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Thurber Prize for American Humor

Literary award

Summary

Literary award

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. 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.

Honorees

YearAuthorTitleResultRef.199719992001200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Coyote v. AcmeWinnerdate=August 12, 2009title=Thurber Prize nominees announcedurl=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/thurber-prize-nominees-announced-1.802353access-date=2023-12-21website=CBC News}}
Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other ObservationsFinalist
NakedFinalist
Our Dumb CenturyWinner
Me Talk Pretty One DayWinnertitle=Past Thurber Prize Winnersurl=http://www.thurberhouse.org/past-thurber-prize-winners.htmlaccessdate=28 September 2015website=Thurber Housearchive-date=29 September 2015archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929132411/http://www.thurberhouse.org/past-thurber-prize-winners.htmlurl-status=dead }}
Big KissSpecial Honor
**Finalist
In a Sunburned CountryFinalist
Men My Mother DatedFinalist
It Takes a Village IdiotFinalist
No Way to Treat a First LadyWinner
Me and Orson WellesFinalist
**Finalist
, Ben Karlin, David Javerbaum and The Daily Show writing staffAmerica (The Book)Winner
The Borowitz Report: The Big Book of ShockersFinalist
Funny in FarsiFinalist
**Winner
Texas Hold 'Em: How I Was Born in a Manger, Died in the Saddle, and Came Back as a Horny ToadFinalist
Time Won't Let MeFinalist
My Lucky StarWinnerdate=3 October 2007title='Frasier' writer wins literary awardwork=USA Todayagency=The Associated Pressurl=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-10-03-keenan_N.htmaccess-date=28 September 2015}}
Walking In Circles Before Lying DownFinalist
I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! And Other Things That Strike Me As FunnyFinalist
I Love You, Beth CooperWinner
Him Her Him Again the End of HimFinalist
Ant Farm: And Other Desperate SituationsFinalist
Lamentations of the FatherWinner
I Was Told There'd Be CakeFinalist
Wrack and RuinFinalist
Finalist
How I Became a Famous NovelistWinner
Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?Finalistdate=August 13, 2010title=Awards: American Book Awards; Thurber Prize Shortlisturl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1255access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awarenessarchive-date=October 2, 2017archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002212337/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1255url-status=live }}
Mennonite in a Little Black DressFinalist
Half EmptyWinner
Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True StoriesFinalistlast=first=date=August 23, 2011title=Awards: James Tait Black Memorial Prizes; Thurber Finalistsurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1540access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awarenessarchive-date=November 20, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120190121/https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1540url-status=live }}
Sports from HellFinalist
Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny StuffWinnerlast=The Associated Pressdate=October 1, 2012title=Humorist Calvin Trillin wins Thurber Prizework=MassLive.comagency=url=http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/10/humorist_calvin_trillin_wins_t.htmlaccessdate=September 28, 2015archive-date=September 28, 2015archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928200143/http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/10/humorist_calvin_trillin_wins_t.htmlurl-status=live }}
Pawnee: The Greatest Town in AmericaFinalistlast=first=date=August 16, 2012title=Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humorurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1806access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awarenessarchive-date=December 20, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220212300/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1806url-status=live }}
Starting from HappyFinalist
Dan Gets a MinivanWinner
Hope: A TragedyFinalistlast=first=date=August 20, 2013title=Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor; Toronto Bookurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2066access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awarenessarchive-date=February 3, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203023642/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2066url-status=live }}
and Alan ZweibelLunaticsFinalist
Truth in AdvertisingWinner
Women on MenFinalistlast=first=date=August 14, 2014title=Awards: Thurber Prize; Gordon Burn; N.S.W. Premier's Historyurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2319url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928100331/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2319archive-date=September 28, 2021access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awareness}}
