National Book Award for Nonfiction facts for kids

The National Book Award for Nonfiction is a special prize given each year in the United States. It is one of five National Book Awards presented by the National Book Foundation. These awards celebrate amazing books written by people who are citizens of the U.S. The judges for these awards are usually writers themselves, who are experts in their field. They look for books that stand out and make a big impact.

About the National Book Award for Nonfiction

The National Book Award for Nonfiction honors books that tell true stories, share facts, or explore real-world ideas. These books can be about history, science, biographies of inspiring people, or current events. It's a way to recognize authors who write important and engaging true stories.

How the Award Started

The very first National Book Awards were given out in 1935. Back then, they recognized the "Most Distinguished" (meaning most excellent) biography and nonfiction books. They also had a "Favorite" nonfiction book award for a few years. Sometimes, other awards like "Bookseller Discovery" or "Most Original Book" also went to nonfiction titles.

Changes Over the Years

The awards took a break and then started up again in 1950. This is when the National Book Foundation considers the modern awards to have truly begun. From 1964 to 1983, the award had many different categories for nonfiction. For example, there were separate awards for "Arts and Letters," "History and Biography," and "Science, Philosophy and Religion." This meant more books could be recognized in their specific areas.

How Winners Are Chosen Today

Today, the National Book Award for Nonfiction is given to one outstanding book. This book must be written by a U.S. citizen and published in the U.S. between December 1st and November 30th of the award year. Publishers send in their nominations by June 15th. A panel of five expert writers then reads the nominated books. In October, they announce five finalists. The big winner is revealed at a special ceremony in November. The winning author receives $10,000 and a cool bronze sculpture. The other finalists each get $1,000, a medal, and a special mention from the judges. This system has been in place since 1984, and around 200 books are usually nominated each year!

Exploring Past Winners

Over the years, many incredible nonfiction books have won this prestigious award. These books cover a huge range of topics, from exciting historical events to the lives of inspiring people and discoveries in science.

Early Nonfiction Awards (1935-1940)

In the early days, books like North to the Orient by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1935) and Madame Curie by Ève Curie (1937) were among the first winners. These books told fascinating true stories, including biographies and travel adventures.

The Award's Return (1950s-1960s)

When the awards restarted in 1950, they continued to honor important nonfiction. For example, Rachel Carson won in 1952 for The Sea Around Us, a book about the ocean that helped people understand nature better. Later, in 1961, William L. Shirer won for The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a detailed history of a difficult period. Lewis Mumford won in 1962 for The City in History, which explored how cities have grown and changed over time.

Many Categories (1964-1983)

During this period, the awards had many different categories for nonfiction. This allowed for a wider variety of books to be recognized. For instance, books about arts, history, science, and even contemporary issues all had their own chances to win. Some notable winners from this time include Norman Mailer for The Armies of the Night (1969), which blended history and personal experience, and Pauline Kael for Deeper into Movies (1974), celebrating film criticism. Lewis Thomas won twice in 1975 for The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher, showing how science writing could be both informative and beautiful.

Modern Nonfiction Winners (1984-Present)

Since 1984, the award has returned to a single nonfiction category, recognizing one outstanding book each year. Recent winners have continued to explore diverse and important subjects. For example, Richard Rhodes won in 1987 for The Making of the Atomic Bomb, a deep dive into scientific history. In 1999, John W. Dower won for Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II, offering insights into a nation's recovery.

More recently, Andrew Solomon won in 2001 for The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, a book that helped many understand mental health. Katherine Boo won in 2012 for Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, which told powerful stories from India. In 2015, Ta-Nehisi Coates won for Between the World and Me, a book about race and identity in America. Ibram X. Kendi won in 2016 for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, exploring the history of racism.

In 2021, Tiya Miles won for All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake, a moving story about family history and resilience. In 2022, Imani Perry won for South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon To Understand the Soul of a Nation, which explored the American South. In 2023, Ned Blackhawk won for The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of US History, highlighting the important role of Native Americans in U.S. history. The 2024 winner, Jason De León, was recognized for Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling, a book that shares stories about people's journeys and challenges.

Authors Who Won Multiple Times

Some authors have been so talented that they have won the National Book Award more than once! This is a rare and special achievement.

Three books have actually won two National Book Awards in different nonfiction categories:

• Thomas Babington Macaulay: The Shaping of the Historian by John Clive (won in 1974 for both Biography and History).
• The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen (won in 1979 for Contemporary Thought and in 1980 for General Nonfiction, Paperback).
• The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas (won in 1975 for both Arts and Letters and Science).

Several authors have also won multiple awards for different books:

• Justin Kaplan (won in 1961 and 1981)
• George F. Kennan (won in 1957 and 1968)
• Anne Morrow Lindbergh (won in 1936 and 1939)
• David McCullough (won in 1978 and 1982)
• Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. (won in 1966 and 1979)
• Frances Steegmuller (won in 1971 and 1981)
• Lewis Thomas (won in 1975 for two different categories, and again in 1981)

See Also

• List of winners of the National Book Award, for a list of all winners.