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Non-Fiction category

Finance and money book awards

Recognition for books about money that a reader in an ordinary situation can actually act on. Every book is read in full and measured against our published Standard of Excellence.

Entry from $79
Result in 10-12 weeks
Published 2020 or later

What this category recognizes

Money writing is assessed on whether it is usable by the reader it claims to serve. Advice that assumes disposable income, financial literacy, or a stable job is not usable by most people who pick up a book about money.

The category covers personal finance, debt and its escape, saving and budgeting, investing, retirement, financial independence, money psychology, and financial literacy for beginners.

Responsibility is assessed directly here. Books making claims about returns or outcomes are expected to be clear about risk and about what they cannot promise.

What the standard looks like here

The ten pillars apply to every category. This is how each one is read when the book is about money.

The Writing

Pillars 1-3

Voice, Tone and Style

Whether the author writes without judgement toward readers in difficulty.

Craft and Technical Execution

Whether numbers and mechanisms are explained clearly to a reader without a financial background.

Structure and Organization

Whether the book meets the reader where they are rather than requiring them to start at chapter one.

The Substance

Pillars 4-5

Originality and Concept Strength

Whether it contributes beyond widely available financial advice.

Depth of Content and Insight

Whether it acknowledges risk, circumstance, and the situations where the approach does not apply.

The Reader

Pillars 6-8

Audience Impact and Purpose Fulfillment

Whether a reader could act on it with the resources they actually have.

Emotional and Psychological Impact

Whether the reader finishes feeling capable rather than behind.

Overall Impact and Distinction

Whether something changes in how the reader handles money.

The Finished Book

Pillars 9-10

Production Quality and Presentation

Trade-standard production, with legible tables and worked examples where used.

Category Relevance

Whether money is genuinely the subject.

Questions about entering a finance and money book

Do I need financial credentials?

No. Books written from experience are assessed as seriously as those written from practice, provided the book is clear about which it is.

My book is about a specific investment approach. Is it eligible?

Yes, and it is assessed including on whether risk is presented honestly.

Is a book about money and mindset eligible here or in Self-Help?

Either, or both. Enter where the center of gravity sits.

Submit your finance and money book

Entry is $79 for your first category. Your complete manuscript is read in full and measured against the ten pillars.