Arab Writers Win Big at the National Book Awards 2025 in the US

The National Book Awards 2025 in the United States, often heralded as "the Oscars of book publishing," celebrated a powerful night for Arab literature as two prominent writers from the region took home the top prizes.

Egyptian-Canadian novelist and journalist Omar El Akkad won the highly prestigious award in the non-fiction category, while renowned Lebanese author Rabih Alameddine was named the winner for fiction. Their wins at the ceremony, held at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan, not only recognize their literary excellence but also spotlight crucial narratives from the Middle East on an international stage.

Omar El Akkad was honoured for his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, which marks his first work of non-fiction. The book, written in response to the war in Gaza, is a powerful blend of memoir, political meditation, and reportage.

It directly accuses the Western world of complicity in the destruction of the Palestinian enclave, critically examining how ideals of freedom and justice have seemingly collapsed under the guise of neutrality. In his acceptance speech, El Akkad highlighted the poignant context of his win, stating it was difficult to celebrate an award for a book conceived in response to a genocide, bringing the urgent issue of Palestine to the forefront of the literary event.

Similarly, the theme of regional conflict and distress was prominent for Rabih Alameddine, who won the fiction prize for his novel, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother). The novel is a richly layered narrative about a family's bond set against the backdrop of modern Lebanon's perennial chaos.

It follows the protagonist, Raja, a 63-year-old high school philosophy teacher, as he schemes for an escape from the national and private calamities that shape his life. Alameddine began his speech with a lament for the recent bombing of a refugee camp, mixing his grief with his characteristic humour and expressing gratitude to everyone who supported his work.

The significant victories for Omar El Akkad and Rabih Alameddine were part of a wider recognition of writers with Middle Eastern heritage at the 2025 ceremony, with winners each receiving a $10,000 prize. Iranian-American author Daniel Nayeri also secured a win for young people’s literature with his book, The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story. These accolades collectively emphasize the increasing importance of diverse voices in US publishing and the role literature plays in serving as a counter-voice to current global affairs.

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