Alfred Nobel: A Biography

by Kenne Fant

Few documents have had a more enduring influence on our century than Alfred Nobel's last will and testament, for these handwritten sheets of paper established the most coveted and prestigious awards on earth. Nobel prizes confer more than mere recognition - they represent glory and power, and are the stuff of immortality. Yet the man whose name they bear has been lost to near obscurity. As Kenne Fant shows in this fascinating biography - the only one available in English - Alfred Nobel's life contained fierce and troubling paradoxes. He revolutionized the technology of destruction and invented dynamite, yet his dreams of a disarmed world inspired him to create the Nobel Peace Prize. Alfred Nobel was determined to rise above the circumstances of poverty and humiliation to which he was born in 1833. His father, a self-taught expert in explosives, went bankrupt; Immanuel Nobel's sons did what they could to salvage the family honor and continue their father's work. Alfred became convinced that if the awesome powers of nitroglycerine - a fascinating and deadly chemical oddity of no known practical value, discovered some years earlier - could be harnessed, the dividends would be limitless. He worked to find a way of detonating the "explosive oil" safely, so that it could be produced and marketed. The igniter that he received a patent for in 1863 made this feasible. Nitroglycerine began to conquer the world. When in 1866 Alfred invented his "safety powder" - or "dynamite," as he called it - his reputation and his dynasty were already established. One of the most powerful men of his time, Nobel was viewed by some as the model of success and entrepreneurial drive; to his workers, he was an enlightened and scrupulously honest employer in an age of mindless exploitation. Others, however, blamed him for the accidents caused by his inventions (one of which claimed his younger brother) and labeled him the "merchant of death." Victor Hugo called him "Europe's richest vagabond

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

342 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 1993

Reviews

[Niraj Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He invented an explosive that was stronger than any known before - an exceedingly efficient means of destruction. In order to calm his conscience, he created his Nobel Prizes" - Einstein.
There is a certain irony to his inventions, but his intention to use his inventions were for the good of humanity.
Like he said - "there is nothing in our world that cannot be misused." Researchers and inventors could not be held responsible for what politicians and generals did with their products.

[Abby Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this book, but it is not for everyone. Fant's biography is well-written and his observations of Nobel seem apt, but the book is incredibly detailed and a task to finish. I enjoyed the majority of the book but the inclusion of that volume of personal letters and also so many details of his business dealings became tedious by the end. Despite this complaint, the author's use of such detail allows for a complex and nuanced view of this influential man. Nobel had a rare combination of talent at the bench in his research endeavors (he was a prolific inventor) and significant skill on the business end as well. He also seems to have suffered a good deal through his life, often lonely and guilt-ridden.

If you do not feel up to attempting this read, do yourself a favor and learn something about this man's fascinating biography and the events of his life that lead up to creating the Nobel Prizes. This book is an in-depth history of his life from birth to death, including his education, research, inventions, business associations, love life, family relationships, and more. What makes it great is the other layer of context, presenting Nobel's feelings on education, class disparity, war, weapons, and peace, and legacy; his thoughts, and expressions of guilt, pride, loyalty, arrogance, and loneliness are exhibited extensively through letters and his unpublished creative writing.

[Alex O‘Saurus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gut geeignet für alle, die Alfred Nobel‘s Leben bis ins kleinste Detail erforschen wollen. Dabei liest sich das Buch leider alles andere als leicht, was an der schieren Menge von Informationen liegt, mit denen das Buch aufwartet. Detaillierte Beschreibungen der nobel’schen Geschäftsverhältnisse und nicht zuletzt die immer gleichen Briefe an seine Geliebte ziehen die Erzählung in die Länge. Und die erzählerischen Zeitsprünge wirken teils willkürlich und einer strukturierten Erzählweise abträglich.
Eine geraffter Version wäre wünschenswert, ist aber natürlich nicht Ziel dieses Buches, daher zwei Sterne.

[Aiman Adlawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If he was alive today, He would be the richest man alive. His business was so lucrative. Every country wanted to buy his product - Dynamite. An explosive that can give power to anybody who possesses it. No wonder he had so many clients to almost all countries in europe and america. That gave him much fortune in his life.
Its a great story of a life of a man who just wanted to make Nitroglycerin explode in the most efficient and safe way. The process of perfecting it was dangerous and has cost lives even his brother’s. He was an unmarried entrepreneur. Great book.

[bookreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pedestrian biography, with literary pretensions, of the Swedish industrialist. A chief detraction is its heavy reliance on quoting at interminable length his florid letters — especially to his nauseating, gold-digging mistress — when his living, everlasting testament is his simple, revolutionary, and historically significant will.

[Yyyyyi]

ان ديناميتي سوف يؤدي إلى السلام اكثر من آلاف المؤتمرات العالمية، بمجرد أن بعرف الإنسان انه في لحظة واحدة يمكن أن
يفنى جيوش بالكامل.هم بالتأكيد سوف يلتزمون بالسلام
الذهبيألفريد نوبل     من أجمل المقولات التي قرأتها                       

[Ginger Gritzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 5th star was withheld only because it was repetitive in parts. This biography was thorough and detailed, covering much about the man, his relationships, his inventions, travels, business acumin, dabblings in other's inventions, health concerns and state of mind.

[Elva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nedaudz haotiska un pārāk piesātināta ar nebūtiskām detaļām. Lai gūtu vispārīgu priekštatu par Nobela dzīvi, iespējams noskatīties filmu būtu vērtīgāk nekā veltīt laiku šai grāmatai.

[Michael McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Through his prized, this restless, eternal wanderer - whom Victor Hugo termed Europe’s richest vagabond - has forever etched his name in human memory.” - p7

[Willis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the few biographies of Nobel so I was excited to check it out but was disappointed. The author has some great new content to draw own, the many letters Nobel wrote throughout his life but the disjointed way they are interspersed in the book makes them a distraction rather than an addition. The disjointedness continues in the order of events which does not have a nice chronological flow.

[Steven Spector · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched and ably presented. There are more explosions in this guy's life than in any Road Runner cartoon. Might be because he invented dynamite? And the Nobel "peace" prize goes to...? A unique individual who ran a mean business in a multitude of countries much of it with family members. Definitely earns 4 kabooms.

[6burrier_kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very very very long book but a great understanding of Alfreds life. The book talks about his life and his great accomplishments. He ends winning the nobel peace prize for explosives. A great book and great lessons to be learned read to find out!!!

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explained about Nobel in such a way it was quite interesting and informative. For the most part, the book is in order of dates. But there are parts that are out of order but they are explained as to their connections to the places they are inserted.

[Yodeillie Baybayan]

What a genius.