Thurber Prize for American Humor

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The Thurber Prize for American Humor, named after American humorist James Thurber, recognizes outstanding contributions in humor writing. The prize is given out by the Thurber House. It was first awarded irregularly, but since 2004 has been bestowed annually. In 2015, the finalists were for the first time, all women. [1] Winners of the Thurber Prize have included authors from an array of diverse backgrounds, from The Daily Show hosts Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah to The New Yorker staff writers Calvin Trillin and Ian Frazier, as well as university professors Julie Schumacher and Harrison Scott Key. [2]

Contents

Honorees

Award winners and finalists [3]
YearAuthorTitleResultRef.
1997 Ian Frazier Coyote v. AcmeWinner [4]
Al Franken Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations Finalist
David Sedaris Naked Finalist
1999 The Onion editorial staff Our Dumb Century Winner
2001 David Sedaris Me Talk Pretty One Day Winner [5]
Henry Alford Big KissSpecial Honor
Andy Borowitz The Trillionaire Next DoorFinalist
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country Finalist
Brett Leveridge Men My Mother DatedFinalist
Jim MullenIt Takes a Village IdiotFinalist
2004 Christopher Buckley No Way to Treat a First Lady Winner [6]
Robert Kaplow Me and Orson WellesFinalist
Dan Zevin The Day I Turned UncoolFinalist
2005 Jon Stewart , Ben Karlin, David Javerbaum and The Daily Show writing staff America (The Book) Winner [7]
Andy Borowitz The Borowitz Report: The Big Book of ShockersFinalist
Firoozeh Dumas Funny in Farsi Finalist
2006 Alan Zweibel The Other ShulmaWinner [8]
Kinky Friedman Texas Hold 'Em: How I Was Born in a Manger, Died in the Saddle, and Came Back as a Horny ToadFinalist
Bill Scheft Time Won't Let MeFinalist
2007 Joe Keenan My Lucky Star Winner [9] [10] [11]
Merrill Markoe Walking In Circles Before Lying DownFinalist
Bob Newhart I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! And Other Things That Strike Me As FunnyFinalist
2008 Larry Doyle I Love You Beth Cooper Winner [12]
Patricia Marx Him Her Him Again The End of HimFinalist [13] [14]
Simon Rich Ant Farm: And Other Desperate SituationsFinalist [13] [14]
2009 Ian Frazier Lamentations of the FatherWinner [15]
Sloane Crosley I Was Told There'd Be Cake Finalist [4] [16]
Don Lee Wrack and RuinFinalist [4] [16]
Laurie Notaro The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of DeathFinalist [4] [16]
2010 Steve Hely How I Became a Famous NovelistWinner [17]
Jancee Dunn Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?Finalist [18]
Rhoda Janzen Mennonite in a Little Black DressFinalist [18]
2011 David Rakoff Half EmptyWinner [19] [20]
Mike Birbiglia Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True StoriesFinalist [21]
Rick Reilly Sports from HellFinalist [21]
2012 Calvin Trillin Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny StuffWinner [22] [23]
Nate DiMeo Pawnee: The Greatest Town in AmericaFinalist [24] [25]
Patricia Marx Starting from HappyFinalist [24] [25]
2013 Dan Zevin Dan Gets a MinivanWinner [26]
Shalom Auslander Hope: A TragedyFinalist [27]
Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel LunaticsFinalist [27]
2014John KenneyTruth in AdvertisingWinner [28]
Liza Donnelly Women on MenFinalist [29] [30]
Bruce McCall and David Letterman This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me)Finalist [29] [30]
2015 Julie Schumacher Dear Committee MembersWinner [31] [32] [33]
Roz Chast Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Finalist [34] [35]
Annabelle Gurwitch I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities, and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50Finalist [34] [35]
2016 Harrison Scott Key The World's Largest ManWinner [36] [37]
Jason GayLittle VictoriesFinalist [38] [39]
Mary Norris Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen Finalist [38] [39]
2017 Trevor Noah Born a Crime Winner [40] [41]
Ken Pisani Amp'dFinalist [42] [43]
Aaron Thier Mr. EternityFinalist [42] [43]
2018 Patricia Lockwood Priestdaddy Winner [44]
Jenny Allen Would Everybody Please Stop?Finalist [45] [46]
John Hodgman Vacationland: True Stories from Painful BeachesFinalist [45] [46]
2019 Simon Rich Hits and MissesWinner [47]
Sloane Crosley Look Alive Out ThereFinalist
John KenneyLove Poems for Married PeopleFinalist
2020 Damon Young What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker Winner [48] [49]
Dave Barry Lessons from LucyFinalist [50]
Kira Jane Buxton Hollow Kingdom Finalist [50]
2021 James McBride Deacon King Kong Winner [51]
Mike Birbiglia The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant DadFinalist [52]
Alexandra Petri Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is WhyFinalist [52]
2022Steven RowleyThe GuncleWinner [53]
Annabelle Gurwitch You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward MobilityFinalist [54]
Danielle Henderson The Ugly CryFinalist [54]

