2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards

OUTSTANDING BOOKS OF THE YEAR

For 38 years our mission at Independent Publisher has been to recognize and encourage the work of publishers who exhibit the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground, and bring about change, not only to the world of publishing, but to our society.

These medalists were chosen from our regular entries for exemplifying this daring spirit -- the book projects our judges found the most heartfelt, unique, outspoken and experimental among all the entries. All of these books earned IPPY Award gold medals.

Congratulations to this year's Outstanding Books of the Year!

 

Most Original Concept

Pink Satin Sashes: My Life in Sketches, Swatches and Paper Dolls 

by Debra Mack Larson

(Larson Design)

 

Best Book Arts Craftsmanship 
 

 

Co-Specs: Recipes & Histories of Classic Cocktails

by Cas Oh; book design by United Creatives Ltd.

(Cazerac Ltd.)

 

 

Most Outstanding Design
 

Bosco Sodi

by Dakin Hart, Juan Manuel Bonet & Matthew J. Abrams; design by SARCO

(Rizzoli Electra)

 

 

Most Likely to Save the Planet (tie)
 

HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene

by Jo-Anne McArthur & Keith Wilson

(We Animals Media)

 

The Human Earthing Identity: Shared Values Unifying Human Rights, Animal Rights, and Environmental Movements

by Carrie P. Freeman

(The University of Georgia Press)

 

 

Independent Spirit Award (tie)
 

The Analog Sea Review: An Offline Journal (Number Three)

Edited by Jonathan S. Simon, Janos Tedeschi, and Elena Fritz

(Analog Sea)

 

Three Simple Lines: A Writer’s Pilgrimage into the Heart and Homeland of Haiku,

by Natalie Goldberg

(New World Library)

 

 

Independent Voice Award
 

A History of the Cat in Nine Chapters or Less

by Fu Shivani

(C&R Press)

  

 

Freedom Fighter

Freiheit! The White Rose Graphic Novel

by Andrea Grosso Ciponte

(Plough Publishing House)

 

 

PeACemAKer (tie)

Finding Home: Portraits and Memories of Immigrants

Written and Photographed by Becky Field 

(Peter E. Randall Publisher)

 

Another Life is Possible: Insights from 100 Years of Life Together

by Clare Stober; photography by Danny Burrows

(Plough Publishing House)