Awards Won by Independent Institute Programs and Fellows

Since its founding in 1987, the Independent Institute has won numerous awards for its many books, videos, and other programs, as well as by its many Fellows.

Good as Gold

How to Unleash the Power of Sound Money
Judy L. Shelton • Published: October 14, 2025

2025 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in Current Events

19th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards

  • Winner in Current Events

2025 Eric Hoffer Book Award

  • Finalist, eBook Nonfiction
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Priceless (Updated Second Edition)

Curing the Healthcare Crisis
John C. Goodman • Published: September 24, 2024

2025 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General

2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in Current Events

How to Run Wars

A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite
Christopher J. Coyne, Abigail R. Hall • Published: June 18, 2024

2025 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Current Events

2025 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

  • Gold Winner in Political & Current Events

The New American Anti-Semitism

The Left, the Right, and the Jews
Benjamin Ginsberg • Published: February 20, 2024

2024 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Current Events
  • Finalist in Multicultural: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction

2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in General Nonfiction

The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights

The Untold Story of FDR’s Concentration Camps, Censorship, and Mass Surveillance
David T. Beito • Published: March 20, 2025

2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in African American (Non-Fiction)

2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award

2023 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in History: United States
  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General
  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Non-Fiction

Amazon.com

  • #1 New Release in Civil Rights and Liberties
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Is Social Justice Just?

Robert M. Whaples, Michael C. Munger, Christopher J. Coyne • Published: May 31, 2023

2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in General Nonfiction

2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award

2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

  • Gold Winner in Political & Current Events

2023 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in Social Change
  • Finalist in Current Events

In Search of Monsters to Destroy

The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace
Christopher J. Coyne • Published: December 8, 2022

2024 American Legacy Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in History: United States

2023 International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in History: Military
  • Finalist in History: United States

2023 Eric Hoffer Book Award

  • Finalist

Highway Heist

America’s Crumbling Infrastructure and the Road Forward
James T. Bennett • Published: October 3, 2022

2024 American Legacy Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in History: United States
  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General

2023 International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in History: United States
  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General

2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in Current Events

2023 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

  • Silver Winner in Political and Current Events
    “Very articulate and well-researched piece of scholarship that is bound to engage audience and challenge the system.”

17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards

  • Finalist in History: United States

2022 “Best Book” Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in History: United States

2022 Hayek Book Prize (Manhattan Institute)

  • Nominee

The Right to Bear Arms

A Constitutional Right of the People or a Privilege of the Ruling Class?
Stephen P. Halbrook • Published: November 1, 2021

2021 International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in History: United States

2022 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

  • Silver Winner in Political & Current Events

Amazon.com

  • #1 New Release in Constitutions

Really Good Schools

Global Lessons for High-Caliber, Low-Cost Education
James Tooley • Published: April 12, 2021

2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in Current Events
  • Finalist in Social Justice

2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards (“IPPY” Awards)

  • Gold Medal Winner in Education Commentary/Theory

2021 American Book Fest “Best Book” Awards

  • Winner in Nonfiction: General
  • Finalist in Education/Academic

2021 International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in Education/Academic
  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General
  • Finalist in Social Change

15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards

  • Winner in Education
  • Winner in Social/Political Change
  • Finalist in Business: General
  • Finalist in Current Events

2021 Foreword INDIES

  • Finalist for Education

Amazon.com

  • #1 New Release in Business Entrepreneurship

Hot Talk, Cold Science

Global Warming’s Unfinished Debate (Revised and Expanded Third Edition)
S. Fred Singer, David R. Legates, Anthony R. Lupo • Published: September 30, 2025

15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards

  • Finalist in Current Events
  • Finalist in Social/Political Change

2021 American Book Fest “Best Book” Awards

  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General
  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction

2021 International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in Nonfiction: General
  • Finalist in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction

2021 Foreword INDIES

  • Finalist for Ecology & Environment

2022 Eric Hoffer Book Award

  • Grand Prize Finalist

Amazon.com

  • #1 New Release in Weather
  • #1 Bestseller in Environmental Studie
  • #1 Bestseller in Earth Sciences
  • #4 Bestseller in Rivers in Earth Science
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New Way to Care

Social Protections that Put Families First
John C. Goodman • Published: December 15, 2020

2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

  • Finalist in General Non-Fiction

2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards (“IPPY” Awards)

  • Silver Medal Winner in Finance/Investment/Economics

2021 American Book Fest “Best Book” Awards

  • Winner in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in Health: General
  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General
  • Finalist in Anthologies: Nonfiction

2021 International Book Awards (American Book Fest)

  • Winner in Best Cover Design: Nonfiction
  • Finalist in Health: General
  • Finalist in Nonfiction: General