Weber's importance as a sociologist and economist, historian and lawyer is generally recognized, his work has had a huge impact on generations of scientists and politicians around the world - but what has affected his personality? What drove him? Until now, Max Weber as a person remained a mystery to most of his readers. Jürgen Kaube, one of Germany's most famous science journalists, in his fascinating biography of Weber, written on the 150th anniversary of his birth, tries to understand comprehend this life on the verge of exhaustion - and at the same time creates a mesmerizing portrait of the first, decisive phase of the modern era.