Which country has the best brains?

[Wyn]

The BBC's comparison is ridiculous. Creating the impression that "national brainpower" is somehow related to a Nobel Prize is an utter fallacy.

I hate the BBC.

Anyway, to come up with some kind of "best brains" table or something could probably be done. Perhaps by looking at the great works of art and literature, inventions and so on and tallying the origins of those who produced them. It'd be interesting.

[RoyBatty]

I mean... are we now suppose to believe that Al Gore, Mandela, Arafat and Ombongo are representatives of "the best brains????"

[RoyBatty]

I hate the BBC.

Anyway, to come up with some kind of "best brains" table or something could probably be done. Perhaps by looking at the great works of art and literature, inventions and so on and tallying the origins of those who produced them. It'd be interesting.

Could be interesting but there's always going to be a degree of bias exercised by those who compare the tables so at best one can take it with a pinch of salt.

[Svanhild]

A lot of the previous nobel prize winners of the USA were of German origin.

[RoyBatty]

The Nobel Prize is most definitely used as a political tool, as well. For example, Chris Barnard claimed that he was denied a Nobel Prize because he was a white South African.

It sounds like a very plausible explanation since he was certainly a prime candidate for the 1968 award.

[Ibericus]

Obongo won a Nobel Prize. That says it all about this stupid prize. The jewish lobby is behind it, that's why so many jews have won it

[RoyBatty]

A lot of the previous nobel prize winners of the USA were of German origin.

Well yeah. They're in great company. Mandela, Kissinger, Arafat, Al Gore. Guess winning a Nobel Prize must really be something to aspire to.

[San Galgano]

I don't believe too Nobel has something to do with brain on a large scale, anyway if colours here don't cheat me it seems like Italy has the same amount of Nobel prizes of Sweden and they don't even nominate it.

[Eldritch]

If we are to believe Michael H. Hart, author of The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, the country with the best brains would be Scotland.

[Loki]

I don't believe too Nobel has something to do with brain on a large scale, anyway if colours here don't cheat me it seems like Italy has the same amount of Nobel prizes of Sweden and they don't even nominate it.

The full list is downloadable in Excel format here.