What do the Masons do so mysteriously? How do you become a Freemason? Are there actually women in the boxes? Such questions and many more are answered in this compact introductory work. The book, already in its fifth edition, gives exciting insights into the centuries-old tradition of Freemasonry and is dedicated to its most famous representatives from politics, culture and science. The ethical-humanitarian men's association is still active today in all democratic countries in the world. A feeling of togetherness connects the members, although there is no uniform "world masonry". Instead, Freemasons in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, France and Italy have developed different systems, symbols and rituals. What Freemasonry is, means and wants to be in these countries This book reports about it. The current edition contains a foreword and an additional bibliography by Helmut Reinalter, head of the private research institute for the history of ideas.