| 2022 | And There Was Light | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2022 | And There Was Light | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | His Truth Is Marching On | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2020 | His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2018 | The Soul of America | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2018 | The Soul Of America: The Battle For Our Better Angels | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2015 | Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 10 Best Books | |
| 2015 | Destiny And Power: The American Odyssey Of George Herbert Walker Bush | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2015 | Destiny and Power | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | Destiny and Power | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2013 | Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Biography | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2012 | Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 100 | |
| 2009 | American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House | Pulitzer Prize (Biography and History) source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Biography or Autobiography | |
| 2008 | American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House | Los Angeles Times Book Prizes source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Biography | |
| 2008 | American Lion | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2008 | American Lion | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |