| 2023 | Rough Sleepers | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2023 | Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2023 | Rough Sleepers | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Must-Read Books: Nonfiction | |
| 2023 | Rough Sleepers | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2023 | Rough Sleepers | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Our Favorite Books | |
| 2023 | Rough Sleepers | Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Science | |
| 2013 | Good Prose | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2009 | The Strength in What Remains | Los Angeles Times Book Prizes source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Current Interest | |
| 2009 | Strength in What Remains | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · General Nonfiction | |
| 2009 | Strength in What Remains | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2009 | Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness | Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2009 | Strength in What Remains | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2009 | Strength in What Remains | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2009 | Strength in What Remains | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 100 | |