| 2023 | Breathless | Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Science Book | |
| 2023 | Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus | Financial Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Health & wellness | |
| 2022 | Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | Breathless | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 100 Must-Read | |
| 2022 | Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat A Deadly Virus | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2022 | Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2022 | Breathless | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | Breathless | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | Breathless | Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Science | |
| 2018 | The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | The Tangled Tree | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Science & Technology | |
| 2018 | The Tangled Tree | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | The Tangled Tree | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Science & Technology | |
| 2013 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2013 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award | |
| 2012 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · General Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Science | |
| 2012 | Spillover | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Spillover | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Science | |
| 2012 | Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Science and technology | |
| 2007 | The Kiwi’s Egg: Charles Darwin and Natural Selection | Financial Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Science | |
| 2006 | The Reluctant Mr. Darwin | The Globe and Mail Globe 100 source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Non-Fiction | |