On September 22, 2026, a New York Times opinion column criticized the National Book Awards longlists as representing tedious political orthodoxy and no longer reflecting national literary diversity. The critique suggests the prestigious awards have narrowed their scope and representation.
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The National Book Awards longlists are a study in tedious political orthodoxy.
There is a lot to dislike about literary awards. With so much excellent work being published, being on this list means you're exceptional no matter who your are or what your narrative is about. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/o... The National Book Awards longlists are a study in tedious political orthodoxy.