The most well-known top managers in Germany discuss their lust for power, pressures, and emotional states during layoffs. They all provide unexpected and enlightening insights into their lives and work. Sometimes they are seen as visionary business leaders, other times as "losers in pinstripes." Beyond the frenzy of media hype and streamlined PR propaganda, however, no one really knows how the executives of Germany Inc. truly think: How nuanced is their view of their profession? How do they cope with the constant pressure? What mnemonic devices do they use to visualize twelve-digit numbers? Barbara Nolte and Jan Heidtmann explore such questions in the conversations they have had with German top managers. The result is a collection of candid testimonies that offer a glimpse into the unknown life on the executive floor.