Journalist Alan Posener of Die Welt grew up in London, Kuala Lumpur, and West Berlin and worked as a high school teacher before becoming a writer and translator. His 2015 book Die empörte Republik (The Enraged Republic) criticized anger politics. Before joining the panel at a Zócalo/NPR Berlin event, “Is Populism Undermining Western Democracy?” Posener said a YouTube video recently inspired him to buy seven blues harps.
What’s your favorite spot in Berlin?
Cottbuser Tor in the middle of Kreuzberg, where my daughter lives.
What did you eat for lunch today?
Vegetable soup and two bars of chocolate made from sheep’s milk.
What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?
I was a professional rock n’ roll singer. It was a very hard job indeed.
What do you love to hate?
Vladimir Putin.
Which election would you love to participate in as a candidate?
None. As a young man I was elected to the communist student group board. It was not fun at all.
What was the last thing that inspired you?
A YouTube video on how to play the blues harp. This inspired me so much that I bought seven of them.