German Non-Fiction Prize 2025: Excitement and science combine!

German Non-Fiction Prize 2025: Excitement and science combine!

On July 9, 2025, the University of Freiburg announced that it would award the German Non-Fiction Prize to the author Racha Kirakosian. The jury praised her work for the innovative narrative style and the in-depth analysis that the book offers. The book, whose title challenges both expectations and clichés, has established itself as an important contribution to the discussion about the basis of our ideas about ecstasy. The jury emphasized that the author uses precise and appealing language that encourages thought.

What is particularly remarkable is how Kirakosian combines scientific depth with narrative tension. This allows readers to understand the complex topics in an understandable way. Poetic elements within the text round off the reading experience and give the book an additional special touch.

About the price and its meaning

The German Non-Fiction Prize is awarded by the Book Culture and Reading Promotion Foundation of the German Book Trade Association. It honors outstanding non-fiction books in the original German language that stimulate social debate. The aim of the prize is to raise awareness of the importance of non-fiction books as a basis for knowledge transfer and public discourse. The evaluation criteria include the relevance of the topic, the narrative power, generally understandable language and the quality of the research.

The prize is endowed with a total of 42,500 euros, with 25,000 euros being awarded to the winner and 2,500 euros to seven nominees. The festive awards ceremony will take place on June 17, 2025 in the prestigious Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. The call for applications for the German Non-Fiction Prize 2025 began on September 24, 2024 and runs until November 20, 2024. Publishers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can apply with up to two non-fiction books.

Insights into the jury and the selection process

The jury is made up of seven experts from the fields of non-fiction criticism, journalism, science, the cultural sector and the book trade. Every year, the Academy of German Non-Fiction Prize selects the jury, which is made up of representatives from the book, media and cultural sectors as well as the main sponsor. In order to meet the participation requirements, publishers must be members of the Börsenverein, the Main Association of the Austrian Book Trade or the Swiss Book Trade and Publishing Association.

A book must meet the criteria of a non-fiction book in terms of content and form and be published between April 24, 2024 and April 29, 2025 in order to be shortlisted. The jury will be announced on November 5, 2024, and the nominees will be announced on April 29, 2025.

The German Non-Fiction Prize is one of several awards in German-speaking countries that are dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of non-fiction books. The prize has been awarded since 2021 and is an important award in the literary landscape. This also includes other renowned prizes, such as the Historical Non-Fiction Prize and the NDR Culture Non-Fiction Prize, which also recognize the diverse facets and importance of non-fiction.

Given the ability of non-fiction books to be criticized and their potential to draw attention to social challenges, the award of the German Non-Fiction Book Prize plays an important role. In this way, the commitment of the author Racha Kirakosian is not only honored, but also contributes to sharpening the public discourse on important issues of our time.