Besides European integration, the chancellor regards German special liaison with the United States and Israel as part of its “raison d’état” that must not be questioned.
It is nevertheless difficult to assess how hard Merkel will be pushing for her vision of Europe in the coming years. As Kornelius points out, the chancellor has earned a lot of political capital since she took office in 2005. “She is aware of that. At some point she might be tempted to give it up, to take a risk, stake everything on a single card.”
That, however, would be a very non-Merkelian move.
Angela Merkel is usually described as an utterly pragmatic politician, lacking either strong convictions or a grand political vision. Stefan Kornelius, foreign editor of Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung, takes issue with this view. In his biography of the German chancellor, published in English on the eve of the Sept. 22 German elections, he claims that Merkel has a bold blueprint of Europe’s future. She just stays mum about it in public.
According to Kornelius, Merkel was quite sincere when she said she wanted “more Europe” at the height of the euro crisis. She is in favour of more centralisation of economic policies - taxes, budgets and social-security systems. However, she does not want a United States of Europe based on an ever more powerful Brussels bureaucracy. Rather, Merkel prefers a new layer of inter-governmental cooperation between individual countries which retain their sovereignty but coordinate their policies more closely.
“Member states should make their own arrangements,” Kornelius summarises Merkel’s thoughts. “The chancellor wants a parallel organisation, one that will coordinate individual nations’ requests, with a supervisor who might work in the President of the Council’s office and supervise the implementation of treaties concluded between individual states.”
Up to a point, Merkel’s idea of a more inter-governmental Europe resembles David Cameron’s European vision. But there is an important difference. While the British prime minister wants Brussels to give back some existing powers to EU members, the Germans’ thoughts refer merely to future integration.
Is this theory of a grand European vision plausible? Kornelius acknowledges that Markel “would never openly admit that she has a master plan to rescue the European Union.” Her silence might suggest that the biographer is misreading the data.
But the reticence corresponds with his subject’s pragmatism - “Angela Merkel will only get involved in an argument if she knows that she will win in the end” - and with the lessons learned in her youth in East Germany. There, “learning when to keep quiet was a great advantage… It was one of our survival strategies,” as Merkel later recalled.
Kornelius stresses that red lines and overarching principles guide Merkel’s policies. The survival of the euro is one of them. “If the euro fails, Europe will fail,” he cites a cornerstone of Merkel’s reasoning. And he stresses that this statement should not be taken lightly. “Merkel always means what she says.” Besides European integration, the chancellor regards German special liaison with the United States and Israel as part of its “raison d’état” that must not be questioned.
It is nevertheless difficult to assess how hard Merkel will be pushing for her vision of Europe in the coming years. As Kornelius points out, the chancellor has earned a lot of political capital since she took office in 2005. “She is aware of that. At some point she might be tempted to give it up, to take a risk, stake everything on a single card.”
That, however, would be a very non-Merkelian move.
March 26, 2014
This is informative but reads like it was written for 4th graders (albeit 4th graders who know what Eurobonds are). It's nice to get a better grasp on who Angela Merkel is and what makes her tick, given her reticent behavior in public, at the same time, given this is an "authorized biography" there's not a lot of dirt (although maybe Angela doesn't have any) and it reads like a longer Wikipedia page to Merkel. Oh and the biggest freaking problem, the mistranslations. Knowing that this was originally published in German/Germany makes some of the errors egregious (Frank-Walter Steinmeier is SPD not FDP) while others are purely stylistic/grammatical nightmares. Kind of a let down, but an quick informative read.
August 11, 2017
First part was a bit boring because it delved too much into the domestic political history of Germany, although it shapes the readers mind regarding the persona of Merkel. The second half with the geopolitical scene, specially the chapter on relations with Israel, Russia and China were engaging. In my opinion, the chapter on the Euro crisis is a masterpiece. Overall, a good read if only one can have a bit of patience with the initial half.
