| 2022 | Magnificent Rebels | The Telegraph Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2022 | Magnificent Rebels | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Culture | |
| 2022 | Magnificent Rebels | The New Yorker Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Essential Reads | |
| 2022 | Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self | Financial Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Literary non-fiction | |
| 2022 | Magnificent Rebels | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2019 | The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2016 | The Invention of Nature | Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Science Book | |
| 2016 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World | Cundill History Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · History | |
| 2016 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, The Lost Hero of Science | Costa Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Biography | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World | Los Angeles Times Book Prizes source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Science & Technology | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature | Kirkus Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Biography | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books: Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Biography and memoir | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Core Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature | New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |
| 2011 | Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: History | |
| 2011 | Founding Gardeners | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2008 | The Brother Gardeners | Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Non-Fiction | |