HCM CITY – A collection of seven books featuring the history, politics, economy and culture of Việt Nam in the second half of the 18th century by Vietnamese-American researcher Nguyễn Duy Chính has been awarded Best Book for 2017 by the nonprofit group IRED Institute of Education and the Phan Châu Trinh Foundation in Việt Nam.

The award, first given in 2011, is for books in the fields of research, economics, management, education, self-development or life values, literature and children’s books.

Chính was born in 1948 in Sơn Tây Province (now Sơn Tây town of Hà Nội), and moved with his family in 1954 to HCM City. In 1979, he studied in the US, and now lives in California.

He began to conduct research on the history of Việt Nam in 2002, publishing research works Xưa & Nay (Past & Present) and Nghiên Cứu & Phát Triển (Research and Development) under the Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s Science and Technology Department.

He has released 10 books on Việt Nam in the 18th century.

The award for the best book in the education category was given to Nước Đức thế kỷ XIX – Cuộc cách mạng giáo dục khoa học & công nghệ (Germany in the 19th Century – The Revolution of Education, Science and Technology) by Nguyễn Xuân Xanh.

The 295-page book was published by the Dân Trí (People’s Knowledge) Publishing House last year.   

Author Trần Mai Anh received an award for her children’s book Hành Trình Yêu Thương – Nhật Ký Thiện Nhân (Love Journey – Diary of Thiện Nhân), while Tình Cát (Love and Sand), a romantic novel by Nguyễn Quang Lập, was recognised as the best book in the literature category.

The organisers also granted prizes to Phạm Sỹ Thanh and Alan Phan for books on economics and management, respectively.

The award for books about self-development or life values was shared by authors Nguyễn Vĩnh Nguyên, Huỳnh Trọng Khang and Nguyễn Lân.

Philosopher Bùi Nam Sơn, a member of the organisation’s board, said at the awards ceremony in HCM City on Sunday that the Best Book Awards introduce readers to “quality and significant publications, as well as promote people’s reading habits and elevate their reading taste.”

At the ceremony, the organiser launched a special programme called “Books for Prisoners”, which will collect books from the community to donate books to prisons nationwide.

Books on law, education, vocational guidance, lifestyle, history and culture are encouraged.

“The programme is expected to create opportunities for prisoners to re-educate themselves,” Sơn said. — VNS