and David LettermanThis Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me)Finalist
Dear Committee MembersWinnerdate=September 25, 2015title=Native Delawarean first woman to win humor awardurl=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/entertainment/2015/09/29/native-delawarean-first-woman-win-humor-award/73024170/accessdate=September 29, 2015work=The News Journalagency=The Associated Pressarchive-date=June 12, 2018archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612185235/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/entertainment/2015/09/29/native-delawarean-first-woman-win-humor-award/73024170/url-status=live }}
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?Finalistlast=first=date=August 25, 2015title=Awards: Thurber Finalists; Cushman Winnerurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2578url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164142/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2578archive-date=December 31, 2022access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awareness}}
I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities, and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50Finalist
**Winnerdate=September 26, 2016title=Harrison Scott Key wins $5,000 James Thurber prize for humornewspaper=The Washington Postagency=The Associated Pressurl=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/harrison-scott-key-wins-5000-james-thurber-prize-for-humor/2016/09/26/2cd99f8a-844a-11e6-b57d-dd49277af02f_story.htmlurl-status=deadaccessdate=September 26, 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927013211/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/harrison-scott-key-wins-5000-james-thurber-prize-for-humor/2016/09/26/2cd99f8a-844a-11e6-b57d-dd49277af02f_story.htmlarchive-date=September 27, 2016}}
Little VictoriesFinalistlast=Kennedyfirst=Markdate=2016-08-25title=3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humorurl=https://apnews.com/3-finalists-announced-for-thurber-prize-for-american-humor-4faaa5dc1fb84e0c822af7c4af7e7c05access-date=2023-12-21website=AP Newslanguage=en}}
Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma QueenFinalist
Born a CrimeWinner
Amp'dFinalistlast=first=date=August 24, 2017title=Awards: Thurber Finalists; PEN Center USA Winnersurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3072access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awarenessarchive-date=March 27, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327004130/https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3072url-status=live }}
Mr. EternityFinalist
PriestdaddyWinner
Would Everybody Please Stop?Finalistlast=first=date=October 16, 2018title=Awards: Thurber American Humorurl=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3355access-date=December 21, 2023website=Shelf Awarenessarchive-date=December 20, 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220212300/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3355url-status=live }}
Vacationland: True Stories from Painful BeachesFinalist
Hits and MissesWinner
Look Alive Out ThereFinalist
Love Poems for Married PeopleFinalist
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You BlackerWinner
Lessons from LucyFinalistlast=first=title=2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor Finalists, 2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor, Booksurl=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/2020-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/2020-thurber-prize-for-american-humor-finalists/_/N-29Z8q8Z2vmxaccess-date=2023-12-21website=Barnes & Noblelanguage=en}}
Hollow KingdomFinalist
Deacon King KongWinner
**Finalistlast=Gilsonfirst=Nancydate=April 23, 2022title=James McBride, author of 'Deacon King Kong,' winner of Thurber Prize for American Humorurl=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/04/22/james-mcbride-wins-thurber-prize-american-humor/7369640001/access-date=2023-12-21website=The Columbus Dispatchlanguage=en-USarchive-date=2022-08-12archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812213616/https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/04/22/james-mcbride-wins-thurber-prize-american-humor/7369640001/url-status=live }}
Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is WhyFinalist
**Winner
You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward MobilityFinalisttitle=22nd Thurber Prize for American Humorurl=https://columbusunderground.com/events/22nd-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/access-date=2023-12-21website=Columbus Undergroundagency=The Thurber Prize for American Humorarchive-date=2023-04-01archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401054519/https://columbusunderground.com/events/22nd-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/url-status=live }}
**Finalist
**Winner
DisorientationFinalist
Ms. DemeanorFinalist
Alexandra Petri's US HistoryWinner
Griefstrike!Finalist
The Society of ShameFinalist