December 1, 2023
I wanted to know more about Germany and stumbled upon this book in the library, her face looming large. A beautiful book on initial years of Germany and Angela, her time in East Germany under Communist regime, her background in Physics, her choice on entering politics, how she waded through different political situations, policies and incidents that happened during her time as chancellor, unpopular policies etc. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I had no clue who she was and was delighted with her. A biography/auto biography is also a nice way to read events that unfold during that leader's tenure and I felt like I learnt something out of this book. Her inspiration growing up was Madam Curie, who would have thought of this (At least I didn't). I also didn't know Putin was in East Germany at the same time she grew up! I had fun watching Angela rolling her eyes around Putin videos on youtube later. I had picked The Berlin Wall before this and could not make any progress with the writing being hard to read for me personally. Will continue learning more about Germany sometime later maybe, but this was a good beginning.
January 10, 2018
This is more of a compiled wikipedia plus news headlines or perhaps papers about her. Not exactly her thought or how she process but more on a third party point of view. Still great book tho
January 1, 2018
An easy and informative read, great for a first introduction to one of the top female Politicians today.
June 17, 2014
Not nearly as dry (dare I say as boring?) as I had feared it might be. As it turns out this, the official biography of Germany's first female Chancellor, was actually an interesting and illuminating read though I personally would have preferred to read a little more about Angela Merkel the woman as opposed to Angela Merkal the politician.
A well written, and what I felt was a fairly unbiased read that, not too heavy going, combines the story of Merkel's life as a child and student to what is described as her 'meteoric ascent to the senior ranks in German politics' to her time as Chancellor with a look as to what might follow post-chancellorship.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of publishers, Alma Books, I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
A well written, and what I felt was a fairly unbiased read that, not too heavy going, combines the story of Merkel's life as a child and student to what is described as her 'meteoric ascent to the senior ranks in German politics' to her time as Chancellor with a look as to what might follow post-chancellorship.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of publishers, Alma Books, I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
February 5, 2017
Poor Angela. She was committed to a long term consideration of global problems while other leaders pursued short-term expedient solutions to domestic issues. Hard to draw too many conclusions from an authorised biography, but you can certainly get a feel for how she sees herself.
October 9, 2020
Angela Merkel seems to be a quiet woman in public, known more for her active role and decisions in European politics, rather than personal ideologies and rhetorics. No wonder then, that any biography or document about this lady would always offer an additional insight into the life of an otherwise private person. And yet, it seems to present the professional side of Merkel, with only those parts of her personal life which heavily influenced her job.
There is a relatively shorter mention of her early years in East Germany, her family, education, upbringing, marriage and entry into politics. Even these have been mentioned to explain the role they played, especially her childhood and youth in East Germany, on her worldview and political stand all her life.
Most of this biography focuses on her political career growth from a party leader to environment minister to eventually Germany's Chancellor. The initial chapters talk about her early years in East Germany, her entry into politics and her slow but strong personal development in this field. Several chapters are dedicated to her relationship with leaders of individual countries like Israel, Russia, China, UK and the later chapters cover her leadership over the issue of the Euro.
This book stresses more on her leadership style, analytical thought process and a problem - solving approach. It also mentions her weaknesses as well as how she has managed to compensate for those weaknesses with her strengths. There isn't much personal emotional stories which are typical to many biographies, especially about women.
What I loved most about this book is that it so feminist without tooting any feminist horns. It doesn't make those typical feminist statements of how Merkel broke gender barriers or how she manager her work and life and marriage. And yet, it has covered all these aspects in a way which would appeal and relate with readers of all genders.
Readers may find it a little dry, cold and clinical. But then that is what Merkel and her Germany are traditionally seen as. Maybe that's intentional, or maybe that's all there is really to one of the most significant women of our world.
Whatever it may be, it is an interesting book for a closer observation of Angela Merkel and Germany. Of course if someone follows her and German politics closely throughout the span of her leadership, then this book may not be that appealing.
There is a relatively shorter mention of her early years in East Germany, her family, education, upbringing, marriage and entry into politics. Even these have been mentioned to explain the role they played, especially her childhood and youth in East Germany, on her worldview and political stand all her life.
