Thurber Prize for American Humor

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.{{cite news|last1=Armao|first1=Mark|title=Thurber Prize for American Humor Announces First All-Female Trio of Finalists|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/08/25/thurber-prize-for-american-humor-announces-first-all-female-trio-of-finalists/|accessdate=28 September 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=25 August 2015|archive-date=29 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929024452/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/08/25/thurber-prize-for-american-humor-announces-first-all-female-trio-of-finalists/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Thurber House — PAST THURBER PRIZE WINNERS AND FINALISTS — Literary Center and James Thurber Museum|url=https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winners-and-finalists|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=Thurber House|language=en-US|archive-date=November 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125042550/https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winners-and-finalists/|url-status=dead}}

Honorees

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

|+Award winners and finalists{{Cite web |title=Past Finalists & Winners |url=https://www.thurberprize.org/past-finalists-winners |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=The Thurber Prize |language=en |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926215513/https://www.thurberprize.org/past-finalists-winners |url-status=live }}

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan=3 |1997

|{{sortname|last=Frazier|first=Ian}}

|Coyote v. Acme

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2009 |title=Thurber Prize nominees announced |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/thurber-prize-nominees-announced-1.802353 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=CBC News}}

{{sortname|last=Franken|first=Al}}

|Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Sedaris|first=David}}

|Naked

|Finalist

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!1999

|{{sort|Onion editorial staff|The Onion editorial staff}}

|Our Dumb Century

|Winner

|

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! rowspan="6" |2001

|{{sortname|last=Sedaris|first=David}}

|Me Talk Pretty One Day

|Winner

|{{cite web |title=Past Thurber Prize Winners |url=http://www.thurberhouse.org/past-thurber-prize-winners.html |accessdate=28 September 2015 |website=Thurber House |archive-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929132411/http://www.thurberhouse.org/past-thurber-prize-winners.html |url-status=dead }}

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|{{sortname|last=Alford|first=Henry|dab=writer}}

|Big Kiss

|Special Honor

{{sortname|last=Borowitz|first=Andy}}

|{{sort|Trillionaire Next Door|The Trillionaire Next Door}}

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Bryson|first=Bill}}

|In a Sunburned Country

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Leveridge|first=Brett|nolink=1}}

|Men My Mother Dated

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Mullen|first=Jim|nolink=1}}

|It Takes a Village Idiot

|Finalist

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! rowspan="3" |2004

|{{sortname|last=Buckley|first=Christopher|dab=novelist}}

|No Way to Treat a First Lady

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2004 |title=Buckley receives Thurber prize for humor |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/buckley-receives-thurber-prize-humor-wbna6502636 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Today |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Kaplow|first=Robert}}

|Me and Orson Welles

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Zevin|first=Dan|nolink=1}}

|{{sort|Day I Turned Uncool|The Day I Turned Uncool}}

|Finalist

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! rowspan="3" |2005

|{{sortname|last=Stewart|first=Jon}}, Ben Karlin, David Javerbaum and The Daily Show writing staff

|America (The Book)

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2005 |title=Prizes: Whitbread Shortlist; Thurber Smiles On America |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=94 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002073118/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=94 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Borowitz|first=Andy}}

|The Borowitz Report: The Big Book of Shockers

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Dumas|first=Firoozeh}}

|Funny in Farsi

|Finalist

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! rowspan="3" |2006

|{{sortname|last=Zweibel|first=Alan}}

|{{sort|Other Shulman|The Other Shulman}}

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2006 |title=Awards: Goncourt, Hurston/Wright, Thurber |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=316 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001224947/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=316 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Friedman|first=Kinky}}

|Texas Hold 'Em: How I Was Born in a Manger, Died in the Saddle, and Came Back as a Horny Toad

