Kaput

It's a concise retelling of a complex and nuanced history. German economic policy is usually perceived as having a singularly "industrial" mindset (which it is). The book breaks down the reasons why things are that way; and why this series of bad decisions was mostly unavoidable. Germany will always struggle to attract the higher end of talent compared to countries like the US. The attitude of "you dare not want to change things because you're a guest here" is a blocker to integration and ultimately entrepreneurship. Any attempts at innovation will be quickly stomped out by bureaucracy, or industry. You have to innovate "the way we do it" otherwise you're on your own and will suffer a slow death. No one knows where things are headed with the coming elections, but one things for sure: what worked before is not gonna work again, not if things are to stay the same nor get better.

A beetle has a rear motor and therefore the smoke should come from the back, where the engine compartment is. Just sayin'. If the rest of the book is like the cove it's not worth reading.