Today's Read Contributor The National Book Foundation has announced that acclaimed author George Saunders will receive the 2025 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, one of the most prestigious lifetime achievement honors in the literary world. The medal, which recognizes an individual whose body of work has had a profound impact on American literature, will be formally presented at the 76th National Book Awards ceremony on November 19, 2025, in New York City.
Saunders, who has spent more than three decades writing across genres, is best known for his innovative storytelling style that blends satire, empathy, and experimentation. His most famous works include Lincoln in the Bardo, which earned him the Booker Prize in 2017, and the short story collection Tenth of December, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and widely hailed as one of the best books of its decade. His craft-focused book, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, drew on his years of teaching creative writing at Syracuse University and became a staple for aspiring writers seeking to understand the mechanics of great storytelling.
Over his career, Saunders has written thirteen books, including children’s literature and essay collections, and his influence extends well beyond the page. His short story Fox 8, for instance, demonstrated his ability to combine humor, poignancy, and social critique in just a few pages, reinforcing his reputation as a master of the short form. In addition to his critical acclaim, Saunders has been the recipient of major awards such as the Folio Prize, the Story Prize, and fellowships from both the MacArthur Foundation and the Guggenheim Foundation. In 2013, TIME magazine included him on its list of the “100 Most Influential People,” further cementing his status as a writer whose reach extends into the broader cultural sphere.
The National Book Foundation’s decision to honor Saunders reflects not only his creative output but also his impact as a mentor and teacher. David Steinberger, chair of the foundation’s board of directors, praised him for both his artistic achievements and his generosity as an educator, noting that he has inspired generations of writers through his work in the classroom and his essays on the art of fiction. Steinberger emphasized that Saunders’ work captures the imagination of readers while also challenging them to consider deeper moral and social questions, a hallmark of enduring literature.
At the November ceremony, the medal will be presented by Deborah Treisman, longtime fiction editor of The New Yorker, who has edited many of Saunders’ most celebrated stories. Treisman’s participation underscores the close relationship between Saunders and the magazine, where much of his short fiction has appeared over the years and where his unique voice first reached a broad readership.
The Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters was first established in 1988 and has been awarded to some of the most influential voices in modern literature, including Toni Morrison, Don DeLillo, Ursula K. Le Guin, Isabel Allende, and, most recently, Barbara Kingsolver in 2024. Recipients are selected for their ability to shape and elevate American writing, and the medal comes with a $10,000 prize. By becoming the 38th recipient, Saunders joins a lineage of authors who have transformed the literary landscape and whose work continues to inspire new generations.
For Saunders, this recognition arrives at a time when his influence is particularly visible. His teaching has become nearly as celebrated as his published works, with former students often citing his guidance as pivotal to their development. Through public lectures, essays, and interviews, he has also become a prominent voice on the role of empathy in literature, consistently arguing that fiction’s greatest purpose is to help readers see the world through the eyes of others.
The announcement of his medal has been met with excitement throughout the literary community. Colleagues and readers alike have praised the decision, pointing to Saunders’ ability to balance humor with compassion, satire with sincerity. His work often examines the absurdities of modern life while never losing sight of the humanity at the core of his characters, making his writing both accessible and profound.
As the November ceremony approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be a fitting tribute to one of the most distinctive and influential voices in American letters. George Saunders’ body of work, characterized by wit, generosity, and moral insight, has already secured him a place in the pantheon of contemporary literature. The 2025 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters serves as both a recognition of his remarkable career to date and an affirmation of his enduring impact on the future of storytelling.
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