2023
Defrocking the Nobel Peace Prize.
It is an obvious truth: eternal arms races and wars cost astronomic amounts and threaten us with extinction – if we think about it. So, why don´t we? The Real Nobel Peace Prize seeks to raise an urgently needed debate:
• The aim of the Nobel prize was to liberate the world from weapons, warriors - and wars, help nations break the vicious circle they are locked in, avoid new wars and creating security and prosperity for all. «The world´s most prestigious prize” should have become its truly most important prize.
• Through a unique research of the Nobel committee´s internal archives the author found that the awarders, always reluctant to challenge the military world order, have suppressed the very ideas that they were legally obliged to support.
• Presenting the 114 peacemakers who should have won - many from the global South - the book also presents a little-known history and vindicates a suppressed and besmirched political idea.
• A prize true to Nobel would help us face pressing problems, environment, human rights, poverty, run-down infrastructure, democracy, the plight of women and children, water, housing, money for care, culture, . . . everywhere, every year.
Now translated, updated and re-edited for an international public, with easy-to-read tables and indexes. A unique and innovative study of reforms essential to creating world peace. A work of solid scholarship written for the lay reader.
The most original, interesting, and important book on the Nobel Peace Prize – ever. In 2008 Heffermehl wrote on What Nobel Really Wanted, here is What Really Happened.
A very fine book. In fact too big for Norway – this book requires translations worldwide.
This book I would publish without one second of hesitation. You have done magnificent work, setting a new standard. A major work, this is history writing making a major intervention in the present situation of the world.
You have written a fine book. What I can immediately say is: It contains a strong argument for your interpretation of the will. Many of your statements will will live by their clarity. As when it concerns the Stortinget's task «like anyone else . . . ". ( confirming sound legal writing in 2008)
. . . deserves to be read, both because it provides a lot of new knowledge for most of us and also because Heffermehl poses some unpleasant questions that the Stortinget and the Nobel Committee cannot ignore forever.
. . . a great pioneering work. The language, at times hard-hitting, makes for an interesting read. The message is crystal clear. The prize should, systematically, have promoted solutions other than war. Had not the ideas and wholehearted efforts of pioneers to save the world deserved better?
. . . a book worth reading. The language is catchy, it it is easy to be impressed by his thoroughness and not a credit to the Nobel authorities that they fail to respect and benefit from his knowledge and commitment.
The book is well written, easy to follow and understand, full of surprising observations, a serious theme but a pleasant read.
Heffermehl reveals the power of militarism precisely and surprisingly already on the first page.
Fredrik S. Heffermehl
Ole-Martin Gangnes
