This first German-language introduction to Erving Goffman (1922-1982) emphasizes his central importance as a theorist: His books are among the most widely read sociological works of all time. They cover a broad range of topics, from self-presentation in everyday life, survival in total institutions, coping with stigma, behavior in public spaces, to the analysis of speech acts as forms of communication. These subjects consistently reflect a central interest of Goffman's: the analysis of interaction forms in social situations and the roles that individuals play within them. This theoretical framework is expressed in the concepts of interaction order and frame analysis. Goffman's work has significantly stimulated and influenced sociology. The potential of his work remains enormous despite everything.