Last night, Kristin Clifford and I went to the 16th Annual Books for a Better Life Awards at the Times Center. The proceeds from the event benefit the New York City – Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Times Center was an excellent venue for the event. Its multi-level layout allowed the volume of guests to flow naturally, and the large, modern auditorium was a really lovely setting for the actual ceremony. While last year’s cocktail reception before the ceremony mostly boasted wine and light appetizers, this year they had a signature cocktail — a gin-based pink concoction — and a variety of creatively-plated appetizers.

The awards were short and sweet, and the energy as each winner was announced was truly supportive. Most touching of all was undoubtedly the win in the Inspiration and Memoir category for the late Dr. Lee Lipsenthal’s Enjoy Every Sandwich (Random House, November 2011, ISBN: 978-0-307-95515-9).

Other winners included:

David Sloane Wilson, Category: Green, Book: The Neighborhood Project

Xinran, Category: Childcare and Parenting, Book: Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother

Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson, Category: Relationships, Book: Spousonomics

Touré, Category: Motivational, Book: Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness?

Dr. Howard Friedman and Dr. Leslie Martin, Category: Wellness, Book: The Longevity Project

Alexandra Robbins, Category: Psychology, Book: The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth

Clark Howard, Mark Meltzer, and Theo Thimou, Category: Personal Finance, Book: Clark Howard’s Living Large in Lean Times

Dr. Lee Lipsenthal, Category: Inspiration, Book: Enjoy Every Sandwich

Donna Johnson, Category: Spiritual, Book: Holy Ghost Girl

Annia Ciezadlo, Category: First Book, Book: Day of Honey

In addition to an evening of awards, Skip Prichard of Ingram was inducted in the Books for a Better Life Hall of Fame.