Finalists for 2025 National Book Awards Announced

9 HOURS AGO·UPDATED 7 MINUTES AGO

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Above: Isabel Allende presents the Portuguese edition of "My Name is Emilia del Valle" in Lisbon on May 18, 2025. Image copyright: Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

This year's National Book Awards finalists rewrite the rules of American literature with unprecedented diversity and global perspectives. The selections break from traditional patterns, featuring multilingual narratives and bold thematic experimentation across all categories. With voices spanning Arabic, Danish, Spanish and Uzbek translations plus groundbreaking works on climate change and social justice, these awards truly capture contemporary America's literary evolution.

International Business Times

Establishment-critical narrative

Even as the 2025 National Book Awards celebrate finalists like Majumdar, Alamadine, and Russell, the process reminds critics of recurring patterns: prizes often favor established publishers, market visibility, and curated diversity over pure literary merit. While the awards highlight bold themes and diverse voices, questions linger about how much institutional preferences shape which books make the shortlist — and ultimately, who wins on Nov. 19.

Medium

Metaculus Prediction

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited reporting from right-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.