Francis J. Gavin’s ‘Thinking Historically’ wins foreign affairs book prize

By: Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press Posted:

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TORONTO - A book that examines how historical knowledge can help make sense of the world around us has won the $50,000 Lionel Gelber Prize.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/03/2026 (193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO – A book that examines how historical knowledge can help make sense of the world around us has won the $50,000 Lionel Gelber Prize.

Johns Hopkins global affairs professor Francis J. Gavin will take home the literary award for “Thinking Historically: A Guide to Statecraft and Strategy,” published by Yale University Press.

The University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy hands out the prize for the world’s best non-fiction book in English on foreign affairs. 

Francis J. Gavin book,
Francis J. Gavin book, "Thinking Historically, A Guide to Statecraft and Strategy" is seen in this undated photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Parks Canada

The jury of international journalists, scholars and practitioners praised Gavin’s work as presenting a new framework for how to think about the world.

Jurors say the book encourages people to consider the complexities and uncertainties in the world, and leaves readers more empathetic.

Gavin will be awarded the $50,000 prize at a hybrid ceremony on April 15. 

The other books on the short list for the award were “King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion, and Catastrophic Miscalculation” by Scott Anderson; “Capitalism: A Global History” by Sven Beckert; “House of Huawei: The Secret History of China’s Most Powerful Company” by Eva Dou; and “How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation and the Fate of Nations” by Carl Benedikt Frey.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2026.

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