The National Book Foundation presented the 57th Annual National Book Awards for best book in each of the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people's literature. Fran Lebowitz emceed the ceremony. The winners each gave short acceptance speeches. In addition, Adrienne Rich received the 2006 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, presented by Mark Doty. The Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community was awarded to Robert Silvers and, posthumously, Barbara Epstein, co-founders of The New York Review of Books, presented by David Remnick. National Book Awards were presented to: Timothy Egan, author of The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl (nonfiction); Richard Powers, author of The Echo Maker: A Novel (fiction); Nathaniel Mackey, author of Splay Anthem (poetry); and M.T. Anderson, author of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume One: The Pox Party (young people's literature).