Knowing little of Merkel to begin with, I found every detail to be interesting. She has a strong personality and thoughtful deliberation that conveys a reassuring confidence in her decisions. Among the abundant issues she has faced I was particularly struck by her courage in opening borders to refugees in 2015. Her compelling reasons were threefold: firstly, as she announced at an EU meeting "I lived a long time behind a fence, it is not something I wish do do again"; secondly, her well thought-out economic plan will try to increase a diminishing younger population to counter the expanding number of seniors; and thirdly, her humanitarian view "There is no tolerance for those who question the worth of other people, no tolerance for those who are not willing to help, when helping is right and humane". Clearly her decisions are not egotistical but made in true consideration of the country and the people. This is a world leader to be trusted and admired, little wonder she is the most influential leader.

Qvortrup's biography will help the reader broaden their understanding and knowledge of the modern world, particularly European politics. He left me wanting more about Angela Merkel, the person. ( )