Award Categories
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. The 2026 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award was presented to America, América: A New History of the New World by Dr. Greg Grandin in April 2026 at a special event hosted by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in collaboration with the Phi Beta Kappa Society and the American Philosophical Society.
Past Emerson 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.As part of Phi Beta Kappa's 250th anniversary, the 2026 Award in Science will be presented in Fall 2026 through a collaborative initiative with two fellow eighteenth-century learned societies: the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. Please stay tuned for more information.
Past Science Winners
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.As part of Phi Beta Kappa's 250th anniversary, the 2026 Christian Gauss Award will be recognized in Fall 2026 through a collaborative initiative with two fellow eighteenth-century learned societies: the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. Please stay tuned for more information.
Past Gauss Winners
Nomination Procedure
Submissions for the 2026 Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are closed.
- 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.
- Include one copy of each book submitted for consideration. *NOTE: We are navigating away from mailed submissions and would prefer digital review copies when possible. Copies will remain confidential.*
Nominations closed on November 15, 2025. Please check back in Fall 2026 for the next cycle of the Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards.
