| 2023 | Happy-Go-Lucky | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay | |
| 2022 | Happy-Go-Lucky | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Humor | |
| 2021 | A Carnival of Snackery | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Humor | |
| 2021 | A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020 | Financial Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Literary non-fiction | |
| 2018 | Theft by Finding: Diaries, 1977-2002 | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | Calypso | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Humor | |
| 2018 | Calypso | Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2018 | Calypso | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2018 | Calypso | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2018 | Calypso | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | Calypso | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | Calypso | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | Calypso | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2017 | Theft by Finding | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Humor | |
| 2017 | Theft by Finding | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2017 | Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2017 | Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977 – 2002 | Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2014 | Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay | |
| 2013 | Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Humor | |
| 2013 | Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls | The Globe and Mail Globe 100 source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Non-Fiction | |