The John Lyman Book Awards are given annually by the North American Society for Oceanic History to recognise excellence in published books making a major contribution to the study and understanding of maritime and naval history. They are named after Professor John Lyman of the University of North Carolina. The awards are presented in six categories: * Canadian naval and maritime history * U.S. naval history * U.S. maritime history * History of maritime science and technology * Maritime biography and autobiography. * Maritime reference works and published primary sources,