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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This book is part hearsay part observation and part interviews of a woman who keeps to herself and works on issues that need to be addressed. Whist keeping vigilant about past events that saw Germany divided.
From a personal perspective I really enjoyed the book especially about her ability to deal with difficult people like Putin and Trump as well as the difficulties within her country.
From a personal perspective I really enjoyed the book especially about her ability to deal with difficult people like Putin and Trump as well as the difficulties within her country.
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
medium-paced
Audiobook version. I really enjoyed about the first half of this book learning about Merkels fascinating early history - growing up in East Germany behind the wall as a pastor's daughter, becoming a physicist, marrying and divorcing young, and her path into politics after the fall of the wall. I was a little less interested in some of the later aspects of her political career - maybe less due to the accomplishments and more due to my lack of understanding or memory of some of the broader geopolitical happenings at the time.
I do think the author is very heavily biased in favor of Merkel and her politics - the author clearly has much admiration. I'm not in a place to judge that but valued the book for an in depth look at a remarkable political figure.
I do think the author is very heavily biased in favor of Merkel and her politics - the author clearly has much admiration. I'm not in a place to judge that but valued the book for an in depth look at a remarkable political figure.
4.5 stars. I wanted to read this book because I didn’t know much at all about Angela Merkel and figured it couldn’t hurt to read about the most powerful woman in, essentially, the world. I also just wanted to learn about an upbringing completely different from my American experience considering Merkel grew up in East Germany before the Berlin Wall fell. (East Germans were basically refugees in their own country once the West opened up and life was now free.)
Overall, Merkel seems like a good person and what every president should strive to be. She is extremely intelligent and is educated on history, technical subjects, science, legal details, logistics, new technology…all while remaining extremely logical, controlled, and seeing right through her fellow male leaderships' egos. However…I acknowledged that I can’t just read Merkel’s biography and claim to know her. Based on some conversations I’ve had, some politics in this book don’t seem to line up and it is apparent that this book focuses solely on the good - words she wants to be remembered by (especially considering how exceptionally private she is.)
I do love Merkel’s approach to Germany’s refugee policy. Every quote I highlighted from her book regards her approach to an open border:
“If the message is that people simply don’t want to take in any foreigners, especially not Muslims, then it is they who are in opposition to the German constitution and our international legal obligations,” she would say, dryly dismissing the opposition to her policy as xenophobia.
“What about us?” they demanded. Merkel’s strategy for dealing with the AFD (Alternative for Germany, a right-wing populist political party) was to deprive it of the oxygen of attention. “There will be zero tolerance for those who call into question the dignity of other people.”
“The state has a responsibility to ensure that our laws are obeyed by everyone. This country is based on the equality of sexes, on the freedom of religion, freedom of expression, on tolerance. Everyone must adhere to these principles.”
“Fear has never been a good advisor, neither in our personal lives nor in our society. Cultures and societies that are shaped by fear will not get a grip on the future.”
“As to whether I believe that I have divided the country with my policies, I don’t believe that any country is alone in the world. I will always say that my refugee policy was the right thing to do. We can’t merely protect our own wealth, we can’t just think of ourselves. We are part of the world.”
Overall, it was great to read a politically based book to see how other countries handle their policies and communication with each other. It’s embarrassing to admit that Americans usually interpret everything through our own lens and hardly research other country’s successes regarding the handling of Covid or other productive policies. It was also somewhat comforting to be reminded that other countries deal with extreme socio-political issues like America does.
Also, I now know and will use the word demagogue: a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.
Overall, Merkel seems like a good person and what every president should strive to be. She is extremely intelligent and is educated on history, technical subjects, science, legal details, logistics, new technology…all while remaining extremely logical, controlled, and seeing right through her fellow male leaderships' egos. However…I acknowledged that I can’t just read Merkel’s biography and claim to know her. Based on some conversations I’ve had, some politics in this book don’t seem to line up and it is apparent that this book focuses solely on the good - words she wants to be remembered by (especially considering how exceptionally private she is.)
I do love Merkel’s approach to Germany’s refugee policy. Every quote I highlighted from her book regards her approach to an open border:
“If the message is that people simply don’t want to take in any foreigners, especially not Muslims, then it is they who are in opposition to the German constitution and our international legal obligations,” she would say, dryly dismissing the opposition to her policy as xenophobia.
“What about us?” they demanded. Merkel’s strategy for dealing with the AFD (Alternative for Germany, a right-wing populist political party) was to deprive it of the oxygen of attention. “There will be zero tolerance for those who call into question the dignity of other people.”
“The state has a responsibility to ensure that our laws are obeyed by everyone. This country is based on the equality of sexes, on the freedom of religion, freedom of expression, on tolerance. Everyone must adhere to these principles.”
“Fear has never been a good advisor, neither in our personal lives nor in our society. Cultures and societies that are shaped by fear will not get a grip on the future.”
“As to whether I believe that I have divided the country with my policies, I don’t believe that any country is alone in the world. I will always say that my refugee policy was the right thing to do. We can’t merely protect our own wealth, we can’t just think of ourselves. We are part of the world.”
Overall, it was great to read a politically based book to see how other countries handle their policies and communication with each other. It’s embarrassing to admit that Americans usually interpret everything through our own lens and hardly research other country’s successes regarding the handling of Covid or other productive policies. It was also somewhat comforting to be reminded that other countries deal with extreme socio-political issues like America does.
Also, I now know and will use the word demagogue: a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This is a very informative volume about Merkel's early and political life (as much as there is to know about this fiercely private person). I liked the writing style and the formatting. It's not entirely chronologically (at least as soon as we enter the political sphere) rather it's categorized by topic, and I think it worked really well. As an amateur on the German (and EU) political system, I would miss background information on that to better understand what's really going on, but it was really interesting seeing Merkel from an US perspective. I recommend doing a bit of background research on other persons and systems mentioned in here. There was some criticism or "maybe she could have handled this better" sprinkled in there but sometimes it felt a little too much in favor of Merkel. Although maybe that's just what happens when you try to unravel a person for 4 years. Generally, I liked it very much and learned a lot.
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced