2024 ASJA Book Award Winners Showcase Great Nonfiction Reads

When we announced the 2024 ASJA article and content winners in August, we decided to give our volunteer book judges extra time to make their selections for the 2024 ASJA Book Awards. We think you’ll agree these fantastic books were worth the wait!

I don’t know about you, but I lean heavily on recommendations from other writers when I’m looking for the best books to read on a subject. In that spirit, I’m pleased to share this year’s ASJA Book Award winners. A total of five nonfiction works received awards. You can see the full list on the ASJA 2024 Annual Writing Award Winners page.

Judges Praise 2024 Book Award Winners

Two of the award-winning books are:

• In the service and self-help category: ASJA member Jennifer L.W. Fink, a Wisconsin-based registered nurse turned writer, for “Building Boys: Raising Great Guys in A World That Misunderstands Males.” The judges praised “Building Boys” as “skillful weaving of anecdotes, research and examples” and called the book “eye-opening and educational.” In the book, Fink combined her own experience of raising four boys with data, research, and interviews with parents, caregivers, and experts. The result is an exceptional resource for all those who care about boys and creating a path to healthy adulthood.

• In the biography and history category: ASJA member Kenneth Miller for “Mapping the Darkness: The Visionary Scientists Who Unlocked the Mysteries of Sleep.” The judges praised Mapping the Darkness as having  “superb transitions and wise word choices.” They noted that the author’s compelling writing and story pacing made interesting what could have been a dry subject — the evolution of sleep science and the people responsible.

I encourage you to spend some time with each of the 2024 ASJA Book Award winners. Read more about them and all the 2024 ASJA award winners here.

Thanks to 2024 ASJA Awards Judges and Committee

I want to once again thank the 70 ASJA members who served as volunteer judges. They evaluated more than 350 entries, including articles, content, and books. Selecting winners is never easy. This dedicated team brought enthusiasm and diligence to the task.

I also want to thank the 2024 ASJA Awards Committee for the time and energy they dedicated to this year’s process: Stephanie Bouchard, Darcy Lewis, Maureen Salamon, and Beth Treiffesen. Thanks, too, to ASJA Executive Director Dirk Lammers for his time and help with this year’s competition.

Finally, thanks to everyone who took a chance on themselves and entered their work in the 2024 ASJA Awards. ASJA appreciates your support!

Dara Chadwick is a Warwick, Rhode Island, writer and communications consultant with expertise in content creation, branding, and messaging for healthcare, government, and nonprofit clients. In addition to chairing the ASJA Awards committee, she serves as an at-large member of the organization’s board.