The life and work of Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) continue to be an extraordinary fascination even more than two generations after his death. While Benjamin was known during his lifetime only to insiders through two academic books and a slim volume of literary-philosophical reflections, he became a central figure in intellectual discourse both within and outside the humanities starting in the 1960s. This is all the more remarkable given that the majority of his work consists of critiques and essays published in journals, while his magnum opus – the Arcades Project – remained fragmented. This was primarily due to the circumstances of exile, which were marked by constant uncertainty: limited publication and earning opportunities, as well as altered conditions for intellectual exchange, since many of Benjamin's previous discussion partners had also emigrated and were scattered around the globe. He eagerly seized every contact that promised inspiration, useful connections, and assistance. Accustomed to recording all important information in fine handwriting in a compact space, his address book became a central repository of data. Benjamin's entire life circumstances are reflected here in a condensed and abbreviated manner, with the notes posing almost as many puzzles as they provide details. Nearly 300 individuals with whom Benjamin was in contact during the seven and a half years of his exile are recorded (including some addresses noted elsewhere). The notion that he was lonely and isolated during this time, as previous biographies have suggested, is a myth that is debunked by the address book. After an inadequate attempt was made in 2006 to explore the material, Georg Wiesing-Brandes has taken on the task of meticulously following up on all the information in the address book and will not rest until he has done so.