National Book Award
From Academic Kids
The National Book Awards is the most important literary prize in the United States, presented annually for the best book by a living US citizen published in the US.
The awards have been presented since 1950 in at least one category, and is presently awarded in each of four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people's literature. Over the years, awards in several categories have been retired or subsumed into other categories.
The winners, selected in each category by five-member, independent judging panels, each receive a US$ 10,000 cash prize and a crystal sculpture. The National Book Foundation administers the awards.
Winners of the National Book Awards
Current categories
Fiction
Nonfiction
Poetry
Young People's Literature
Previous categories
In 1964, the categories Arts and Letters, History and Biography & Science, Philosophy and Religion categories had the addendum (Nonfiction).
In 1981, Children's Books, Fiction was called Children's Book, Fiction; and in 1983 it was called Children's Fiction.
In 1981, Children's Books, Non-fiction was called Children's Book, Nonfiction.
In 1983 Children's Books, Picture Books was called Children's Books, Picture Books.
First Novel
| 1980 | William Wharton | Birdy |
| 1981 | Ann Arensberg | Sister Wolf |
| 1982 | Robb Forman Dew | Dale Loves Sophie to Death |
| 1983 | Gloria Naylor | The Women of Brewster Place |
First Work of Fiction
| 1984 | Harriet Doerr | Stones for Ibarra |
| 1985 | Bob Shacochis | Easy in the Islands |
Science Fiction
| 1980 Hardcover | Frederik Pohl | Jem |
| 1980 Paperback | Walter Wangerin, Jr. | The Book of the Dun Cow |
Mystery
| 1980 Hardcover | John D. MacDonald | The Green Ripper |
Western
| 1980 | Louis L'Amour | Bendigo Shafter |
Original Paperback
| 1983 | Lisa Goldstein | The Red Magician |
General Nonfiction
| 1980 Hardcover | Tom Wolfe | The Right Stuff |
| 1980 Paperback | Peter Matthiessen | The Snow Leopard |
| 1981 Hardcover | Maxine Hong Kingston | China Men |
| 1981 Paperback | Jane Kramer | The Last Cowboy |
| 1982 Hardcover | Tracy Kidder | The Soul of a New Machine |
| 1982 Paperback | Victor S. Navasky | Naming Names |
| 1983 Hardcover | Fox Butterfield | China: Alive in the Bitter Sea |
| 1983 Paperback | James Fallows | National Defense |
Arts and Letters
History and Biography
History
Biography
Biography and Autobiography
| 1977 | W. A. Swanberg | Norman Thomas: The Last Idealist |
| 1978 | W. Jackson Bate | Samuel Johnson |
| 1979 | Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. | Robert Kennedy and His Times |
Autobiography
| 1980 Hardcover | Lauren Bacall | Lauren Bacall by Myself |
| 1980 Paperback | Malcolm Cowley | And I Worked at the Writer's Trade: Chapters of Literary History 1918-1978 |
Autobiography/Biography
Science, Philosophy and Religion
The Sciences
Science
Philosophy and Religion
Religion/Inspiration
| 1980 Hardcover | Elaine Pagels | The Gnostic Gospels |
| 1980 Paperback | Sheldon Vanauken | A Severe Mercy |
Contemporary Affairs
Contemporary Thought
| 1977 | Bruno Bettelheim | The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales |
| 1978 | Gloria Emerson | Winners & Losers |
| 1979 | Peter Matthiessen | The Snow Leopard |
Current Interest
| 1980 Hardcover | Julia Child | Julia Child and More Company |
| 1980 Paperback | Christopher Lasch | The Culture of Narcissism |
General Reference Books
| 1980 Hardcover | Elder Witt (ed.) | The Complete Directory |
| 1980 Paperback | Tim Brooks & Earle Marsh | The Complete Directory of Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present |