The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) recently announced the winners of its annually awarded book prizes for the 2025 publishing year during a ceremony held in New York City on March 26. Celebrated for their aptitude in tackling both relevant and enduring themes, the recipients include notable figures such as Kevin Young, Arundhati Roy, and Karen Hao.
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NBCC President Adam Dalva expressed the organisation’s commitment to encouraging open dialogue and expression, particularly in the face of mounting pressures on the free press. “The very concept of the free press is under attack,” he noted. “Yet here we are, defiantly carrying on the NBCC’s mission: to seek the right for our members, and for critics around the world, to think freely. To never be afraid to voice their opinions, even in these turbulent times.”
Among the award recipients, Han Kang’s novel *We Do Not Part*, translated from Korean by e.yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris, was awarded the fiction prize. The novel has also recently garnered the prestigious 2025 Nobel Prize for Literature. Heather Scott Partington, chair of the fiction committee, praised the book’s emotional depth, describing it as “blinding melancholy, bleak weather, and murmuring syntax.” She regarded it as an “artful novel [that] lingers like an atmospheric and arresting dream,” exploring themes of trauma stemming from the Jeju Massacre alongside complex ruminations on truth and creation in the face of loss.
In the nonfiction category, Karen Hao’s *Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI* claimed the top honour. Meanwhile, Arundhati Roy received the autobiography award for her memoir, *Mother Mary Comes to Me*. The selection committee highlighted Roy’s ability to offer readers unique insights into her life and the broader sociopolitical landscape.
The biography prize went to Alex Green for *A Perfect Turmoil: Walter E. Fernald and the Struggle to Care for America’s Disabled*. Iris Jamahl Dunkle, chair of the biography committee, commended Green for uncovering a story that had remained in obscurity for over a century. She remarked on how Fernald, a significant figure in the field of disability rights, possessed a complex legacy that continues to shape current understandings of disability.
Other notable awards included Quinn Slobodian’s *Hayek’s Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ, and the Capitalism of the Far Right*, which earned the criticism award, and Kevin Young’s *Night Watch*, recognised for its excellence in poetry. Natasha Lehrer was celebrated with the Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize, while Nicholas Boggs received the John Leonard Prize for Best First Book for his work, *Baldwin: A Love Story*.
The NBCC also recognised Elizabeth Taylor, the longtime literary editor of the *Chicago Tribune*, with the Service Award for her contributions to the literary community. Rhoda Feng was honoured with the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to recognising outstanding work in literary criticism.
Frances FitzGerald was presented with the Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating her extensive contributions to literature and criticism. Additionally, NPR and PBS shared the Toni Morrison Achievement Award, highlighting the vital role of media in promoting literature and cultural discourse.
Dalva concluded by emphasising the transformative power of criticism in shaping cultural and societal norms. He stated, “When done well, criticism allows for the kind of slow thinking that creates new networks of thought. This kind of deliberation feeds into culture, politics, and life. The more we write, the more change we can enact, creatively and practically.”
The NBCC’s awards are a celebration of literary excellence and serve as a reminder of the importance of critical engagement in today’s society. As voices in literature continue to evolve, the support for free expression and dialogue remains crucial.