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Scheft|first=Bill}}

|Time Won't Let Me

|Finalist

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! rowspan="3" |2007

|{{sortname|last=Keenan|first=Joe|dab=writer}}

|My Lucky Star

|Winner

|{{cite news |date=3 October 2007 |title='Frasier' writer wins literary award |work=USA Today |agency=The Associated Press |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-10-03-keenan_N.htm |access-date=28 September 2015}}{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2007 |title=Awards: Joe Keenan Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=529 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=August 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811202821/http://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=529 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Dermot |date=October 3, 2007 |title=Joe Keenan Wins Thurber Prize |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/9724-joe-keenan-wins-thurber-prize.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Markoe|first=Merrill}}

|Walking In Circles Before Lying Down

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Newhart|first=Bob}}

|I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! And Other Things That Strike Me As Funny

|Finalist

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! rowspan="3" |2008

|{{sortname|last=Doyle|first=Larry|dab=writer}}

|I Love You Beth Cooper

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2008 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=775 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924185245/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=775 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Marx|first=Patricia}}

|Him Her Him Again The End of Him

|Finalist

|rowspan=2|{{Cite web |date=August 20, 2008 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize Finalists |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=742 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002025208/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=742 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Bloom |first=Julie |date=2008-08-19 |title=Thurber Prize Finalists |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/arts/20arts-THURBERPRIZE_BRF.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2022-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126021229/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/arts/20arts-THURBERPRIZE_BRF.html |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Rich|first=Simon}}

|Ant Farm: And Other Desperate Situations

|Finalist

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! rowspan="4" |2009

|{{sortname|last=Frazier|first=Ian}}

|Lamentations of the Father

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 6, 2009 |title=Awards: Thurber Winner; Writers' Trust of Canada |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1024 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001230747/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1024 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Crosley|first=Sloane}}

|I Was Told There'd Be Cake

|Finalist

|rowspan=2|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 13, 2009 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize, Financial Times Goldman Sachs Finalists |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=986 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001223839/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=986 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Lee|first=Don|dab=author}}

|Wrack and Ruin

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Notaro|first=Laurie}}

|{{Sort|Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death|The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death}}

|Finalist

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! rowspan="3" |2010

|{{sortname|last=Hely|first=Steve}}

|How I Became a Famous Novelist

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 5, 2010 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1297 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928101719/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1297 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Dunn|first=Jancee}}

|Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2010 |title=Awards: American Book Awards; Thurber Prize Shortlist |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1255 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002212337/http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1255 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Janzen|first=Rhoda}}

|Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

|Finalist

|

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! rowspan="3" |2011

|{{sortname|last=Rakoff|first=David}}

|Half Empty

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Awards: Neustadt Prize, Thurber Prize Winners |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1572 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203121002/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1572 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Rakoff Wins Thurber Prize for Humor |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/48943-rakoff-wins-thurber-prize-for-humor.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Birbiglia|first=Mike}}

|Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 23, 2011 |title=Awards: James Tait Black Memorial Prizes; Thurber Finalists |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1540 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120190121/https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1540 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Reilly|first=Rick}}

|Sports from Hell

|Finalist

|

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! rowspan="3" |2012

|{{sortname|last=Trillin|first=Calvin}}

|Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff

|Winner

|{{cite news |last=The Associated Press |date=October 1, 2012 |title=Humorist Calvin Trillin wins Thurber Prize |work=MassLive.com |agency= |url=http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/10/humorist_calvin_trillin_wins_t.html |accessdate=September 28, 2015 |archive-date=September 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928200143/http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/10/humorist_calvin_trillin_wins_t.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 2, 2012 |title=Awards: Thurber Winner; Forward Prize for Poetry |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1840 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216113933/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1840 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=DiMeo|first=Nate}}

|Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 16, 2012 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1806 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220212300/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1806 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2012 |title=Thurber Prize Finalists Announced |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/53567-thurber-prize-finalists-announced.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en |archive-date=2012-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124051301/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/53567-thurber-prize-finalists-announced.html |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Marx|first=Patricia}}

|Starting from Happy

|Finalist

|

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! rowspan="3" |2013

|{{sortname|last=Zevin|first=Dan|nolink=1}}

|Dan Gets a Minivan

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 1, 2013 |title=Awards: Thurber; Samuel Johnson; Rogers Writers' Trust |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2096 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517035735/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2096 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Auslander|first=Shalom}}

