irvherbblinger's profile picture

irvherbblinger's review

4.25
informative inspiring medium-paced

knitter22's review

4.0

I don't often read biographies, but when I heard about The Chancellor by Kati Marton, I knew it was a must-read. I've long admired Angela Merkel without really knowing very much about her, but this book provided even more reasons for me to admire her as a moral, thinking, cautious, self-aware leader and person. The author tells the story of Merkel's childhood in East Germany, earning a PhD in quantum chemistry, and eventually entering politics. The pathway to her current position as chancellor of Germany is so different from the usual route to the presidency in the United States, and her demeanor and effectiveness is also quite different from many of our US presidents. Merkel did not speak with the author for this book because she is famously private, but Marton provides us with some insight into Merkel through recounting her "remarkable odyssey". Her leadership of Germany through four terms has helped the country phase out nuclear energy, deal with the 2015 refugee crisis, and steer Germany through the coronavirus pandemic, all while doing her own grocery shopping. Angela Merkel is the first female German chancellor, the first to grow up in a socialist economy, the first to be trained as a scientist, and I think one of the best at keeping her own ego out of her leadership. Even though she has resigned and received her official dismissal certificate from the post of chancellor after 16 years, she will still lead a caretaker government until her successor is sworn in. I suspect her care will be missed.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

informative reflective medium-paced
nehamalhotra's profile picture

nehamalhotra's review

5.0

The story of a smart, strong, inspiring and beautiful woman.
bradleystetz's profile picture

bradleystetz's review

4.25
informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

lucyindc's review

4.0
informative reflective slow-paced
hannahmorgan's profile picture

hannahmorgan's review

4.0
hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced
informative inspiring fast-paced

taijakivela's review

2.25
medium-paced

chops99's review

4.0
informative inspiring medium-paced