Nonfiction book publishing is dominated by men. A new prize hopes to help change that

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Go into many bookstores, and the nonfiction shelves will be dominated by men. The Women’s Prize for Nonfiction hopes to change that. A list of 16 contenders for the inaugural 30,000 pound ($38,000) award was announced on Thursday. It includes books by Naomi Klein, Patricia Evangelista, Anna Funder and Safiya Sinclair. British historian Suzannah Lipscomb, who is chairing the judging panel, says the prize is needed because “nonfiction is still perceived to some extent as a man’s game.” Six finalists will be announced on March 27, and the winner will be unveiled at a ceremony in London on June 13.