The UK's most prestigious non-fiction literary award returns for 2008. Now in its tenth year, the prize is open to books in the areas of current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts. All books published in the UK by writers of any nationality are eligible.

The judges for the 2008 BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize announced the shortlist today, 15th May. Now in its tenth year the prize is the world’s richest non-fiction prize and is worth £30,000 to the winner.

Below are the current odds from William Hill:

• The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography of V.S Naipaul by Patrick French (Picador) 5/2 FAVOURITE
• The Suspicions of Mr Whicher Or The Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury) – 3/1
• Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart by Tim Butcher (Vintage) - 4/1
• The Whisperers by Orlando Figes (Allen Lane) – 4/1
• Crow Country by Mark Cocker (Jonathan Cape) – 5/1
• The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross (Fourth Estate) – 6/1

See the Shortlist >