"I would like . . . to help dreamers, they find it hard to get on in life."
-- Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel, born in Sweden in 1833, was a brilliant inventor and businessman. Although he held more than 300 patents when he died in 1896, he earned his extensive fortune and worldwide fame through his invention of dynamite and his work on armaments. He never married and was constantly on the move around Europe, visiting his manufacturing plants.

His handwritten one-page last will and testament directed that the majority of his vast fortune be invested and the interest distributed to the most deserving individuals in the fields of medicine, chemistry, physics, literature and peace. Between 1901 and 2009, the five Nobel Prizes and the Prize in Economic Science were awarded 537 times.

This book tells the fascinating story of how a few simple instructions in Nobel's will were transformed into a huge philanthropic organization that holds a unique position in the modern world.

The Nobel Prize covers:

• The life and accomplishments of Alfred Nobel
• His will and the establishment of the Nobel Prize Committee
• How the Nobel laureates are selected
• The establishment of the new award in Economics in 1968
• Profiles of U.S. presidents and world leaders who have won the prize
• Lists of families and individuals who have won the prize
• Profiles on the lives and accomplishments of the most famous laureates
• The backgrounds of each of the six prizes: chemistry, physics, medicine, peace, literature and economics

The Nobel Prize brings to life the story of the world's most famous prize.

Michael Worek is a writer and editor with a special interest in nature, history, and American architecture and urban development. His previous books include Nobel: A Century of Prize Winners and An American History Album.

Michael Worek's profile page

A Reader's Respite is pleased as punch to note that Michael Worek's book Nobel: A Century of Prize Winners is printed using eco-friendly paper, but we have to be honest here...this book would be uber-cool even if it were printed on toilet paper. Not only does Worek explain the fascinating history behind the Nobel Prize...but he also provides biographies of past winners and intriguing explanations of the work that led to their Nobel Prize... This would make a great holiday gift for anyone who loves this kind of "did you know?" information or just wants to win their next game of Trivial Pursuit. It would also make a great gift for school-aged children...no more searching for the next essay topic. Highly recommended!

A Reader's Respite

The story of the Nobel prizes and the man who chose to use his fortune in this way is fascinating, and this collection of profiles of prize recipients is equally interesting and inspiring. The book begins with an Introduction outlining the history of the prizes; the remainder is organized by decade--a complete annotated list of all recipients is provided for each ten-year period from 1901 to 2007, accompanied by one-page profiles of a selection of these outstanding people. Providing a perspective of this period of human history and a glimpse into the lives of some extraordinary people, this book can be used as a reference tool or simply to browse out of interest.

Canadian Teacher

In clear prose, author Michael Worek relates the story of Alfred Nobel and the genesis of the Nobel Prizes that were the result of Nobel's creativity, wealth, and desire to acknowledge those who contributed to humanity in the fields of science, literature, peace and economics....Young readers of this book will have a good overview of the individuals and the history of the Nobel Prize...The reader will be reminded of the joy of discovery, learning, and contributing to a greater good that the Prize recipients represent...The design of Worek's book has a crisp and contemporary feel to it. This gives a modern tone to the stories of the Prize winners of the past for the younger reader. A colourful chart at the back of the book gives a full rendering of all the Prize winners over time...Highly recommended.

Canadian Materials Reviews