National Book Award

The National Book Awards is an American literary prize that is uniquely traditional and was established by the National Book Foundation in 1950. The awards are open to authors who are American citizens and have had their book published by an American publisher.

The evening before the Awards Ceremony the National Book Foundation hosts a private Medal Ceremony. At this event each finalist receives $1000, a medal, and a citation from the panel of judges; following this, all twenty nominees read from their book at the Finalists Reading. The winners in each category are announced the following evening, and each is awarded $10,000 and a bronze sculpture.

Shop the nominees in each category below.