German Non-Fiction Prize 2023: meet the nominees

Hear, read and see the German Non-Fiction Prize 2023: book lovers can experience the titles nominated for the German Non-Fiction Prize 2023 in various ways. On 18 April, the jury will announce the nominees. In the weeks that follow, the prize and its partners will offer the books and their authors a stage and encourage discussion of current issues. 

The following is a selection of dates and events: 

Reading. Thinking. Talking. Nominated for the German Non-Fiction Prize, Literaturhaus Frankfurt 
22 May 2023, 7:30 pm, www.literaturhaus-frankfurt.de/programm/kalender 
A surprise awaits visitors to this event at the Literaturhaus Frankfurt: which of the nominated authors will be presenting his or her title will only be revealed at the end of April. An invitation to reflect and discuss. 

German Non-Fiction Slam, TECHNOSEUM Mannheim 
24 May 2023, 7 pm, www.technoseum.de/sachbuch-slam/ 
Six minutes, one book, one stage – how do you present non-fiction in a way that brings the audience to their feet? Eight accomplished slammers will take up the challenge. 
Slammer Sandra Da Vina will moderate the event, which will also be broadcast as a livestream. 

Non-Fiction & Public Discourse: how do you successfully communicate science to society? – An evening of discussion at THE NEW INSTITUTE (Hamburg) 
25 May 2023, 6 pm 
in cooperation with the “Buchhandlung Felix Jud” bookstore: https://www.felix-jud.de/events/  
(Registration required; announcement to follow.) 
A week before the awards ceremony, nominees for the German Non-Fiction Prize, jury members and fellows of THE NEW INSTITUTE will discuss whether – or when and how – non-fiction can initiate or promote social change. 

The German Non-Fiction Prize in local bookshops 
Many local bookshops prominently display the nominated titles and offer advice on all aspects of non-fiction. In addition, events will be held with one of the nominees. The following dates have already been set: 
11 May: “Richters Buchhandlung” bookstore, Dresden 
15 May: “Buchhandlung zur Heide” bookstore, Osnabrück 
16 May: “Buchhandlung Klaus v. Mackensen” bookstore, Wuppertal 
24 May: “Erlebnis-Buchhandlung didactus” bookstore, Kempten 

Video portraits of the nominees 
A special peek behind the curtain: in May, the Austrian national public broadcaster ORF will release short films about the nominees. They will be available on the Youtube channel of the German Non-Fiction Prize and on ORF’s “Topos” platform. 

Media partners 
The radio station Deutschlandfunk Kultur and the monthly business magazine brand eins support the German Non-Fiction Prize as media partners.  

Deutschlandfunk Kultur will present the nominated non-fiction books in its programme. In addition, the awards ceremony will be broadcast live on the special “Dokumente und Debatten” channel on digital radio and as a livestream on deutschlandradio.de/debatten. 

Furthermore, the online magazine “New Books in German” will present the nominated titles to an English-speaking audience.  

The Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels (Foundation for Book Culture and the Promotion of Reading of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association) awards this prize, worth a total of 42,500 euros, to an outstanding non-fiction book written in German that inspires social debate.  

From the eight nominated titles, the jury will select the best non-fiction book of the year, which will be announced in Hamburg on 1 June 2023. The winner will receive 25,000 euros, the seven nominees 2,500 euros each. The awards ceremony will be held in the Small Hall of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. 

The Deutsche Bank Stiftung (Deutsche Bank Foundation) is the main supporter of the prize, which is also backed by the city of Hamburg and the foundation ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius. Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth is patron of the prize. 

More information is available at: www.deutscher-sachbuchpreis.de