| 2021 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Dayton Literary Peace Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · History & Biography | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Los Angeles Times Book Prizes source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Current Interest | |
| 2020 | Caste | Kirkus Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 10 Best Books | |
| 2020 | Caste | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 100 Must-Read | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Social Sciences | |
| 2020 | Caste | Slate Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Adults | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books: Top 20 | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Oprah's Book Club source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Book Club Selection | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2020 | Caste | Barack Obama's Favorite Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Favorite Books | |
| 2020 | Caste | Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · History | |
| 2020 | Caste | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Social Sciences | |
| 2020 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |
| 2020 | Caste | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |
| 2011 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize Project source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Mark Lynton History Prize | |
| 2011 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration | Hurston/Wright Legacy Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Nonfiction | |
| 2011 | The Warmth of Other Suns | Dayton Literary Peace Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Nonfiction | |
| 2011 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · General Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Social Sciences | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · History | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns | New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 100 | |
| 2010 | The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top Ten | |