The OWL Awards
Outstanding Works
Of Literature
![bookpal owl awards](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/image-31.png)
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/owl-2022-left.png)
About The Awards
Our Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Awards spotlight the best books shaping society today. Every year, our book experts explore and assess the thousands of books published each year for titles that change the way organizations do business, educators create and teach curriculum, and communities understand and pursue wellbeing. We’ve done the work so you don’t have to! Come see what books of the year deserve to get noticed.
Congrats to Our 2023 Winners!
After much anticipation and a meticulous review process, we wanted to say a huge congratulations to our 2023 Outstanding Works Of Literature Award winners. These authors have created gripping narratives that have captivated reader's heart and minds.
See who won our 2023 OWL Awards
View Winners![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/owl-2022-right.png)
![hola papi](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rectangle-2066-2-.png)
![the cost of knowing](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rectangle-2067.png)
![management mess](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rectangle-2068.png)
![think like a monk](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rectangle-2069.png)
![geraldine pu](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rectangle-2070.png)
![caste](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rectangle-2071.png)
How OWL Awards Work?
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/submission-open.png)
Submission Open
Publishers will submit nominations of noteworthy titles for the selected categories. Submissions open in August and close end of September.
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/longlist.png)
Longlist Is Selected
Our team of book experts will carefully review each title submitted based on our criteria. Five books will move on to the next round.
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/shortlist.png)
Shortlisted Is Selected
The Longlist is narrowed down to the top three titles that deserve recognition for their unique impact.
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/winners.png)
Winners are Announced
One book per category is awarded the title of Outstanding Work of Literature!
Award Categories & Criteria
The Outstanding Works of Literature Awards are granted to titles that are, well... outstanding! They are impactful, distinguished, one-of-a-kind, admirable, and/or inspirational. Our categories were chosen based on topics that best resonate with the companies, schools, and organizations we partner with.
![Business Categories](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/business-category.png)
Business Categories
- Big Idea
- Leadership
- Sales & Marketing
- Management & Culture
- Women in Business
![kid reading](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/education-category.png)
Education Categories
- Picture Books
- Elementary
- Middle School
- First Year Experience
- Community Read
![Award Criteria](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/award-criteria.png)
Award Criteria
- Originality
- Engagement
- Readability
- Clarity
- Relevancy
Winners Over The Years
Business
Business
Big Idea
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/stolen-focus.png)
Stolen Focus
by Johann Hari
Leadership
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/trust-and-inspire.png)
Trust and Inspire
by Stephen M.R. Covey
Management & Culture
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-gift-of-influence.png)
The Gift of Influence
by Tommy Spaulding
Sales & Marketing
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/unreasonable-hospitality.png)
Unreasonable Hospitality
by Will Guidara
Women in Business
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/secrets-of-the-sprakkar.png)
Secrets of the Sprakkar
by Eliza Reid
Education
Picture Books
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/out-of-a-jar.png)
Out of a Jar
by Deborah Marcero
Elementary
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/thirst.png)
Thirst
by Varsha Bajaj
Middle School
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/new-from-here.png)
New From Here
by Kelly Yang
First Year Experience
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/solito.png)
Solito
by Javier Zamora
Community Read
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/just-pursuit.png)
Just Pursuit
by Laura Coates
Business
Big Idea
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/rebel-ideas.jpg)
Rebel Ideas
by Matthew Syed
Leadership
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-wiw3i6m4o6/images/stencil/original/image-manager/bringing-up-the-boss.jpg)
Bringing Up the Boss
by Rachel Pacheco
Management & Culture
![Just Work](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/just-work.png)
Just Work
by Kim Scott
Sales & Marketing
![Get Different](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/get-different.png)
Get Different
by Mike Michalowicz
Women in Business
![My Life in Full](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/my-life-in-full.png)
My Life in Full
by Indra Nooyi
Education
Picture Books
![The 1619 Project](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/born-on-the-water.png)
The 1619 Project
by Nikole Hannah-Jones,
Renée Watson,
& Nikkolas Smith
Elementary
![Gerladine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too!](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/geraldine-pu.png)
Gerladine Pu and Her
Lunch Box, Too!
by Maggie P. Chang
Middle School
![Dead Wednesday](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/dead-wednesday.png)
Dead Wednesday
by Jerry Spinelli
High School
![The Cost of Knowing](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-cost-of-knowing.png)
The Cost of Knowing
by Brittney Morris
Advanced Reading
![We Are Not Like Them](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/we-are-not-like-them.png)
We Are Not Like Them
by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza
Miscellaneous
Health & Wellness
![What Happened to You?](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/what-happened-to-you.png)
What Happened to You?
