The first major and comprehensive biography of Gerhard Schröder is polarizing. Whether he is stirring up his own group as the Juso chairman, riling up political opponents as a young Bundestag member, defending outsiders as a lawyer, or perfecting the solo approach as Minister-President, this forward-driving upstart from a marginal background has always provoked. As Chancellor and SPD chairman, he denies the USA allegiance in the Iraq War, risks his chancellorship with his Agenda 2010 reform policy, and even as an active economic advisor and friend of Putin, he defies all criticism. The highly experienced biographer Gregor Schöllgen had unrestricted access to all of Gerhard Schröder's documents and spoke with many companions - friends and relatives, opponents and rivals, supporters and envious individuals, victims and others.