| 2025 | Pathemata | The Irish Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books of the Year | |
| 2024 | Like Love | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | On Freedom | Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2021 | On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint | Vogue Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2021 | On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2021 | On Freedom | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | On Freedom | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2017 | The Argonauts | Rathbones Folio Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Literature | |
| 2016 | The Red Parts | Esquire Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2016 | The Red Parts: Autobiography Of A Trial | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2016 | The Argonauts | The Irish Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books of the Year | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Criticism | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Memoir & Autobiography | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | Chicago Tribune Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | The Guardian Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Biography and memoir | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | The Irish Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books of the Year | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | The Globe and Mail Globe 100 source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Non-Fiction | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | Paste Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2015 | The Argonauts | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |
| 2011 | The Art of Cruelty | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |