Five books have been shortlisted for the 2024 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.

The $25,000 prize, awarded annually by the Writers’ Trust of Canada, honours a book of literary merit that has the potential to shape Canadians’ thinking on political life. Previous winners have included Tanya Talaga, Kamal Al-Solaylee, and last year’s winner, Chris Turner.

The shortlisted books are:

• Not Here: Why American Democracy Is Eroding and How Canada Can Protect Itself by Rob Goodman (Simon & Schuster Canada)
• Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial by Benjamin Perrin (Aevo UTP)
• Canada: Beyond Grudges, Grievances, and Disunity by Donald J. Savoie (McGill-Queen’s University Press)
• The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart by Astra Taylor (House of Anansi Press)
• Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast by John Vaillant (Knopf Canada)

The shortlisted books were selected by a jury comprised of past prize winner Joanna Chiu, past prize finalist Dale Eisler, and former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne. Jurors read 46 titles submitted by 28 imprints.

The winner will be announced on May 7 at the Politics and the Pen gala in Ottawa.