Ten years ago, Dick B. regarded this comprehensive volume of research and writing as his magnum opus. The reason is that its 776 pages brought together his detailed discoveries about the major historical roots of the A.A. movement--the Bible, the Oxford Group, Rev. Sam Shoemaker's writings, Dr. Bob's Library, Anne Smith's Journal, and the religious literature early AAs read. The work was quickly acclaimed by the many scholars and AAs who read and endorsed it. And Dick believed he had covered the waterfront as to the spiritual history of early A.A. Certainly he had covered it in a way that no prior history had even approached in depth, content, and scope. Thus for those who wanted and want an accurate composite of the major contributing religious and spiritual factors that led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, this is the appropriate reference source. It has, in fact, been used to teach classes, fill academic library spots, and educate those interested in spiritual recovery. But there was to be much more. As time and research continued, Dick delved into the nooks and crannies and came up recently with some 16 wellsprings of A.A. roots and ideas. The discovery neither negated nor outdated the contents of Turning Point. It simply made the picture more clear and detailed. Thus Dick's later books took several new turns: First, he looked into the actual cure situation in early A.A.; and he also looked into the origins and meaning of the so-called nonsense gods; that had developed in A.A. These absurd creations began calling a so-called higher power; a Coke bottle, a tree, a chair, a radiator, a light bulb, Something,Somebody,Gertrude, the Great Pumpkin, Santa Claus, and many many other idolatrous creations. Next, Dick looked more deeply into the individuals who had contributed ideas that became embedded in A.A. and even spawned some of the absurd names, half-baked prayers, and self-made religion (as A.A. co-founder Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker characterized them for AAs). The individuals included William James, