Rabih Alameddine took the stage on Wednesday night to accept the National Book Award for Fiction, sharing heartfelt thanks with his team and some unexpected figures. He expressed gratitude for his psychiatrist, drug dealers, and “all gastrointestinal doctors,” humorously noting how their support helped him find the words to write in recent years.
His winning novel, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), follows a philosophy teacher navigating life with his wisecracking mother. The story strikes a balance between humor and depth, showcasing the dynamics of family life.
Like Alameddine, other winners of the night highlighted pressing social issues. Omar El Akkad, who won for his non-fiction work, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, critiqued Western actions in Gaza. He remarked, “It’s hard to think of a celebration when the book addresses genocide.” This reflects a growing trend where literature not only entertains but also provokes thought on critical global issues.
In a recent survey by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, over 70% of readers expressed that they turn to literature to understand current events better, illustrating the powerful role of storytelling in society today.
Here’s a quick look at the other major winners:
Fiction
- Rabih Alameddine: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) (WINNER)
- Megha Majumdar: A Guardian and a Thief
- Karen Russell: The Antidote
- Ethan Rutherford: North Sun: Or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther
- Bryan Washington: Palaver
Non-Fiction
- Omar El Akkad: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This (WINNER)
- Julia Ioffe: Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy
- Yiyun Li: Things in Nature Merely Grow
- Claudia Rowe: Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
- Jordan Thomas: When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World
Poetry
- Patricia Smith: The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems (WINNER)
- Gabrielle Calvocoressi: The New Economy
- Cathy Linh Che: Becoming Ghost
- Tiana Clark: Scorched Earth
- Richard Siken: I Do Know Some Things
Translated Literature
- Gabriela Cabezón Cámara: We Are Green and Trembling (WINNER)
- Solvej Balle: On the Calculation of Volume (Book III)
- Anjet Daanje: The Remembered Soldier
- Hamid Ismailov: We Computers: A Ghazal Novel
- Neige Sinno: Sad Tiger
Young People’s Literature
- Daniel Nayeri: The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story (WINNER)
- Kyle Lukoff: A World Worth Saving
- Amber McBride: The Leaving Room
- Hannah V. Sawyerr: Truth Is
- Ibi Zoboi: (S)Kin
The National Book Award continues to reflect the voices and stories that shape our understanding of the world. As literature evolves, it remains a vital tool for empathy and awareness. This year’s winners remind us of the power of words in discussing difficult reality. For more insights on literary awards and their impacts, you can check out the National Book Foundation here.
