Born 1959 in Wiesbaden, Germany. He studied German and English Literature in Heidelberg; Philosophy and Literature at the Clare-College in Cambridge (UK) and obtained a PhD.

In 1989 he became the head of the arts and science department of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, the most influential newspaper in the German speaking world.

Since 1994 he is one of the publishers of the newspaper and he is accountable for the arts and science department of the “F.A.Z.” and the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” as well.

In 1996 he was named one of the leading Germans of the 21st century by Newsweek.

In 2004 he was awarded as ‘Journalist of the Year’ for his superior discussion of the conflicts resulting of the generation gap in his book “Das Methusalem-Komplott”. For this publication he was awarded the “Corine Sachbuchpreis” and the “Goldene Feder 2004” of the Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Germany. Meanwhile “Das Methusalem-Komplott” has been translated into 21 languages.

In 2006 he achieved the “Medizin im Wort” – Prize of the Deutsche Ärztekammer and the Kollegium der Medizinjournalisten (German Medical Association and Council of Medical Science Journalists).

In 2007 he was distinguished as the first journalist to receive the Jacob-Grimm-Preis for German Language. He was awarded for his outstanding complete works – honoured for his brilliant and highest quality journalism. In 2009 he was awarded the “Ludwig-Börne-Preis.