Best Books of the Year
Menu

American Library Association · award year

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence 2013

The 2013 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence went to Canada by Richard Ford (Fiction) and Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan (Nonfiction). 6 books were finalists and 50 books made the longlist across 2 categories.

Winners

Fiction

  1. Canada by Richard Fordsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egansource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Fiction

  1. The Round House by Louise Erdrichsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díazsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Mansion of Happiness: A History of Life and Death by Jill Leporesource (opens in a new tab)

Longlist

Fiction

  1. A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggerssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Arcadia by Lauren Groffsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Astray by Emma Donoghuesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Battleborn by Claire Vaye Watkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Waltersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountainsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantelsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Dear Life by Alice Munrosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolversource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Home by Toni Morrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. In One Person by John Irvingsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. One Last Thing before I Go by Jonathan Troppersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doigsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tylersource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Cove by Ron Rashsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Dog Stars by Peter Hellersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lamsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Lower River by Paul Therouxsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibínsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joycesource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Barack Obama: The Story by David Maranisssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Engines of Change: A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars by Paul Ingrassiasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years among the Poorest Children in America by Jonathan Kozolsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats by Kristen Iversensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. James Joyce: A New Biography by Gordon Bowkersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Leonardo and the Last Supper by Ross Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Ocean of Life: The Fate of Man and the Sea by Callum Robertssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cainsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Shooting Victoria: Madness, Mayhem, and the Rebirth of the British Monarchy by Paul Thomas Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America by Tanner Colbysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Oath: The Obama White House and the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobinsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Carosource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasawsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meachamsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe by George Dysonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Wintersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Why Does the World Exist? An Existential Detective Story by Jim Holtsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence

Winners, finalists (the shortlist) and longlists from ALA's per-year Carnegie Medals pages. The medals began in 2012. Winners also appear on their year's shortlist; each book is stored once per year at its highest level. No nonfiction medal was awarded in 2018 after Sherman Alexie declined it, so that year has three nonfiction finalists and no winner.

Organization: American Library Association. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2013

Shares the most books with