Most of this biography focuses on her political career growth from a party leader to environment minister to eventually Germany's Chancellor. The initial chapters talk about her early years in East Germany, her entry into politics and her slow but strong personal development in this field. Several chapters are dedicated to her relationship with leaders of individual countries like Israel, Russia, China, UK and the later chapters cover her leadership over the issue of the Euro.
This book stresses more on her leadership style, analytical thought process and a problem - solving approach. It also mentions her weaknesses as well as how she has managed to compensate for those weaknesses with her strengths. There isn't much personal emotional stories which are typical to many biographies, especially about women.
What I loved most about this book is that it so feminist without tooting any feminist horns. It doesn't make those typical feminist statements of how Merkel broke gender barriers or how she manager her work and life and marriage. And yet, it has covered all these aspects in a way which would appeal and relate with readers of all genders.
Readers may find it a little dry, cold and clinical. But then that is what Merkel and her Germany are traditionally seen as. Maybe that's intentional, or maybe that's all there is really to one of the most significant women of our world.
Whatever it may be, it is an interesting book for a closer observation of Angela Merkel and Germany. Of course if someone follows her and German politics closely throughout the span of her leadership, then this book may not be that appealing.
October 17, 2020
Mình đọc cuốn sách này khi bà Merkel sắp bước sang năm thứ 15 trên cương vị thủ tướng Đức. Ngay cả với đàn ông thì việc đảm nhiệm một vị trí như vậy gần như là điều không tưởng trong bối cảnh thế giới bất ổn trong khoảng 20 năm gần đây. Khác với Putin của nước Nga với chính sách tập trung nội địa ít tham gia vào các sự kiện thế giới thì nước Đức đóng vai trò anh cả ở Châu Âu cũng như nhiều vai trò quan trọng trên thế giới.
Cuốn sách tập hợp các sự kiện quan trọng nhất trong hai nhiệm kì đầu và phần đầu của nhiệm kì thứ ba, cách nhìn nhận khá khách quan khi thay vì chỉ nêu lên những thành công của bà thì tác giả cũng cho thấy những sai lầm trong chính trị hay những điểm yếu của bà. Đây là một nguồn tư liệu rất hay để ta hiểu thêm về đời sống chính trị của các nguyên thủ cũng như những áp lực trong và ngoài chính trường mà họ phải đối mặt.
Tuy nhiên có một điều đấy là để nắm bắt được cuốn sách thì phải là người có kiến thức về các sự kiện thế giới xảy ra gần đây chứ với những người không thường xuyên cập nhật thời sự thì hoàn toàn không hiểu được vấn đề của câu chuyện, tuy nhiên dù sao cũng chấp nhận được vì nếu tường tận bối cảnh các sự kiện cũng có thể khiến quyển sách thành lan man thiếu tập trung khắc họa chân dung của nữ Thủ tướng Đức này.
Có lẽ khi cuộc đời chính trị của bà kết thúc, sẽ có một tác giả nào đó viết một câu chuyện đầy đủ hơn về cuộc đời và xuyên suốt cho đến khi kết thúc vì những năm gần đây cũng xảy ra khá nhiều các biến cố trên thế giới và vai trò của nước Đức cũng rất quan trọng bởi vậy nó sẽ rất thú vị!
Cuốn sách tập hợp các sự kiện quan trọng nhất trong hai nhiệm kì đầu và phần đầu của nhiệm kì thứ ba, cách nhìn nhận khá khách quan khi thay vì chỉ nêu lên những thành công của bà thì tác giả cũng cho thấy những sai lầm trong chính trị hay những điểm yếu của bà. Đây là một nguồn tư liệu rất hay để ta hiểu thêm về đời sống chính trị của các nguyên thủ cũng như những áp lực trong và ngoài chính trường mà họ phải đối mặt.
Tuy nhiên có một điều đấy là để nắm bắt được cuốn sách thì phải là người có kiến thức về các sự kiện thế giới xảy ra gần đây chứ với những người không thường xuyên cập nhật thời sự thì hoàn toàn không hiểu được vấn đề của câu chuyện, tuy nhiên dù sao cũng chấp nhận được vì nếu tường tận bối cảnh các sự kiện cũng có thể khiến quyển sách thành lan man thiếu tập trung khắc họa chân dung của nữ Thủ tướng Đức này.
