Author record · 2015 to 2025

Viet Thanh Nguyen: Awards and Best-of Lists

Viet Thanh Nguyen has won 5 awards, including the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize (2015) for The Sympathizer, with 8 shortlist or finalist places, 5 longlist or nominee places, and 36 year-end list picks in our archive.

Every recognition

Year is the award or list year, not the publication year.
YearBookSourceResultTranslator
2025To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an OtherNational Book Critics Circle Awards source (opens in a new tab)Finalist · Criticism
2025To Save and To Destroy: Writing as an OtherLibrary Journal Best Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Social Sciences
2024A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A MemorialBaillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction source (opens in a new tab)Shortlist · Non-Fiction
2024A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A MemorialAndrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source (opens in a new tab)Longlist · Nonfiction
2024SimoneKirkus Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Picture Books
2024SimoneSchool Library Journal Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Picture Books
2023A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A MemorialNational Book Awards source (opens in a new tab)Longlist · Nonfiction
2023A Man of Two FacesGoodreads Choice Awards source (opens in a new tab)Nominee · Memoir & Autobiography
2023A Man of Two FacesThe New Yorker Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Also Recommended
2023A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, a History, a MemorialLibrary Journal Best Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Biography & Memoir
2023A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, a History, a MemorialNPR Books We Love source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Books We Love
2023A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A MemorialChicago Public Library Best of the Best source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Must-Read Books: Biography & Memoir
2023A Man of Two FacesBookPage Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Nonfiction
2021The CommittedTIME Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · 100 Must-Read
2021The CommittedEsquire Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books
2021The CommittedSlate Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books
2021The Committed: A NovelNPR Books We Love source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Books We Love
2021The CommittedThe Irish Times Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Books of the Year
2021The CommittedKirkus Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2021The CommittedWashington Post Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Notable Fiction
2018The RefugeesAspen Words Literary Prize source (opens in a new tab)Longlist · Fiction
2017The SympathizerDublin Literary Award source (opens in a new tab)Shortlist · Fiction
2017The RefugeesGoodreads Choice Awards source (opens in a new tab)Nominee · Fiction
2017The RefugeesBooklist Editors' Choice source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Adult Books: Fiction
2017The RefugeesChicago Public Library Best of the Best source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books
2017The RefugeesEsquire Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books
2017The RefugeesBookPage Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books
2017The RefugeesNPR Books We Love source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Books We Love
2017The RefugeesKirkus Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2017The RefugeesNew York Times 100 Notable Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction & Poetry
2017The SympathizerBill Gates' Summer and Holiday Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Holiday Books
2016The SympathizerEdgar Allan Poe Awards source (opens in a new tab)Winner · Best First Novel
2016The SympathizerAndrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source (opens in a new tab)Winner · Fiction
2016The SympathizerDayton Literary Peace Prize source (opens in a new tab)Winner · Fiction
2016The SympathizerPulitzer Prize for Fiction source (opens in a new tab)Winner · Fiction
2016The SympathizerPEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction source (opens in a new tab)Finalist · Fiction
2016Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of WarNational Book Critics Circle Awards source (opens in a new tab)Finalist · General Nonfiction
2016Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of WarNational Book Awards source (opens in a new tab)Finalist · Nonfiction
2016The Sympathizer: A NovelPEN America Literary Awards source (opens in a new tab)Finalist · PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection
2016The SympathizerThe Irish Times Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Books of the Year
2016The SympathizerThe Guardian Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2016Nothing Ever DiesKirkus Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Nonfiction
2015The SympathizerThe Center for Fiction First Novel Prize source (opens in a new tab)Winner · First Novel
2015The SympathizerLos Angeles Times Book Prizes source (opens in a new tab)Finalist · Mystery/Thriller
2015The SympathizerBooklist Editors' Choice source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Adult Books: Fiction
2015The SympathizerSlate Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books
2015The SympathizerChicago Public Library Best of the Best source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Best Books: Fiction
2015The SympathizerThe Globe and Mail Globe 100 source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2015The SympathizerKirkus Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2015The SympathizerPublishers Weekly Best Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2015The SympathizerThe Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction
2015The SympathizerNew York Times 100 Notable Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Fiction & Poetry
2015The SympathizerWashington Post Best Books of the Year source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Notable Fiction
2015The SympathizerLibrary Journal Best Books source (opens in a new tab)Selection · Top Ten

Books

  1. The Sympathizer22 sources · 2015 to 2017
  2. A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial9 sources · 2023 to 2024
  3. The Refugees9 sources · 2017 to 2018
  4. The Committed7 sources · 2021
  5. Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War3 sources · 2016
  6. Simone2 sources · 2024
  7. To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other2 sources · 2025