| 2025 | The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2025 | The Golden Road | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2020 | The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company | Cundill History Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · History | |
| 2019 | The Anarchy | Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Non-Fiction | |
| 2019 | The Anarchy | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2019 | The Anarchy | The Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 10 Best Books | |
| 2019 | The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, And The Pillage Of An Empire | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2019 | The Anarchy | Barack Obama's Favorite Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Favorite Books | |
| 2013 | Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan | Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · Non-Fiction | |
| 2013 | Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan | The Observer Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · History | |
| 2013 | The Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42 | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · History | |
| 2013 | Return of a King | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2010 | Nine Lives | Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Non-Fiction | |
| 2010 | Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Religion | |
| 2009 | Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India | Financial Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Travel | |
| 2007 | The Last Mughal | Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Non-Fiction | |
| 2007 | The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857 | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 100 | |