Award Categories
The Christian Gauss Award
The Gauss Award honors outstanding books in the field of literary scholarship or criticism. The prize was established by the Phi Beta Kappa Senate in 1954 to honor the late Christian Gauss, the distinguished Princeton University scholar, teacher and dean who also served as President of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. To be eligible, a literary biography must have a predominantly critical emphasis.Past Gauss Winners
The Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science
The Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science recognizes superior books by scientists written to illuminate aspects of science for a broad readership. First offered in 1959, the award encourages literate and scholarly interpretations of the physical and biological sciences and mathematics. To be eligible, biographies of scientists should include substantial critical emphasis on their scientific research.Past Science Winners
The Ralph Waldo Emerson Award
The Ralph Waldo Emerson Award is offered for scholarly studies that contribute significantly to interpretations of the intellectual and cultural condition of humanity. Established in 1960, this award encompasses work in the fields of history, philosophy and religion, including appropriate work in related fields such as anthropology and the social sciences. Biographies of public figures may be eligible if their primary critical emphasis is on the intellectual and cultural condition of humanity. Past Emerson Winners
Nomination Procedure
Nominations for the 2025 Book Awards are now closed.
Submissions will open in September 2025 for the 2026 Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards, which must:
- Be eligible; carefully read these Conditions of Eligibility.
- The original publication date of the book in any form (hardcover or other) must be between January 1 - December 31, 2025.
- Come directly from the publisher (submissions sent directly from authors will not be considered) *NOTE: Publishers are no longer limited to one entry per award.*
- Complete the Nomination Form below, which is now closed.
- Include one copy of each book submitted for consideration.
Hadley Kelly
The Phi Beta Kappa Society
Attn: Book Awards
1606 New Hampshire Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
