| 2021 | A Promised Land | British Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Non-Fiction: Narrative Book of the Year | |
| 2021 | A Promised Land | Bill Gates' Summer and Holiday Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Summer Books | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Memoir & Autobiography | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | Slate Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Biography and memoir | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | The Globe and Mail Globe 100 source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Non-Fiction | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | A Promised Land | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Politics | |
| 2009 | Dreams from My Father | British Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Biography/Autobiography of the Year | |
| 2006 | The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 50 | |