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Douglas Dillon Book Award
The Douglas Dillon Book Award
for Books of Distinction on the Practice of American Diplomacy
Since 1995, the American Academy of Diplomacy has celebrated distinguished writing about US diplomatic efforts and achievements with an annual award.
The deadline for submission of nominations for this year’s award is July 15, 2024. A committee of Academy members will review nominated books and determine the winner, with concurrence by the Academy’s Board of Directors. The award for the winning entry this year includes a cash prize of $5,000. The awards are customarily presented at the Academy’s Annual Awards Luncheon ceremony in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the US Department of State in the late fall/early winter.
Recipient - 2023
Published by Mariner Books
Steve Kemper is an author and freelance journalist who has written for major publications including Smithsonian, National Geographic, Wall Street, and many other magazines and newspapers. He has taught writing and journalism as an adjunct professor at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism and at Fairfield University.
In Our Man in Tokyo, Steve Kemper offers the readers a fascinating account of diplomatic history between Japan and the US in the run-up to World War II, as well as a case study of how Joseph A. Grew, one of America’s most experienced and skilled diplomats of his time, dealt with a situation that over his nine-year mission in Japan (1932-1941) went gradually out of control. It is a tribute to the profession of diplomacy, which masterfully captures how an effective ambassador works on the ground. It is also a well-told story, which keeps the readers cheering on the well-meaning efforts of Grew and others around him despite knowing how the story ends. Finally, Kemper’s book highlights more than a few important lessons for the current age, making it a must read for practitioners, students and the general public alike.
