“The Stiftung Buchkultur und Leseförderung des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels (Foundation for Book Culture and the Promotion of Reading of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association) has announced the winner of the German Non-Fiction Prize 2025 on Tuesday, June 17. Ulli Lust has been awarded the prestigious prize for her work “Die Frau als Mensch. Am Anfang der Geschichte” (“Woman as Human. At the Dawn of History”) published by Reprodukt.
The decision was made by a jury consisting of renowned experts in their respective fields, including Michael Hagner (ETH Zurich), Christiane Hoffmann (author), Michael Lemling (owner of “Buchhandlung Lehmkuhl” bookshop), Manuela Lenzen (science journalist), Patricia Rahemipour (Institute for Museum Research, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation), Heike Schmoll (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), and Katrin Vohland (Natural History Museum Vienna).
In their statement, the jury praised Lust’s book for its “informed and imaginative” take on the origins of humanity and the role of women in human history. They also highlighted the book’s unique approach, which combines insights from archaeology, anthropology, and art history with everyday experiences to challenge long-held assumptions about the dominant image of “man as mankind.” The jury also commended Lust for her mastery in combining images and text, expanding the genre of non-fiction in a beautiful way.
The German Non-Fiction Prize also announced the other nominees for the award, including Ingo Dachwitz & Sven Hilbig for “Digitaler Kolonialismus. Wie Tech-Konzerne und Großmächte die Welt unter sich aufteilen” (“Digital Colonialism. How Tech Companies and Great Powers Divide the World”), Aladin El-Mafaalani, Sebastian Kurtenbach & Klaus Peter Strohmeier for “Kinder – Minderheit ohne Schutz. Aufwachsen in der alternden Gesellschaft” (“Children – Minority Without Protection. Growing Up in an Aging Society”), and Franz-Stefan Gady for “Die Rückkehr des Krieges. Warum wir wieder lernen müssen, mit Krieg umzugehen” (“The Return of War. Why We Need to Learn How to Deal with War Again”).
Other nominees include Ines Geipel for “Fabelland. Der Osten, der Westen, der Zorn und das Glück” (“Fable Land. The East, the West, the Anger and the Happiness”), Martina Heßler for “Sisyphos im Maschinenraum. Eine Geschichte der Fehlbarkeit von Mensch und Technologie” (“Sisyphos in the Engine Room. A History of the Fallibility of Man and Technology”), Walburga Hülk for “Victor Hugo. Jahrhundertmensch” (“Victor Hugo. Centennial Human”), and Bernhard Kegel for “Mit Pflanzen die Welt retten. Grüne Lösungen gegen den Klimawandel” (“Saving the World with Plants. Green Solutions Against Climate Change”).
The German Non-Fiction Prize is supported by the Deutsche Bank Stiftung (Deutsche Bank Foundation) and is also backed by the City of Hamburg and Frankfurter Buchmesse. The cultural programme “aspekte” on ZDF and Deutschlandfunk Kultur are the media partners of the prize.
A press photo of the winner will be available on www.boersenverein.de/pressefotos at approximately 8 p.m.
The Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.V. is the main organizer of the German Non-Fiction Prize. For media inquiries, please contact Thomas Koch, Head of Press and Public Relations, at +49 (0) 69 1306-293 or via email at t.koch@boev.de. Robin Jung, Junior PR Manager, can also be reached at +49 (0) 69 1306-426 or via email at jung@boev.de.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/”
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.