|Hope: A Tragedy

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 20, 2013 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize for American Humor; Toronto Book |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2066 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203023642/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2066 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Barry|first=Dave}} and Alan Zweibel

|Lunatics

|Finalist

|

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! rowspan="3" |2014

|{{sortname|last=Kenney|first=John|nolink=1}}

|Truth in Advertising

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 1, 2014 |title=Awards: Thurber; Maine Readers' Choice; Kirkus Prize |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2354 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307140015/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2354 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Donnelly|first=Liza}}

|Women on Men

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 14, 2014 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize; Gordon Burn; N.S.W. Premier's History |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928100331/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2319 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness}}{{Cite web |date=August 14, 2014 |title=Letterman Named 2014 Thurber Finalist |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/63665-letterman-named-2014-thurber-finalist.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520134957/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/63665-letterman-named-2014-thurber-finalist.html |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=McCall|first=Bruce}} and David Letterman

|This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me)

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2015

|{{sortname|last=Schumacher|first=Julie}}

|Dear Committee Members

|Winner

|{{cite web |date=September 25, 2015 |title=Native Delawarean first woman to win humor award |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/entertainment/2015/09/29/native-delawarean-first-woman-win-humor-award/73024170/ |accessdate=September 29, 2015 |work=The News Journal |agency=The Associated Press |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-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 }}{{Cite news |last=Czajkowski |first=Elise |date=2015-09-29 |title=Julie Schumacher becomes first woman to win Thurber prize for humor writing |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/29/julie-schumacher-writer-thurber-prize-first-woman |access-date=2023-12-21 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2023-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629042832/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/29/julie-schumacher-writer-thurber-prize-first-woman |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 29, 2015 |title=Awards: Thurber Winner; Forward for Best Poetry Collection |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2602 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925084449/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2602 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Chast|first=Roz}}

|Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 25, 2015 |title=Awards: Thurber Finalists; Cushman Winner |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2578 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164142/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2578 |archive-date=December 31, 2022 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness}}{{Cite web |date=2015-08-24 |title=3 finalists for Thurber Prize for American Humor are women |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/chi-thurber-prize-book-finalists-humor-women-20150824-story.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=2021-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204139/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/chi-thurber-prize-book-finalists-humor-women-20150824-story.html |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Gurwitch|first=Annabelle}}

|I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities, and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2016

|{{sortname|last=Key|first=Harrison Scott}}

|{{sort|World's Largest Man|The World's Largest Man}}

|Winner

|{{cite news |date=September 26, 2016 |title=Harrison Scott Key wins $5,000 James Thurber prize for humor |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=The Associated Press |url=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.html |url-status=dead |accessdate=September 26, 2016 |archive-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.html |archive-date=September 27, 2016}}{{Cite web |last= |date=September 27, 2016 |title=Awards: Thurber Winner; Scotiabank Giller Shortlist |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2847 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605034022/https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2847 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Gay|first=Jason|nolink=1}}

|Little Victories

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Mark |date=2016-08-25 |title=3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://apnews.com/3-finalists-announced-for-thurber-prize-for-american-humor-4faaa5dc1fb84e0c822af7c4af7e7c05 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-08-25 |title=3 finalists announced for Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://apnews.com/3-finalists-announced-for-thurber-prize-for-american-humor-4faaa5dc1fb84e0c822af7c4af7e7c05 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Norris|first=Mary|dab=copy editor}}

|Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2017

|{{sortname|last=Noah|first=Trevor}}

|Born a Crime

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2017|title=But seriously ... Trevor Noah wins Thurber humor award |url=http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-us--books-trevor-noah-20171003-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003064554/http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-us--books-trevor-noah-20171003-story.html |archive-date=October 3, 2017|access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=LA Times}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 3, 2017 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize; Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3099 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322134752/https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3099 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Pisani|first=Ken}}

|Amp'd

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 24, 2017 |title=Awards: Thurber Finalists; PEN Center USA Winners |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3072 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327004130/https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3072 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2017 |title=Thurber Prize for American Humor 2017 Finalists Announced |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=1463 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Publishers Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2020-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823225228/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=1463 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Thier|first=Aaron}}

|Mr. Eternity

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2018

|{{sortname|last=Lockwood|first=Patricia}}

|Priestdaddy

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 10, 2018 |title=Awards: Thurber Prize; Grammy Nominations |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3392 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127120052/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3392 |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Allen|first=Jenny}}

|Would Everybody Please Stop?

