Thurber Prize for American Humor

The Thurber Prize for American Humor, named after American humorist, cartoonist and author James Thurber, recognizes outstanding contributions in humor writing. It was first awarded irregularly, but has been bestowed annually since 2004. The prize is given out by the Thurber House, a literary center for readers and writers located in Thurber’s onetime home in Columbus, Ohio.

2023: S.E. Boyd, for The Lemon

2022: Steven Rowley, for The Guncle

2021: James McBride, for Deacon King Kong

2020: Damon Young, for What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker

2019: Simon Rich, for Hits and Misses

2018: Patricia Lockwood, for Priestdaddy

2017: Trevor Noah, for Born a Crime

2016: Harrison Scott Key, for The World’s Largest Man

2015: Julie Schumacher, for Dear Committee Members

2014: John Kenney, for Truth In Advertising

2013: Dan Zevin, for Dan Gets a Minivan

2012: Calvin Trillin, for Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff

2011: David Rakoff, for Half Empty

2010: Steve Hely, for How I Became a Famous Novelist

2009: Ian Frazier, for Lamentations of the Father

2008: Larry Doyle, for I Love You Beth Cooper

2007: Joe Keenan, for My Lucky Star

2006: Alan Zweibel, for The Other Shula

2005: Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin, David Javerbaum and the writing staff of The Daily Show, for America (The Book)

2004: Christopher Buckley, for No Way to Treat a First Lady

2001: David Sedaris, for Me Talk Pretty One Day

1999: The Onion editorial staff, for Our Dumb Century

1997: Ian Frazier, for Coyote v. Acme