1960 National Book Award

• National Book Award

  Henderson the Rain King

  Saul Bellow

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Malcolm

  James Purdy

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Men Die

  H. L. Humes

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Mrs. Bridge

  Evan S. Connell, Jr.

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Cave

  Robert Penn Warren

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Cool World

  Warren Miller

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Devil's Advocate

  Morris West

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Haunting of Hill House

  Shirley Jackson

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Light Infantry Ball

  Hamilton Basso

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Mansion

  William Faulkner

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Pistol

  James Jones

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Poorhouse Fair

  John Updike

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Return of H*Y*M*A*N* K*A*P*L*A*N*

  Leo Rosten

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The War Lover

  John Hersey

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Wake Up, Stupid

  Mark Harris

  National Book Award Finalist

Also recognized

• Pursuit of the Prodigal by Louis AuchinclossFinalist
• The Third Choice by Elizabeth JanewayFinalist

• National Book Award

  A Life in the Theatre

  Tyrone Guthrie

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Act One: An Autobiography

  Moss Hart

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Alexander Hamilton

  John C. Miller

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Asa Gray

  A. Hunter DuPree

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Edison

  Matthew Josephson

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Endurance

  Alfred Lansing

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Human Nature and the Human Condition

  Joseph Wood Krutch

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  In the Days of William McKinley

  Margaret Leech

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  John Paul Jones

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Life in the Crystal Palace

  Alan Harrington

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  More than Meets the Eye

  Carl Mydans

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Pickett's Charge

  George R. Stewart

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Coming of the New Deal, Vol. II, The Age of Roosevelt

  Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Harmless People

  Elizabeth Thomas

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The House of Intellect

  Jacques Barzun

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Marauders

  Charles Ogburn, Jr.

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Status Seekers

  Vance Packard

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The War for the Union, Vol. I

  Allan Nevins

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  The Years with Ross

  James Thurber

  National Book Award Finalist

• National Book Award

  Two Gentle Men

  Marchette Chute

  National Book Award Finalist

Also recognized

• LaGuardia, Vol. I by Arthur MannFinalist
• One Great Society by Howard Mumford JonesFinalist
• Power without Property by A. A. BerleFinalist
• The Curse of the Misbegotten by Croswell BowenFinalist
• The Great Command by Nard JonesFinalist