A breast cancer awareness ribbon, surrounded by white daisies and red hearts

Photo (detail): © picture-alliance/ imageBROKER | Addictive Stock

Simon Sahner on How Men and Women Write About Illness Journal or Review?

Why do men with cancer tend to document their suffering for the public almost immediately, while women are more likely to turn to writing only after overcoming an illness? Simon Sahner examines this phenomenon and the social conditions that shape it.

Photo (detail): Johannes Simon; © picture alliance / SZ Photo

On the Passing of Jürgen Habermas The Power of the Argument

Few thinkers earn the highest respect both as master theorists and public intellectuals. But Jürgen Habermas was one of them. The renowned philosopher has died aged 96.

Sandra Trauner
© Benreis, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Alina Bronsky's culinary biography Taste Delight

Food is essential for life, food is enjoyment. Alina Bronsky combines heartfelt meals with personal experiences. Porridge reminds her of breakfast in her native Russia. Green sauce brings a touch of Hesse to Berlin. Twelve stories to savour – with recipes at the end of each chapter.

Marit Borcherding

Detours

Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!

Language

Photo (detail): © picture-alliance/ dpa | Michael Matthey

Simon Sahner: How Do You Talk to People Who Are Ill?
“You’ll Get Through This.”

Knowing how to talk appropriately to someone who is seriously ill is no easy matter. Drawing on his own experiences as a patient, Simon Sahner, explores the faux pas well-meaning family members and medical professionals can so easily make.

Simon Sahner
Photo (detail): © picture alliance / SZ Photo | Christian Ditsch

Simon Sahner on medical diagnoses and their consequences
When Illness Becomes A Myth

Certain illnesses are surrounded by myths that suggest sufferers are personally responsible for their condition. Simon Sahner explores this phenomenon – and warns against the capacity of myths to obscure reality.

Simon Sahner
Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Studio mostra / Alamy / Alamy Stock Photos

Simon Sahner explores the twofold language of illness
Illness – A Metaphorical Battle

When it comes to illness – especially serious illness – we often resort to language that makes it sound like we’re heading into battle. Our new columnist, Simon Sahner, knows from his own painful experience that martial metaphors can help us endure the burden of a sick body – and fight for recovery.

Simon Sahner

Culture

Key Art from the Amazon Prime Series Maxton Hall - the world between us. Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James (Damian Hardung)

Maxton Hall Romantic Storytelling in Top Gear

Germany is not exactly known for silly romantic dramedies but this Amazon Prime original series has global audiences swooning over two star-crossed lovers who attend an elite British school.

Penis-shaped candles in various colours and sizes.

Mareike Fallwickl & Eva Reisinger on angry women A Liberation for Bloodthirsty Man-Haters

At last, a book for – and about – women who have simply had enough. Watching them break free of convention brings a sense of relief. However exaggerated or extreme their reactions may seem, who among us hasn’t secretly wanted to smash the window of the car that overtakes us on the inside lane?

Siegfried Lenz, sitting in front of a bookshelf with a friendly smile, holding a pipe in one hand and extending his open arms toward the viewer.

Storyteller Siegfried Lenz – Master of the Small Form The Black-Market Dealer of Kindness

Siegfried Lenz was born 100 years ago. His novel “The German Lesson” became an instant bestseller and has sold more than two million copies to date. Yet as a storyteller he also mastered the short form. But what gives his short stories their distinctive lightness, and what do they reveal about the author and his time?

Germany

Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Manuel Kamuf / imageBROKER

Detours | The Swabian Alps and the Schönberg Tower
White Landmark in Ancient Landscape

Formed by a tropical sea, volcanic activity and meteorite impact, the Swabian Alps today are one of southern Germany’s most diverse landscapes. One outstanding feature is the Schönberg Tower.

Zoé Kammermann
Photo (Detail) © picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Martin Meissner & picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Gollnow

American Football in Germany
Kick-off in the Middle of the Night

Pizza, beer, Super Bowl: What once began as a niche sport has become a full‑blown hype in Germany. How American football found a home here.

Jennifer Engl
Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Felix Hörhager

7 popular clubs in Germany
Legendary dancefloors

Pulsing beats and packed dancefloors – Germany has some clubs that manage to draw visitors from other countries. From techno to house to pop, these venues are the beating heart of the party scene.

Monika Rathmann

Cherrypicker

The literature blog Cherrypicker presents selected novels and non-fiction, graphic novels and stories, audio books and literature for children and teenagers.