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 16, 2018 |title=Awards: Thurber American Humor |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3355 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220212300/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3355 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2018-10-15 |title=Thurber House announces 2018 finalists for humor prize |url=https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-172b79d57c324a03bded2fea016cd4ce |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Hodgman|first=John}}

|Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2019

|{{sortname|last=Rich|first=Simon}}

|Hits and Misses

|Winner

|{{Cite web |title=2019 Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner |url=https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104075421/https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winner |archive-date=January 4, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2020|website=Thurber House}}

{{sortname|last=Crosley|first=Sloane}}

|Look Alive Out There

|Finalist

|

{{sortname|last=Kenney|first=John|nolink=1}}

|Love Poems for Married People

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2020

|{{sortname|last=Young|first=Damon|dab=writer}}

|What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Awards: Thurber Winner; Orwell Book Shortlists |url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3997 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Shelf Awareness |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203025142/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3997 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Schaub |first=Michael |date=May 24, 2021 |title=Damon Young Wins Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/damon-young-wins-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Kirkus Reviews |language=en |archive-date=2021-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606203323/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/damon-young-wins-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/ |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Barry|first=Dave}}

|Lessons from Lucy

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor Finalists, 2020 Thurber Prize for American Humor, Books |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/2020-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/2020-thurber-prize-for-american-humor-finalists/_/N-29Z8q8Z2vmx |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Barnes & Noble |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Buxton|first=Kira Jane|nolink=1}}

|Hollow Kingdom

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2021

|{{sortname|last=McBride|first=James|dab=writer}}

|Deacon King Kong

|Winner

|{{Cite web |title=Past Thurber Prize Winners |url=https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winners-and-finalists |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=Thurber House |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125042550/https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winners-and-finalists/ |url-status=dead }}

{{sortname|last=Birbiglia|first=Mike}}

|{{sort|New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad|The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad}}

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |last=Gilson |first=Nancy |date=April 23, 2022 |title=James McBride, author of 'Deacon King Kong,' winner of Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/04/22/james-mcbride-wins-thurber-prize-american-humor/7369640001/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-12 |archive-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 }}

{{sortname|last=Petri|first=Alexandra}}

|Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2022

|{{sortname|last=Rowley|first=Steven|nolink=1}}

|{{sort|Guncle|The Guncle}}

|Winner

|{{Cite web |title=Our past finalists & winners of The Prize |url=https://www.thurberprize.org/past-finalists-winners |access-date=September 17, 2023 |website=Thurber Prize |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926215513/https://www.thurberprize.org/past-finalists-winners |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Gurwitch|first=Annabelle}}

|You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility

|Finalist

|{{Cite web |title=22nd Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://columbusunderground.com/events/22nd-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Columbus Underground |agency=The Thurber Prize for American Humor |archive-date=2023-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401054519/https://columbusunderground.com/events/22nd-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/ |url-status=live }}

{{sortname|last=Henderson|first=Danielle|dab=writer}}

|{{sort|Ugly Cry|The Ugly Cry}}

|Finalist

|

style="background:LemonChiffon;"

! rowspan="3" |2023

|{{sortname|last=Boyd|first=S.E.|nolink=1}}

|{{sort|Lemon|The Lemon}}

|Winner

|

{{sortname|last=Hsieh Chou|first=Elaine}}

|Disorientation

|Finalist

{{sortname|last=Lipman|first=Elinor}}

|Ms. Demeanor

|Finalist

References

{{reflist}}