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References

  1. ↑ Armao, Mark (25 August 2015). "Thurber Prize for American Humor Announces First All-Female Trio of Finalists". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Thurber House — PAST THURBER PRIZE WINNERS AND FINALISTS — Literary Center and James Thurber Museum". Thurber House. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Past Finalists & Winners". The Thurber Prize. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Thurber Prize nominees announced". CBC News . August 12, 2009. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  5. ↑ "Past Thurber Prize Winners". Thurber House . Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Buckley receives Thurber prize for humor". Today . November 16, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Prizes: Whitbread Shortlist; Thurber Smiles On America". Shelf Awareness . November 16, 2005. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Awards: Goncourt, Hurston/Wright, Thurber". Shelf Awareness . November 7, 2006. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ "'Frasier' writer wins literary award". USA Today . The Associated Press. 3 October 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Awards: Joe Keenan Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor". Shelf Awareness . October 3, 2007. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ McEvoy, Dermot (October 3, 2007). "Joe Keenan Wins Thurber Prize". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  12. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor". Shelf Awareness . October 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber Prize Finalists". Shelf Awareness . August 20, 2008. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Bloom, Julie (2008-08-19). "Thurber Prize Finalists". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  15. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Winner; Writers' Trust of Canada". Shelf Awareness . October 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 "Awards: Thurber Prize, Financial Times Goldman Sachs Finalists". Shelf Awareness . August 13, 2009. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner". Shelf Awareness . October 5, 2010. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Awards: American Book Awards; Thurber Prize Shortlist". Shelf Awareness . August 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Awards: Neustadt Prize, Thurber Prize Winners". Shelf Awareness . October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Rakoff Wins Thurber Prize for Humor". PublishersWeekly.com. October 4, 2011. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  21. 1 2 "Awards: James Tait Black Memorial Prizes; Thurber Finalists". Shelf Awareness . August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  22. ↑ The Associated Press (October 1, 2012). "Humorist Calvin Trillin wins Thurber Prize". MassLive.com . Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Winner; Forward Prize for Poetry". Shelf Awareness . October 2, 2012. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor". Shelf Awareness . August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  25. 1 2 "Thurber Prize Finalists Announced". PublishersWeekly.com. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  26. ↑ "Awards: Thurber; Samuel Johnson; Rogers Writers' Trust". Shelf Awareness . October 1, 2013. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  27. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor; Toronto Book". Shelf Awareness . August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Awards: Thurber; Maine Readers' Choice; Kirkus Prize". Shelf Awareness . October 1, 2014. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber Prize; Gordon Burn; N.S.W. Premier's History". Shelf Awareness . August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Letterman Named 2014 Thurber Finalist". PublishersWeekly.com. August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  31. ↑ "Native Delawarean first woman to win humor award". The News Journal . The Associated Press. September 25, 2015. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  32. ↑ Czajkowski, Elise (2015-09-29). "Julie Schumacher becomes first woman to win Thurber prize for humor writing". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  33. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Winner; Forward for Best Poetry Collection". Shelf Awareness . September 29, 2015. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  34. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber Finalists; Cushman Winner". Shelf Awareness . August 25, 2015. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  35. 1 2 "3 finalists for Thurber Prize for American Humor are women". Chicago Tribune . Associated Press. 2015-08-24. Archived from the original on 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  36. ↑ "Harrison Scott Key wins $5,000 James Thurber prize for humor". The Washington Post . The Associated Press. September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Winner; Scotiabank Giller Shortlist". Shelf Awareness . September 27, 2016. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  38. 1 2 Kennedy, Mark (2016-08-25). "3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humor". AP News . Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  39. 1 2 "3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humor". AP News . 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  40. ↑ "But seriously ... Trevor Noah wins Thurber humor award". LA Times . October 3, 2017. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Prize; Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence". Shelf Awareness . October 3, 2017. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  42. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber Finalists; PEN Center USA Winners". Shelf Awareness . August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  43. 1 2 "Thurber Prize for American Humor 2017 Finalists Announced". Publishers Weekly . August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-08-23. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  44. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Prize; Grammy Nominations". Shelf Awareness . December 10, 2018. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  45. 1 2 "Awards: Thurber American Humor". Shelf Awareness . October 16, 2018. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  46. 1 2 "Thurber House announces 2018 finalists for humor prize". AP News . 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  47. ↑ "2019 Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner". Thurber House. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Awards: Thurber Winner; Orwell Book Shortlists". Shelf Awareness . June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  49. ↑ Schaub, Michael (May 24, 2021). "Damon Young Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor". Kirkus Reviews . Archived from the original on 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  50. 1 2 "2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor Finalists, 2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor, Books". Barnes & Noble . Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  51. ↑ "Past Thurber Prize Winners". Thurber House. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  52. 1 2 Gilson, Nancy (April 23, 2022). "James McBride, author of 'Deacon King Kong,' winner of Thurber Prize for American Humor". The Columbus Dispatch . Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  53. ↑ "Our past finalists & winners of The Prize". Thurber Prize. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  54. 1 2 "22nd Thurber Prize for American Humor". Columbus Underground . The Thurber Prize for American Humor. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
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