Angela Merkel: The Chancellor and Her World The Authorized Biography

June 28, 2020

By - Stefan Kornelius

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.




回響


Also in 2020 Book Review 推薦選書

財富之城:威尼斯共和國的海洋霸權

December 25, 2020

在羅傑.克勞利筆下,我們將看到威尼斯如何崛起,如何成為稱霸地中海的商業帝國、東西方世界文化交流的樞紐,如何憑藉狡猾的外交手段、靈活的政治操作、強悍的海軍艦隊,來回擺盪於基督教與伊斯蘭教勢力間,縱橫地中海世界數百年。此外,威尼斯的商業(殖民)運作模式也成為後來葡萄牙、英國、荷蘭等海權國家的先驅,證明非陸權大國也可以透過海上貿易、對外殖民來稱霸全世界。

繼續閱讀

Instagram 崛起的內幕與代價

December 11, 2020

創立於2010年的Instagram,在短短數年內崛起,為目前全球互動率第二高的社群媒體平台,僅次於臉書。每個月全球有超過十億人使用Instagram,日活躍用戶高達五億,每天上傳的照片與影片超過一億則。2019年,它的年廣告營收高達兩百億美金,表現大勝 YouTube的五十億。

繼續閱讀

往事並不如煙

December 04, 2020

《往事並不如煙》是目前為止刻畫中國上層知識分子如何面對中共政治浪潮,最細緻而生動的一本人物剪影。章詒和筆下的中國上層知識分子,不單單只是專制政權底下無助的政治受害者;他們有理想熱情和天真執著的一面,也有阿附政治權力和追求生活情趣的一面,還有驕傲自滿、虛榮自私、殘忍嫉妒和勢利糊塗的其他面。無論是熱心政治還是淡泊名利,他們是毛澤東「把上層政治活動分子包了下來」的政策下的籠中鳥,僅在殘酷無情的政治狂飆席捲而來時,尚能像最後的貴族一樣,多少體現和保持一些人格完整和個人尊嚴而已。--陳永發(中央研究院院士、近史所所長)

繼續閱讀