David Letterman may be leaving the television world soon and will be looking for something to keep him busy. He might just want to become a full-time author, since his latest book is up for the prestigious Thurber Prize for American Humor.
This year’s award honors books published between Jan. 1, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013 and the ceremony will be hosted at the Caroline's Comedy Club on Sept. 30. Dan Zevin, the winner of last year’s prize for Dan Gets a Minivan: Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad, will be the host.
The winner gets $5,000 and a special plaque. They are also invited to the Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio for a special event within the next year.
According to the Washington Post, Letterman is up for the award for his book, This Land Was Made For You And Me (But Mostly Me): Billionaires in the Wild. He co-wrote the book with Bruce McCall of the New Yorker.
The other two nominees also have links to the New Yorker. Liza Donnelly was nominated for Women on Men, a satirical view on sex and relationships. John Kenney is up for Truth in Advertising, his novel on New York advertising. It is the only novel on the shortlist.
Letterman is retiring from CBS’ Late Show sometime next year. He will be replaced by Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert.
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