Olaf Scholz reveals his unstructured yet passionate reading habits at Lit.Cologne

A book lover without a plan: Scholz's literary tastes defy expectations. What unexpected titles shaped the ex-chancellor's mind?

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2026 March 12 . 9:07 PM

1 min read

The image shows an old document with a portrait of a man in a black robe, identified as Johann... — The image shows an old document with a portrait of a man in a black robe, identified as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the first German Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. The document is dated 1789 and is likely a document of some kind, as indicated by the text written on it.

Olaf Scholz reveals his unstructured yet passionate reading habits at Lit.Cologne

Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will discuss his favourite books at the Lit.Cologne festival on Monday. The event comes as the SPD politician shares insights into his reading habits—though he admits they are far from structured. Scholz, who led the country from December 2021 to May 2025, has long been known as an avid reader with eclectic tastes.

Scholz's approach to reading is spontaneous rather than methodical. He has never followed a fixed list of books, instead picking up whatever catches his interest. In his younger years, as deputy chair of the Young Socialists, he often bought science fiction novels from train station kiosks while travelling to Bonn.

Despite his reputation as a book lover, he has rarely highlighted specific titles as influential. One notable omission is Angela Merkel's 2024 memoir, *Freedom*, which he confirmed he has not read. Similarly, he is unfamiliar with the works of Robert Habeck, the prominent Green Party politician. Throughout his time in office, Scholz never publicly named any books as particularly formative. His literary preferences remain broad, driven more by curiosity than by a deliberate plan.

Scholz's appearance at Lit.Cologne will offer a rare glimpse into his personal interests. His reading habits reflect a preference for variety over structure, with no single work shaping his political career. The discussion is likely to focus on the books that have, in his own words, simply inspired him along the way.