by Oprah Winfrey &
Bruce D. Perry
Gift & Special Interest
![Per My Last Email](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/per-my-last-email.png)
Per My Last Email
by Stephanie K. Wright
Religion
![Pillars](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/pillers.png)
Pillars
by Rachel Pieh Jones
Politics & Current Events
![The Sum of Us](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-sum-of-us.png)
The Sum of Us
by Heather McGhee
Biography & Memoir
![Hola Papi](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/hola-papi.jpg)
Hola Papi
by John Paul Brammer
Business
Big Idea
![The Future is Faster Than You Think](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-future-is-faster-than-we-think.png)
The Future is Faster
Than You Think
by Peter H. Diamandis
& Steve Kotler
Leadership
![Leading with Gratitude](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/leading-with-gratitude-1.png)
Leading with Gratitude
by Adrian Gostick &
Chester Elton
Management & Culture
![The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/unconcious-bias.png)
The Leader's Guide to
Unconscious Bias
by Pamela Fuller, Mark
Murphy, & Anne Chow
Sales & Marketing
![The Forever Transaction](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-forever-transaction.jpg)
The Forever Transaction
by Robbie Kellman Baxter
Women in Business
![Unapologetically Ambitious](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/unapologetically-ambitious.png)
Unapologetically Ambitious
by Shellye Archambeau
Education
Picture Books
![I Am Every Good Thing](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/i-am-every-good-thing.png)
I Am Every Good Thing
by Derrick Barnes &
Gordon C. James
Elementary
![Tune It Out](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/tune-it-out.png)
Tune It Out
by Jamie Sumner
Middle School
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/when-stars-are-scattered.png)
When Stars Are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson &
Omar Mohamed
High School
![We Are Not Free](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/we-are-not-free.png)
We Are Not Free
by Traci Chee
Advanced Reading
![Transcendent Kingdom](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/transcedent-kingdom.png)
Transcendent Kingdom
by Yaa Gyasi
Miscellaneous
Health & Wellness
![Think Like a Monk](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/think-like-a-monk-1.png)
Think Like a Monk
by Jay Shetty
Gift & Special Interest
![The 99% Invisible City](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/per-my-last-email-1.png)
The 99% Invisible City
by Roman Mars & Kurt
Kohlstedt
Religion
![We Are Called to Be a Movement](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/we-are-called-to-be-a-movement.png)
We Are Called to Be a
Movement
by William J. Barber
Politics & Current Events
![Caste](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/caste-1.png)
Caste
by Isabel Wilkerson
Biography & Memoir
![Untamed](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/untamed.png)
Untamed
by Glennon Doyle
Business
Big Idea
![Indistractable](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/indistractable.png)
Indistractable
by Nir Eyal
Leadership
![Management Mess to Leadership Success](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/management-mess-1.png)
Management Mess to
Leadership Success
by Scott Jeffrey Miller
Management & Culture
![The Remix](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/remix.png)
The Remix
by Lindsey Pollak
Sales & Marketing
![The Iconist](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-iconist.png)
The Iconist
by Jamie Mustard
Women in Business
![Everything is Figureoutable](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/everything-is-figureoutable.png)
Everything is
Figureoutable
by Marie Forleo
Education
Picture Books
![Sulwe](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/sulwe.png)
Sulwe
by Lupita Nyong'o &
Vashti Harrison
Elementary
![Guts](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/guts.png)
Guts
by Raina Telgemeier
Middle School
![The Boy at the Back of the Class](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-boy-at-the-back-of-class.png)
The Boy at the Back of
the Class
by Onjali Q. Raúf
High School
![Scars Like Wings](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/scars-like-wings.png)
Scars Like Wings
by Erin Stewart
Advanced Reading
![I'm Telling the Truth, But I'm Lying](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/i-am-telling-the-truth.png)
I'm Telling the Truth,
But I'm Lying: Essays
by Bassey Ikpi
Miscellaneous
Health & Wellness
![Permission to Feel](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/permission-to-feel.png)
Permission to Feel
by Marc Brackett
Gift & Special Interest
![1,000 Places to See Before You Die](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/1000-places-to-see-before-you-die.png)
1,000 Places to See
Before You Die
(Deluxe Edition)
by Patricia Schultz
Religion
![Holy Envy](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/finding-god-in-the-faith-of-others.png)
Holy Envy
by Barbara Brown Taylor
Politics & Current Events
![The Threat](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-treat.png)
The Threat
by Andrew G. McCabe
Biography & Memoir
![They Called Us Enemy](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/they-called-us-enemy.png)
They Called Us Enemy
by George Takei,
Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott,
& Harmony Becker
Category Winners
Business
![The Culture Code](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/culture.jpg)
The Culture Code
by Daniel Coyle
Children's Literature
![Llamaphones](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/llamaphones.jpg)
Llamaphones
by Janik Coat
Wellness
![This is Me](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/this-is-me.png)
This is Me
by Chrissy Metz
Religion
![The Third Option](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-third-option.png)
The Third Option
by Miles McPherson
Politics & Current Events
![When They Call You a Terrorist](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/when-they-call-you-aterrorist.png)
When They Call You a
Terrorist
by Patrisse Khan-Cullors
& asha bandele
Category Winners
Business
![The Power of Moments](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-power-of-moments.png)
The Power of Moments
by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Education
![The Fire This Time](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/the-fire-this-time.png)
The Fire This Time
edited by Jesmyn Ward
Health
![When Breath Becomes Air](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-gjd9kmzlkz/images/stencil/original/image-manager/when-breath-becomes-air.png)
When Breath Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi