German Non-Fiction Book Prize awarded for "Dreihundert Männer. Aufstieg und Fall der Deutschland AG."

The German Non-Fiction Book Prize has been awarded to economics journalist Konstantin Richter for his book "Dreihundert Männer. Aufstieg und Fall der Deutschland AG." Published by Suhrkamp Verlag, the book offers an engaging narrative of 150 years of German economic history, moving away from dry structures and theoretical discourse.

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And who clicks away bored or overwhelmed at the mention of economics now can quickly pack award-winning reading material for their vacation, which is also a very entertaining page-turner that works on the beach.

Richter's approach focuses on individual actors, from the founding figures of companies like Krupp and Siemens to contemporary leaders. He delves into their human dramas, inventions, crises, and the "madness" that often accompanied significant economic decisions. The author's moral lesson suggests that the absurd often lies behind decisions of great economic consequence, presenting a "human comedy" for non-economists.

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The past 150 years of German economy are not told by him along dry structures, nor with heavy theoretical artillery, but grippingly based on individual actors, from the founding figures Krupp and Siemens to those of the 21st century with their human dramas, inventions, inspirations, crises and madnesses – and indeed a lot of madness, to be precise.

Despite its critical analysis of potentially abysmal aspects, the book is described as a neutral story of fascination, which is somewhat unusual for the traditionally capitalism-critical Suhrkamp Verlag. The title, "Dreihundert Männer," refers to the powerful, patriarchal, and entirely male network that shaped Germany's economic destiny over generations before being impacted by globalization.

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The absurd often lies behind decisions of great economic consequence, he depicts a human comedy for non-economists.

The jury, represented by Pascal Mathéus of Hamburg's Wassermann bookstore, noted the book's relevance in the current technological revolution. He cautioned against the growing threat of AI-generated non-fiction books flooding the internet and highlighted the jury's decision as a potential "stand against" the rise of AI, advocating for the human spirit with all its quirks. Richter's work stood out among strong contenders, offering a compelling human perspective in an evolving economic landscape.

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The title "Dreihundert Männer" stands for the powerful and patriarchal, because completely male network, which determined the German economic fate over several generations in rivalries, competition and various battles – until it was then crushed in globalization.