"Upswing" is a captivating novel by John Erpenbeck that explores the complex dynamics of German reunification. At its center is Edgar Rothenburg, a philosophy professor who grapples with the challenges and changes of his time. After reunification, he faces the dismantling of old elites and observes how society splits into a gold rush mentality or into despondency and nostalgia for the East. However, Rothenburg remains calm until the financial demands of his ex-wife force him to take action. Unwillingly, he becomes an entrepreneur and establishes a palmistry institute that quickly becomes successful. The story highlights not only the winners and losers of unity but also the search for new values and certainty about the future in a changing world.