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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Sexism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
Superb writing! The events flow clearly. The book is informative in history and especially those surrounding Merkel's life, especially her time in office. The story is organized very well and told in clear, concise language making it easy to follow. And it is very, very interesting especially as it shows the character of Angela Merkel. Wonderful book!
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Biographies aren’t really my thing, but this was good! It was short and had the perfect amount of information, instead of the long and detailed biographies that are usually published. I felt Marton was respectful of Merkel’s notoriously private life, and I liked that it was a political rather than personal biography. A bit traumatic to go over the recent Trump and pandemic history again, though.
I really enjoyed this biography of Angela Merkel, a leader who keeps her private life very private. In writing this biography, Kati Marton had unprecedented access to the chancellor and her inner circle.
Marton did an excellent job balancing the public and the private lives of Merkel and showing how her upbringing in the East as a pastor's daughter deeply affected her and her beliefs. As a woman in STEM, I loved learning about her work as a physicist. Her rise to power was also well covered here, as well as her long staying power in coalition after coalition over her 16 years as chancellor. There was plenty of information about Merkel's relationships with other world leaders - the Obama section is a highlight. Marton dissected Merkel's more controversial decisions - the decision to accept Syrian migrants - as well as the aftermath and rise of the far-right AfD.
I liked that Marton emphasized how indefatigable Merkel was as chancellor - I'm in my early 30s, and I can't imagine keeping up with the schedule she had at twice my age! I already admired Angela Merkel, and this book showed me how strong and inspiring a leader she was. If you're looking for a nonfiction read or are interested in politics, I highly recommend this engaging biography.
Best fun fact: Merkel still does her own grocery shopping! At the beginning of COVID, she was seen in the grocery store with a few bottles of wine and some toilet paper - I'm sure we all can relate.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Marton did an excellent job balancing the public and the private lives of Merkel and showing how her upbringing in the East as a pastor's daughter deeply affected her and her beliefs. As a woman in STEM, I loved learning about her work as a physicist. Her rise to power was also well covered here, as well as her long staying power in coalition after coalition over her 16 years as chancellor. There was plenty of information about Merkel's relationships with other world leaders - the Obama section is a highlight. Marton dissected Merkel's more controversial decisions - the decision to accept Syrian migrants - as well as the aftermath and rise of the far-right AfD.
I liked that Marton emphasized how indefatigable Merkel was as chancellor - I'm in my early 30s, and I can't imagine keeping up with the schedule she had at twice my age! I already admired Angela Merkel, and this book showed me how strong and inspiring a leader she was. If you're looking for a nonfiction read or are interested in politics, I highly recommend this engaging biography.
Best fun fact: Merkel still does her own grocery shopping! At the beginning of COVID, she was seen in the grocery store with a few bottles of wine and some toilet paper - I'm sure we all can relate.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This book is just shy of a hagiography, which could be annoying but I was willing to let it go because I found Merkel, as a person, to be incredibly admirable even though she may be more conservative than I am on several issues. She was on the right side of history on the refugee history and she served as almost the conscience of western democracy during the Trump administration and for those reason I was eager to learn more about her life. Because she is such a private person, and also because the author seems to be somewhat in awe of her, you don't really get to know her; I still can't tell you much about the private Angela Merkel. But as a precis of her life and her actions in office, this book does the job and I think almost any fair reader will walk away with a lot of respect for the subject.