Other Books Written By Dick B. – Books 12 Thru 16

In the period from 1990 to date, author Dick B. has been assembling historical materials that piece together and document the virtually unknown elements of the early A.A. spiritual program of recovery. When he came on board as a very sick alcoholic, he was bewildered and encountered bewilderment over the intrusion into A.A. of “higher powers,” “any gods,” “not-goodness,” “fourth dimension,” “Creative Intelligence,” and dozens of other strange ideas foreign to his education and beliefs. Concepts that, for the most part, were left undefined by the latter-day members of A.A.

The author began with interviews and carefully cataloged and retained the results. Then there were trips to archives, libraries, collections, and private memoranda locations. These too were collected and analyzed. There were tapes to be heard, videos to be seen, pictures to be viewed. There were booklets, pamphlets, news articles, pieces of correspondence, memoranda, notes, and oral histories all to be fitted into place. And then there were books-–over 4,000 of them. Each had a place and a role to play.

How is this title-–which describes the materials Dick B. gathered during his eleven years of research into the biblical roots of Alcoholics Anonymous-–different than other publications to date? There has been no other attempt to revive, describe, and document the nature and content of early A.A.’s distinct spiritual roots. There have been partial histories, extensive book collections (left unexplained as to content), wool-gathering efforts, and opinions by the hundreds. Scholar after scholar has stuck to a party line that is focused on Bill Wilson, Carl Jung, William James, and Dr. William Silkworth-–with grudging nods to the Oxford Group and Sam Shoemaker. There has been a dearth of attention to the Bible, to Quiet Time, to Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith, to the Seiberlings, to T. Henry Williams, and to the devotionals and books early AAs read.

Dick has incorporated much of what he has learned into his various titles, articles, talks, panel discussions, correspondence, and email. But the 23,900 items comprising his research collection were and still are, for the most part, locked away in the State of Hawaii. Dick was determined to make the information available, in his books, on the internet, on radio, on television, in articles, in newspapers, and in talks. Yet the resources of one recovered alcoholic are dim when compared to the 18 million alcoholics and 2 million A.A. members who might want to hear the facts.

Acquisitions piled up. Oxford Group leaders, Shoemaker family members, archivists, scholars, historians, librarians, A.A. old-timers, and countless others made books and materials available to Dick. Some were purchased. Many were purchased for the author and presented to him. Many were donated. Many were simply collected bit by bit by hundreds who were willing to part with their shares of history. All to the end that other suffering alcoholics could be blessed.

Making Known the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous details all the items, names their donors where appropriate, states the dissemination mission, and provides the largest extant annotated bibliography of materials related to the spiritual roots of Alcoholics Anonymous available.

NEW LIGHT ON ALCOHOLISM
God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.
(Second Edition)

The Rev. Sam Shoemaker, an Episcopal rector at Calvary Church in New York City and later at Calvary Church in Pittsburgh, was dubbed a “co-founder” of Alcoholics Anonymous by A.A.’s Bill Wilson. The degree, details, and importance of Sam Shoemaker’s impact on early A.A. were virtual unknowns until author Dick B.–an active, recovered AA­-devoted eleven years of research and writing to these subjects. This book will show you the enormity of spiritual words, ideas, and language Shoemaker contributed to A.A.’s spiritual program of recovery. Shoemaker helped the Bible, Christianity, and the power of God come alive in the Twelve Step program of the 1930’s. A knowledge of Shoemaker’s legacy can help reverse the dismal drug and alcohol recovery state today.

Real Twelve Step Fellowship History
The Old School A.A. You May Not Know

You may regularly listen to excellent speakers, sponsors, and counselors in 12-Step programs. Chances are, however, that they probably rarely, if ever, talk to you about the origins, history, and practices of early pioneer recovery programs. Why? Because there are few histories to inform them; few teachers to instruct them; and too few people who really want to change. Speakers can get lots of applause if they stick to their drunkalogs, and make you laugh, cry, and maybe identify. Sponsors have few resources that connect the dots. Counselors feel safer telling you about your disease and taking the safe path–handing out a Big Book, a Twelve x Twelve, and a devotional and sending you to outside groups and meetings. What does this book say? It says that it is high time to take these talented and admired people to the schoolroom. Three decades ago, there was no place to look. And if one of these people talked about history, he or she usually talked about the party-line that left out God, left out the Bible, left out the sources of the Twelve Steps, and pointed to a program that simply said you didn’t really have to believe anything at all – just choose your own “higher power” and go to meetings. We believe the many fine speakers, sponsors, and facilitators can and should get cracking. They should pick up the accurate history books now available, learn them, and talk about them. Why? Because they can then tell the afflicted exactly how and why the early pioneers were cured and had a 75% to 93% success rate. And those who teach you can also train you – to look for yourself, think for yourself, and place your reliance on the Creator rather than teachers. This new book tells you our history, how to approach it, how to teach it, and how to use it.

THAT AMAZING GRACE
The Role of Clarence and Grace S. in Alcoholics Anonymous

This is the story of the beloved wife, companion, and willing student of A.A.’s venerable pioneer Clarence S. The lady was called by Clarence, and is known by her admirers as, “Amazing Grace.” The story is important because, at the time of his death in 1984, Clarence claimed to be the AA with the most sobriety and the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and was a man who—along with Grace—helped thousands take their Twelve Steps, recover, and find Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Grace here recalls the history of early A.A.’s spiritual roots and successes as Clarence specifically related them to her. She also tells of the spiritual retreats for A.A. people that Clarence founded and that she carries on to this day. The life of this unusual lady attests to the availability of an assured recovery program based on the power of God and the reliability of His Word.

Foreword by Harold E. Hughes, former U.S. Senator from, and Governor of, Iowa, and founder of S.O.A.R.

THE AKRON GENESIS OF
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
(Newton Edition)

Finally—a history that ties together the events in New York and Akron during A.A.’s formative years from 1931-1939. It tells of the Bud Firestone Miracle and the 1933 Oxford Group events in Akron. Then of the early meetings in New York and Akron. It details the specific contributions to A.A. that T. Henry and Clarace Williams, Henrietta Seiberling, Bill Wilson, and Dr. Bob and Anne Smith made at A.A.’s Akron birthplace. It covers the when, where and how of A.A.’s birth. There are details as to surrenders, hospitalization, meetings, literature, Bible study and prayer and meditation, and what the Akron people did in their homes. And there are precise traces from the Bible, the Four Absolutes, Christian writers, and the Oxford Group into the Twelve Steps and the Big Book. This book is about what Akron gave to A.A. and what A.A. can attribute to its Akron birthplace.

Foreword by former U.S. Congressman John F. Seiberling, Director of the Peace Center, Akron University, whose mother, Henrietta Seiberling, was instrumental in A.A.’s founding.