National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction

The National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction recognizes the finest works of nonfiction published in English each year. Established in 1975 as part of the founding of the National Book Critics Circle, the award is distinctive as the only major American literary prize chosen by critics themselves—the NBCC's 24 rotating volunteer board members, all professional book review editors and critics. Eligibility extends to nonfiction works published in the United States, including translations, essay collections, and self-published titles, but excludes re-issues and paperback editions of previously honored works. The award has honored landmark works of narrative nonfiction, history, science writing, and cultural criticism. Past winners include Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns (2010), Patrick Radden Keefe's Say Nothing (2019), and Clint Smith's How the Word Is Passed (2021). The NBCC Nonfiction Award is presented annually in March at the NBCC Awards ceremony, which since 2024 is held at The New School in New York City. The prize carries no cash award but confers tremendous prestige and critical visibility. Because the NBCC membership consists entirely of professional critics rather than authors, publishers, or general readers, the award is widely regarded as a uniquely authoritative measure of literary quality. The NBCC also awards the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and the John Leonard Prize for Best First Book at the same ceremony.