For a distinguished book of nonfiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Awarded to "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11" by Lawrence Wright (Alfred A. Knopf).
Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness" by Pete Earley (G.P. PutnamÕs Sons), and "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq" by Thomas E. Ricks (The Penguin Press).