Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This foundation volume in the Nobel Prize Winners series presents detailed accounts of the lives and work of the 566 men, women, and institutions that earned the Nobel Prize from its inception in 1901 through 1986.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Intended for students and general readers, this work profiles the 566 men, women, and institutions that have received the Nobel Prize, 1901 through 1986. It begins with an article on Alfred Nobel by Alden Whitman and another on the history and selection of the awards by Carl Gustaf Bernhard. The biographies, ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 words and arranged alphabetically, offer a photograph, facts, a discussion of the work that won the prize, and a critical assessment of the laureate's contribution to his or her field (mentioning failures and controversies when appropriate), followed by bibliographies by and about the subject. There are lists of winners, categories (e.g., chemistry, peace), and dates. Most winners can be found in other biographical sources, but this places them in the context of the Nobel Prizes. The work has more depth than Who's Who of Nobel Prize Winners, ed. by Bernard S. and June H. Schlessinger (1986), which provides briefer information and has lists of winners by religion and educational institution attended, but has no photographs, no information on Alfred Nobel, and no explanation of the awards. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-M. McCormick, University of California, Los Angeles