Leela Prasad wins Best First Book in the History of Religions

Leela Prasad, Associate Professor of Ethics and Indian Religions, has been awarded the American Academy of Religion Best First Book in the History of Religions for Poetics of Conduct: Oral Narrative and Moral Being in a South Indian Town (Columbia University Press, 2006). Here are some details about the award:

The Best First Book in the History of Religions Award was established by the American Council of Learned Societies in 1891 and is now administered by the American Academy of Religion. This award honors exceptional publications. Eligibility for the award is determined by three criteria: (1) the nomination must be the first book published by the nominee; (2) it must be in the field of "History of Religions" (in the broad sense that it raises historical and/or comparative methodological questions in the field of religion); (3) it must have been published within the calendar year of the given award period.

A committee of five, appointed by the Board of the American Academy of Religion, screens books nominated for the award. The nomination process is initiated by individual presses, who send copies of the nominated book, with a letter stating that the book meets the three criteria mentioned above. Presses may also include statements of the merits and special features of the book.

Awards will be presented at the AAR’s 2007 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, November 17-20, 2007. Today's press release is available on the AAR site:

The American Academy of Religion 2007 Book Awards