Why Early A A Succeeded

Early Alcoholics Anonymous claimed a 75% success rate among "seemingly-hopeless," "medically-incurable" alcoholics who thoroughly followed the original Akron A.A. "Christian fellowship" program Bill W. and Dr. Bob developed beginning in the summer of 1935. That very simple program was founded on basic ideas from the Bible. This book takes you through the Bible on the principal points AAs studied.

Dick B. is a writer, historian, Bible student, retired attorney, and recovered AA who has sponsored more than 100 men in their recovery and is actively involved in the fellowship. He has devoted 18 years to researching, reporting, publishing and disseminating materials on the spiritual roots of Alcoholics Anonymous. He is regarded as the leading historian on A.A. history today and has published 33 titles on the subject.

Dick B. is a writer, historian, Bible student, retired attorney, and recovered AA. He is active in the fellowship and has sponsored more than 100 men in their recovery. He has devoted 18 years to investigating, researching, analyzing, and disseminating the facts about early A.A. origins, roots, history, principles, and practices. He has published 33 titles and more than 170 articles on the subject and frequently speaks within and outside the fellowship. He is the leading A.A. early history scholar.

One-of-a-kind bibliography, research, and history resource containing explicit information about author Dick B.'s 16 years of research: (1) Collecting over 25,000 books and materials on the roots of A.A. (2) Using them in the publication of his 26 titles, more than 120 articles, and over 30 audio talks. (3) Describing where he went for the history, where it is located, who was interviewed, and what it contains. (4) It lists titles Dick used in his writing; all of the background titles involved in A.A.'s use of the Bible, Quiet Time, Oxford Group life-changing program, Anne Smith's Journal, Rev. Sam Shoemaker's teachings, religious literature AAs read, the United Christian Endeavor Movement, Carl Jung, William James, William D. Silkworth, Richard Peabody, Emmet Fox and many other New Thought influences. (5) It lists all the books in A.A. founder Dr. Bob's library and collections--a list found nowhere else. (6) It contains manuscripts from archives and libraries and personal collections all over the U.S. and England. (7) There is a huge collection of temperance books and literature described. (8) Topical books by A.A., about A.A., about alcoholism, about "spirituality," about the Bible, religion, and clergy. (9) Included are records of Dick's notes and interviews. (10 Almost this entire collection of materials has been donated to and can now be found and studied at Griffith Library, which is part of The Wilson House (birthplace of Bill W.) in East Dorset, Vermont. Taken together, this reference volume and the actual materials in the Griffith Library, constitute the largest and most complete record of early A.A. historical materials in the world today, other than the Library of Congress items.

Early Akron AAs wanted "The James Club" to be the name of their fellowship. The Bible's Book of James was their favorite; they also studied it, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. These three Bible segments were considered "absolutely essential" to their program. This book takes each verse in James, the Sermon, and 1 Cor 13, and shows the influence of such verses on A.A. language.

Dick B.'s latest exploration of, and report on the solid evidence that early AAs were cured of alcoholism and said so for the first decade after their founding. This title tells HOW. It explains the many reports of religious healings through the ages, the many in or observers of A.A. who proved that they were cured, the myths about God, alcoholism, and "no cure," and the key origins, roots, and elements of the early Akron Christian Fellowship where the cures occurred. A book for believers who know God's power and want to know how it was applied in the healing of alcoholism by A.A. pioneers

Pioneer Stories in Alcoholics Anonymous: God's Role in Recovery Confirmed! by Dick B. and Ken B. presents many quotations from the 29 personal stories included in the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. Those stories by many of A.A.'s pioneers testify to roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in early A.A.'s astonishing successes with "medically-incurable" alcoholics.

Dick B. is regarded as the leading historian of A.A. today. He is a retired attorney, Bible student, and recovered AA who has sponsored over 100 men in recovery. He has published 33 titles on the history of early A.A's spiritual roots and successes. He frequently speaks before recovery audiences throughout the United States.