AAR 2013 Annual Book Awards

The American Academy of Religion offers Awards for Excellence in order to give recognition to new scholarly publications that make significant contributions to the study of religion. These awards honor works of distinctive originality, intelligence, creativity, and importance. The Awards Juries recognize these books as ones that affect decisively how religion is examined, understood, and interpreted.

Awards for Excellence in the Study of Religion are given in four categories: Analytical–Descriptive, Constructive–Reflective, Historical, and Textual Studies. In addition, there is a separate competition and prize for the Best First Book in the History of Religions. For eligibility requirements, awards processes, and a list of current jurors, please see the Book Awards rules.

The AAR is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Awards for Excellence in Religion and the Best First Book in the History of Religions:

Awards for Excellence in the Study of Religion

Analytical-Descriptive Studies
	Anna Fedele Looking for Mary Magdalene: Alternative Pilgrimage and Ritual Creativity at Catholic Shrines in France Oxford University Press, 2012
Constructive-Reflective Studies
	Jeffrey L. Kosky Arts of Wonder: Enchanting Secularity – Walter De Maria, Diller + Scofidio, James Turrell, Andy Goldsworthy University of Chicago Press, 2012
Historical Studies
	Christian K. Wedemeyer Making Sense of Tantric Buddhism: History, Semiology, and Transgression in the Indian Traditions Columbia University Press, 2012
Textual Studies
	Emily T. Hudson Disorienting Dharma: Ethics and the Aesthetics of Suffering in the Mahabharata Oxford University Press, 2012
Best First Book in the History of Religions
	A. Azfar Moin The Millennial Sovereign: Sacred Kingship and Sainthood in Islam Columbia University Press, 2012