National Book Awards 2025 Winners & Key Takeaways

Rabih Alameddine won the Fiction prize for The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother). The novel centers on a 63-year-old Lebanese philosophy teacher whose memories unravel across decades of conflict and family upheaval. Alameddine blends humor with grief and writes about war in a way that shows how memory refuses to behave neatly. The book examines what it means to inherit trauma and how humor becomes one of the few tools people have left. His win was not surprising to many in the room, but it still felt significant given how rarely stories about the Arab world take center stage at large American literary awards.

In Nonfiction, Omar El Akkad received the award for One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, a work that interrogates Western responses to the Gaza conflict and the ways societies decide whose suffering counts. El Akkad’s acceptance speech immediately fed into wider conversations about the responsibility of writers. Many attendees noted that his book is less about offering answers and more about challenging assumptions that readers often bring to global conflicts. The decision to honor it felt like an acknowledgment that political writing has a place at the forefront of American letters, not just in niche circles.

Patricia Smith won for Poetry with The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems. Bringing together work from a long career known for precision and emotional depth, the collection looks at Black life in America through stories that feel both intimate and historical. Smith’s rhythms and character work have always set her apart, and this win reaffirmed the respect she commands among poets and critics. Her recognition also felt like a reminder that poetry can speak directly to the present while maintaining craft that holds up across decades.

The Translated Literature award went to Argentine author Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and translator Robin Myers for We Are Green and Trembling. The book examines environmental pressures, language, and cultural identity through a voice that resists simplification. Myers’ translation was praised for its clarity and for capturing the playful yet insistent tone of Cámara’s writing. Translation supporters pointed out that the category continues to grow in importance as readers seek out stories that do not originate in the United States.

In Young People’s Literature, Daniel Nayeri was honored for The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story. Set in Iran during World War II, it follows orphaned siblings who join a nomadic tribe and confront a landscape shaped by survival, trust, and cultural connection. The story weaves in questions of faith and identity without talking down to younger readers. Many educators have praised the book for its balance of accessibility and nuance, something the category has increasingly rewarded in recent years.

Two major honors capped the night. Roxane Gay received the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. Her influence stretches across criticism, editing, teaching, and public conversation, and the room responded with enthusiasm. George Saunders was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, a recognition many had expected, given his long career shaping contemporary short fiction.

Across categories, this year’s awards leaned toward books that do not shy away from political tension or uncomfortable questions. That direction drew praise from some and hesitation from others, especially those who worry that literature risks becoming overly defined by topical issues. Still, the winning books offer a textured mix of humor, pain, memory, and moral inquiry, and each one approaches its themes through strong storytelling rather than slogans. The result is a lineup that feels relevant without feeling opportunistic.

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