Có lẽ khi cuộc đời chính trị của bà kết thúc, sẽ có một tác giả nào đó viết một câu chuyện đầy đủ hơn về cuộc đời và xuyên suốt cho đến khi kết thúc vì những năm gần đây cũng xảy ra khá nhiều các biến cố trên thế giới và vai trò của nước Đức cũng rất quan trọng bởi vậy nó sẽ rất thú vị!
October 1, 2020
More than a biography it's a collection of events in which Merkel was the protagonist. The chancellor is described from a third point of view and that means that the same information could be found searching interviews, articles and generally following politics. To me the most interesting part was on domestic politics (the first part) because I already follow European politics in general and the chapter on the European crisis and the possibility of Brexit contained nothing new to me.
The writing style is very easy to read (said by a non native speaker) and events are described contextually (domestic politic, European crisis, relationship with Russia and others) instead of chronologically. For this reason there are a lot of jumps back and forth in time, but I thinks this is the best way to avoid confusion and especially overlap between different matters.
I was a bit disappointed because I was expecting something more "personal" and with more personal insight like in Steve Jobs' biography. Nonetheless this book is interesting if you don't want to spend the time to find available material on your own, and I would recommend it if you are searching for a brief but comprehensive view of world politics seen by the eyes of the German chancellery more than by Merkel itself.
The writing style is very easy to read (said by a non native speaker) and events are described contextually (domestic politic, European crisis, relationship with Russia and others) instead of chronologically. For this reason there are a lot of jumps back and forth in time, but I thinks this is the best way to avoid confusion and especially overlap between different matters.
I was a bit disappointed because I was expecting something more "personal" and with more personal insight like in Steve Jobs' biography. Nonetheless this book is interesting if you don't want to spend the time to find available material on your own, and I would recommend it if you are searching for a brief but comprehensive view of world politics seen by the eyes of the German chancellery more than by Merkel itself.
October 1, 2024
Tác phẩm mang tính thời sự khi nhiệm kỳ của thủ tướng Angela Merkel còn chưa kết thúc. Tác phẩm phác họa khá rõ nét chân dung của nữ thủ tướng nói riêng, vai trò của nước Đức thống nhất nói chung trong nền chính trị châu Âu hiện tại, ở đó nước Đức vừa là hạt nhân, vừa là động lực duy trì một châu Âu thống nhất. Những điểm nổi bật trong phong cách lãnh đạo của bà - Một chính trị gia hậu chính trị hoàn hảo ; duy lý, kỹ trị , linh hoạt, giàu óc phân tích - Một người Đức điển hình trong công việc; khoa học và ý chí - Một phụ nữ với khát vọng tự do và dân chủ thấu hiểu di sản nước Đức thời hậu chiến (nước Đức Phát xít cũng như qua khứ Đông Đức của cá nhân bà) nên cống hiến hết mình cho một châu Âu đoàn kết, một thế giới hòa bình. Cũng bởi tính chất đương thời của nó nên tác phẩm chắc chắn có phần hạn chế trong việc đánh giá đầy đủ về nữ thủ tướng cũng như về các nhân vật chính trị đương nhiệm.
April 20, 2018
A very interesting view into the personality, character and choices of the German Chancellor. The book portraits the German leader a post-political politician. Someone that has passed beyond the ideological barrier of her own centre right conservative CDU party. Someone that prefers to focus on the meticulous analysis of the problems at hand and solve them one by one. Someone who encircles herself with modest, analytically-minded and reasonable advisers, rather than big speakers or orators. To sum up, someone that has not completely left its background as both the child of East Germany (GDR) and a physicist from training. A very interesting insight into the mind and attitude of the Chancellor.
May 3, 2020
A good analysis of Merkel's first two terms in office. It gives an inside look at her past, which happens to color almost all her endeavors, her scientific background, the way she went up the food chain and how she stayed there.
