The 2010 BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction

The Shortlist

The judges for the 2010 BBC Samuel Johnson Prize announced the shortlist today, Wednesday, 26 May. Now in its 12th year the Prize is worth £20,000 to the winning author.

The BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2010 Shortlist

• Alex’s Adventures in Numberland by Alex Bellos (Bloomsbury)
• Nothing to Envy:  Real Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (Granta)
• Blood Knots by Luke Jennings (Atlantic Books)
• Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin (Penguin, Allen Lane)
• A Gambling Man by Jenny Uglow (Faber and Faber)
• Catching Fire: How Cooking made us Human by Richard Wrangham (Profile Books)

Evan Davis, chair of the judges, economist, and presenter of Radio 4 Today, comments:

“We did have a number of arguments in our deliberations, but we've settled on an extraordinarily eclectic selection of books which defies simplistic categorisation. There is something for everyone, whether it be maths or fishing. Perhaps the only common feature of these books is the passion and sheer enthusiasm of the authors for their subjects.”

The judges will announce the winner of the Prize at an awards event on 1 July at the Royal Institute for British Architects (RIBA). The winner receives £20,000, and each of the five shortlisted authors, £1,000.

Formerly the BBC FOUR Samuel Johnson Prize, the change in name reflects the BBC’s commitment to broadcasting coverage of the prize on BBC TWO’s The Culture Show.

See the books >