We take it for granted that we are autonomous. And we believe that a life in which we have to do important things against our will cannot be a successful one. Beate Rössler explores the tension between our normative self-understanding and the experiences we encounter when we try to lead an autonomous life. From various perspectives and drawing on literary texts, she illuminates the resistances that arise, examines the role of self-knowledge and self-deception, and outlines the social and political conditions for autonomy. An impressive defense of autonomy.