| 2025 | Languages of Home | The New Yorker Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Also Recommended | |
| 2025 | Languages of Home: Essays on Writing, Hoop, and American Lives, 1971-2025 | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Must-Read Books: Nonfiction | |
| 2025 | Languages of Home | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2025 | Languages of Home: Essays on Writing, Hoop, and American Lives, 1975-2025 | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2024 | Slaveroad | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2024 | Slaveroad | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 100 Must-Read | |
| 2024 | Slaveroad | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | Look for Me and I'll Be Gone | The Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 10 Best Books | |
| 2021 | Brothers and Keepers | The New Yorker Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2021 | Look for Me and I’ll Be Gone: Stories | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Short Stories | |
| 2018 | American Histories | Vulture / New York Magazine Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2017 | Writing to Save a Life: The Louis Till File | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2016 | Writing to Save a Life: The Louis Till File | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · General Nonfiction | |
| 2016 | Writing to Save a Life: The Louis Till File | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2016 | Writing to Save a Life | Paste Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | Fanon | Dublin Literary Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Fiction | |
| 2008 | Fanon | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction & Poetry | |
| 2008 | Fanon | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Fiction | |