2024 National Book Critics Circle Awards Finalists Announced
January 25, 2024 — The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) announced 30 finalists across six categories for books published in 2023. The awards ceremony took place in 2024, which is the year referenced in this article’s headline.
The National Book Critics Circle, renowned for its discerning selections, comprises hundreds of book critics and reviewers who are dedicated to honoring outstanding writing. Their annual awards are among the most prestigious in the literary world. Each category comprises five finalists, representing a wide range of voices and perspectives in contemporary literature.
The selected works reflected a range of voices and perspectives in the 2023 publishing year. The examples below are a selection from the shortlist, not the complete list of 30 finalists.
Selected Finalists
- Autobiography: Titles include “I Would Meet You Anywhere: A Memoir” by Susan Kiyo Ito and “How to Say Babylon: A Memoir” by Safiya Sinclair.
- Biography: Notable works are “King: A Life” by Jonathan Eig and “Betty Friedan: Magnificent Disruptor” by Rachel Shteir.
- Criticism: Entries include “Creep: Accusations and Confessions” by Myriam Gurba and “Deadpan: The Aesthetics of Black Inexpression” by Tina Post.
- Fiction: Among the finalists are “Tremor” by Teju Cole and “Blackouts” by Justin Torres.
- Nonfiction: This category features “We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America” by Roxanna Asgarian and “The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War” by Jeff Sharlet.
- Poetry: Included are “All Souls” by Saskia Hamilton and “Trace Evidence” by Charif Shanahan.
The winners were announced on March 21, 2024. Read the NBCC’s official winners announcement for publishing year 2023.
For all 30 shortlisted works, see the official NBCC finalists announcement. This archive article was clarified on October 9, 2026.
