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Asia Society Seeking Submissions For First Annual Bernard Schwartz Book Award

Mar 27, 2009
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NEW YORK, March 27, 2009 - Asia Society is pleased to announce the establishment of the first annual Bernard Schwartz Book Award. This major international award will recognize nonfiction books that provide outstanding contributions to the understanding of contemporary Asia or US-Asia relations. Books will be evaluated based on their ability to:

  • Provide special insights and new perspectives into understanding contemporary Asia or US-Asia relations;
  • Describe and explain changes taking place in Asia or in US-Asia relations and the implications for the wider world to a general audience;
  • Bring forth ideas that make a significant impact on policy dialogues relating to the region.

An independent jury comprised of experts in the fields of policy, media, academia, cultural affairs, and business will select the winner, who will receive a $20,000 prize and will be honored at a special event at the Asia Society. In addition to the winner, four books will be chosen to receive honorary mentions.

Rules & Eligibility:

  1. Deadline for submission is May 1, 2009.
  2. Books submitted must be published in English.
  3. The first English edition of the book must have been published between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.
  4. Entries published in another language between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 and translated into English and published between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 are eligible for submission.
  5. Submissions by publishers (including non-US publishers) or individuals are eligible.
  6. Biographies, autobiographies and historical books are eligible, if they meet the criteria of the award as described above.
  7. For the purposes of this award, "Asia" is defined by Asia Society as comprising of countries from Iran eastward up and including Australia and New Zealand. It does not include the Middle East.

Submissions:

  1. To submit a book, please email a one-page overview of the book to bookaward@asiasociety.org no later than May 1, 2009 and include the following information:
    • Title
    • Author
    • Publisher and Publication Date
    • ISBN
    • Short summary and/or reviews describing the book's qualifications to meet award criteria (no more than 300 words)
    • Complete contact information (mailing address, email, telephone number)
    Please do not mail books until contacted to do so.
  2. If a book is selected for consideration by the jury, Asia Society will contact the publisher or appropriate individual with a request to mail up to 12 copies of the book.

For additional information on the award, please contact:

Laura Chang
Coordinator, Bernard Schwartz Book Award
Asia Society
725 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212-327-9344
Email: laurac@asiasoc.org


About Asia Society
Asia Society is the leading global organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States. We seek to enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of arts and culture, policy and business, and education. Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Seoul, and Washington, DC. On the web at www.AsiaSociety.org.

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