It highlights, more extensively, her foreign policy: in how she thinks about Europe, how she can build a consensus to tackle the crises that hit the Union after 2008, and her relationship with the United States under both Bush and Obama. The book also sheds light on her standpoint from military combat such as in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lastly, her personal life and close advisors have been examined to help shape the bigger picture of her work.
It highlights, more extensively, her foreign policy: in how she thinks about Europe, how she can build a consensus to tackle the crises that hit the Union after 2008, and her relationship with the United States under both Bush and Obama. The book also sheds light on her standpoint from military combat such as in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lastly, her personal life and close advisors have been examined to help shape the bigger picture of her work.
June 24, 2022
Một cuốn sách với nhiều thông tin, khắc hoạ được phần nào con người Angela Merkel cùng cách bà giải quyết các vấn đề gặp phải trong hai nhiệm kỳ làm Thủ tướng đầu tiên của mình. Các sự kiện bà trải qua là những sự kiện lớn nhất ở châu Âu trong 30 năm trở lại: từ Liên Xô sụp đổ, Biến đổi khí hậu, sự hình thành đồng euro cho tới khủng hoảng kinh tế khu vực sử dụng đồng tiền, hay những xung đột liên quan tới nước Nga... Hầu như bà đều thành công vượt qua các thử thách, cho tới khi nước Đức trở thành "thiên đường" cho người nhập cư sau Mùa xuân Arab. Hệ quả của chính sách nhập cư vẫn còn tồn tại tới tận bây giờ và chưa có dấu hiệu được giải quyết.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2019
A book which lets us see Angela Merkel a tiny bit closer, though from the sounds of it she may not approve of that.
I would probably have found the book more interesting had I read it back when it was released, as it is, a lot has happened since then.
Also, the author quoted Kissinger who commented on how Britain apparently hasn't expanded like other European countries because they're pragmatic? That's, a weird series of choices to make, given ya know, colonization is a historical fact.
I did enjoy the read otherwise though. Makes you see the human behind the politician.
I would probably have found the book more interesting had I read it back when it was released, as it is, a lot has happened since then.
Also, the author quoted Kissinger who commented on how Britain apparently hasn't expanded like other European countries because they're pragmatic? That's, a weird series of choices to make, given ya know, colonization is a historical fact.
I did enjoy the read otherwise though. Makes you see the human behind the politician.
November 25, 2020
I sincerely enjoyed the book, the way it is organized throughout the years, and the ways Stephan introduces the multifaceted character of Angela. A lady with strong convictions and wide influence with patience and intelligence. Angela transpires as a model leader of the modern era, she is admired and courageous and honorable. The authorized puts in the book the extra weight that a reading about Angela deserves
March 22, 2021
Madam is not pleased so shut up and sit down
Very informative read. I did not know much about Frau Merkel’s personal history or personality. I’m only sorry that it ended in 2013 and is dated.
What about England leaving the EU, the refugees in Europe, and the rise of Nationalism in Europe?
Angela Merkel will always be Angela Merkel – tactical, cautious, ready to take risks only when these have ceased to be risks.
Very informative read. I did not know much about Frau Merkel’s personal history or personality. I’m only sorry that it ended in 2013 and is dated.
What about England leaving the EU, the refugees in Europe, and the rise of Nationalism in Europe?
Angela Merkel will always be Angela Merkel – tactical, cautious, ready to take risks only when these have ceased to be risks.
November 28, 2022
It was a terribly written book, unable to properly draw out Angela Merkel as a human being. It makes her appear as an EU sized excel sheet. Despite her achievements and bravery written in, the style of writing almost makes it painfully predictable. Disappointingly written ending, basically implying her Chancellorship will end one day.
The additional star was because of the shock of how many predictions came to pass. That's about it. Would not recommend, go for another biography about her.
The additional star was because of the shock of how many predictions came to pass. That's about it. Would not recommend, go for another biography about her.
August 30, 2024
An expertly written piece on what makes Merkel a leader, her support staff, and defining moments in her career. However, it focuses more on Merkel in power and less on Merkel herself, talking more about crises that shaped her as opposed to her journey to power itself. Therefore, I wouldn't call it a biography. Nevertheless, it has the nuance and depth that only a robustly investigative work could have.