References

References

  1. (25 August 2015). "Thurber Prize for American Humor Announces First All-Female Trio of Finalists". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
  2. "Thurber House — PAST THURBER PRIZE WINNERS AND FINALISTS — Literary Center and James Thurber Museum".
  3. "Past Finalists & Winners".
  4. (August 12, 2009). "Thurber Prize nominees announced".
  5. "Past Thurber Prize Winners".
  6. (November 16, 2004). "Buckley receives Thurber prize for humor".
  7. (November 16, 2005). "Prizes: Whitbread Shortlist; Thurber Smiles On America".
  8. (November 7, 2006). "Awards: Goncourt, Hurston/Wright, Thurber".
  9. (3 October 2007). "'Frasier' writer wins literary award". [[USA Today]].
  10. (October 3, 2007). "Awards: Joe Keenan Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  11. McEvoy, Dermot. (October 3, 2007). "Joe Keenan Wins Thurber Prize".
  12. (October 7, 2008). "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  13. (August 20, 2008). "Awards: Thurber Prize Finalists".
  14. Bloom, Julie. (2008-08-19). "Thurber Prize Finalists". [[The New York Times]].
  15. (October 6, 2009). "Awards: Thurber Winner; Writers' Trust of Canada".
  16. (August 13, 2009). "Awards: Thurber Prize, Financial Times Goldman Sachs Finalists".
  17. (October 5, 2010). "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner".
  18. (August 13, 2010). "Awards: American Book Awards; Thurber Prize Shortlist".
  19. (October 4, 2011). "Awards: Neustadt Prize, Thurber Prize Winners".
  20. (October 4, 2011). "Rakoff Wins Thurber Prize for Humor".
  21. (August 23, 2011). "Awards: James Tait Black Memorial Prizes; Thurber Finalists".
  22. [[The Associated Press]]. (October 1, 2012). "Humorist Calvin Trillin wins Thurber Prize". [[MassLive.com]].
  23. (October 2, 2012). "Awards: Thurber Winner; Forward Prize for Poetry".
  24. (August 16, 2012). "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  25. (August 15, 2012). "Thurber Prize Finalists Announced".
  26. (October 1, 2013). "Awards: Thurber; Samuel Johnson; Rogers Writers' Trust".
  27. (August 20, 2013). "Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor; Toronto Book".
  28. (October 1, 2014). "Awards: Thurber; Maine Readers' Choice; Kirkus Prize".
  29. (August 14, 2014). "Awards: Thurber Prize; Gordon Burn; N.S.W. Premier's History".
  30. (August 14, 2014). "Letterman Named 2014 Thurber Finalist".
  31. (September 25, 2015). "Native Delawarean first woman to win humor award". [[The News Journal]].
  32. Czajkowski, Elise. (2015-09-29). "Julie Schumacher becomes first woman to win Thurber prize for humor writing". [[The Guardian]].
  33. (September 29, 2015). "Awards: Thurber Winner; Forward for Best Poetry Collection".
  34. (August 25, 2015). "Awards: Thurber Finalists; Cushman Winner".
  35. (2015-08-24). "3 finalists for Thurber Prize for American Humor are women".
  36. (September 26, 2016). "Harrison Scott Key wins $5,000 James Thurber prize for humor". [[The Washington Post]].
  37. (September 27, 2016). "Awards: Thurber Winner; Scotiabank Giller Shortlist".
  38. Kennedy, Mark. (2016-08-25). "3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  39. (2016-08-25). "3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  40. (October 3, 2017). "But seriously ... Trevor Noah wins Thurber humor award".
  41. (October 3, 2017). "Awards: Thurber Prize; Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence".
  42. (August 24, 2017). "Awards: Thurber Finalists; PEN Center USA Winners".
  43. (August 23, 2017). "Thurber Prize for American Humor 2017 Finalists Announced".
  44. (December 10, 2018). "Awards: Thurber Prize; Grammy Nominations".
  45. (October 16, 2018). "Awards: Thurber American Humor".
  46. (2018-10-15). "Thurber House announces 2018 finalists for humor prize".
  47. "2019 Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner".
  48. (June 1, 2021). "Awards: Thurber Winner; Orwell Book Shortlists".
  49. Schaub, Michael. (May 24, 2021). "Damon Young Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  50. "2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor Finalists, 2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor, Books".
  51. "Past Thurber Prize Winners".
  52. Gilson, Nancy. (April 23, 2022). "James McBride, author of 'Deacon King Kong,' winner of Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  53. "Our past finalists & winners of The Prize".
  54. "22nd Thurber Prize for American Humor".
  55. (2025-05-12). "The Atlantic Hires Alexandra Petri as Staff Writer".
  56. Cristi, A. A.. "The 2025 Thurber Prize for American Humor To Be Awarded This Month".
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