Greg Grandin wins 2026 Ralph Waldo Emerson award for latest book
The Emerson Award, awarded annually, recognizes “a book of scholarly studies that contributes significantly to interpretations of the intellectual and cultural condition of humanity.”
Greg Grandin, Peter V. and C. Vann Woodward Professor of History, has been awarded the 2026 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award by the Phi Beta Kappa Society for his latest book, America, América: A New History of the New World (Penguin Press, 2025).
The Emerson Award, awarded annually, recognizes “a book of scholarly studies that contributes significantly to interpretations of the intellectual and cultural condition of humanity.”
“As we mark our 250th anniversary, we are proud to honor America, América, a work that exemplifies Phi Beta Kappa’s belief that the pursuit of knowledge can illuminate the past and shape a more informed future,” said Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary and CEO of The Phi Beta Kappa Society. “This book reflects the very best of scholarship in the arts and sciences and reminds us that understanding our shared history can inspire thoughtful action in the world today.”
Grandin is a prolific modern historian and the author of seven books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America (2019); Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism (2021); and Kissinger’s Shadow: The Long Reach of America’s Most Controversial Statesman (2015), among others.
Grandin was celebrated on April 16, 2026, at a special event held in partnership with the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the American Philosophical Society as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.