October 16, 2020
Just an okay read for me. I don’t have a strong understanding of German politics, so some sections were over my head. I liked the background on Merkel and specifically her upbringing in East Germany as well as the descriptions of Merkel’s relationships with other foreign leaders. It was a short read so no complaints.
June 4, 2021
Dieses Buch bekam sehr gute Kritiken, also dachte ich, sein Alter zu ignorieren und es als die Geschichte der ersten Hälfte ihrer Amtszeit als Kanzlerin zu lesen. Geschrieben von einem auf Außenpolitik spezialisierten Journalisten, so gut informiert und gut geschrieben. Ich frage mich, ob er die Geschichte der zweiten Hälfte erzählen wird, nachdem sie gegangen ist?
February 23, 2022
I think the book is good and well written, however, I read it in 2022 and it contains information until 2013 , so , a little bit of out of context under current conditions , aside of that , it was interesting to go deeper into the way of work and how the political matters are seen from a perspective of a chancellor.
February 5, 2023
La verdad que el libro que yo leí se llama ANGELA MERKEL - LIDERAZGO en el siglo XXI de Jesús María Silveyra; Pero como no pude encontrarlo ni escanearlo agarre otra de sus biografías para registrarlo aca. De todas maneras, lo recomiendo, es cortito y sus discursos son lo mejor. Hay grandes rescates para sacar de ahí 🙌
October 16, 2017
Angela is analytical thinker,she has an appetite for sarcasm, love the cafe culture of France, speaks Russian, greatly admire America etc. Book is full of german politics and its place in European Union - the 2013 german manoeuvring for Euro.
September 10, 2019
light read, probably too light for those highly knowledgeable in german politics but a good window into merkel's thought processes for the uninitiated and those who want simply to get a feel of who merkel is as a person without delving too deep into the political scene
March 25, 2021
Takeaways for myself
- 健全開放的童年可以開啟人的潛能
- 強勁可以驅動個體的力量，如自由、和平與幸福等都是大於自身的事情
- 交友、發言措辭，動作表情，情緒等方面高度自律的重要性
- 使用從外在的眼光去分析一個範圍的地區、歷史、事件或狀態
- 危機帶來各種轉變的機會
- 不預設立場、不受驅使、不僵固信念、靈活有彈性、等待正確的時機
- 理性、技術、比較、分析與謀略
- 難以前進時，往前的協商即使是一小步，可以妥協，但是伺機而動
- 做好準備
- 團隊與盟友間的信任
- 健全開放的童年可以開啟人的潛能
- 強勁可以驅動個體的力量，如自由、和平與幸福等都是大於自身的事情
- 交友、發言措辭，動作表情，情緒等方面高度自律的重要性
- 使用從外在的眼光去分析一個範圍的地區、歷史、事件或狀態
- 危機帶來各種轉變的機會
- 不預設立場、不受驅使、不僵固信念、靈活有彈性、等待正確的時機
- 理性、技術、比較、分析與謀略
- 難以前進時，往前的協商即使是一小步，可以妥協，但是伺機而動
- 做好準備
- 團隊與盟友間的信任
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2024
Chuyện gì sẽ xảy ra khi một nhà khoa học làm Thủ tướng nước Đức? Câu trả lời chính là Angela Merkel.
Angela Merkel, một người đàn bà thép, một cái đầu lạnh và tư duy siêu lý trí đến mức lạnh lùng, và người phụ nữ ấy đã lèo lái nước Đức trở thành đầu tàu cho cả châu Âu.
Angela Merkel, một người đàn bà thép, một cái đầu lạnh và tư duy siêu lý trí đến mức lạnh lùng, và người phụ nữ ấy đã lèo lái nước Đức trở thành đầu tàu cho cả châu Âu.
December 17, 2024
I've owned this book for about seven years and finally gotten round to reading it - only to see that she has just published her own memoir! So I'll be interested to see how that compares when I get round to it, probably at some point in 2025.
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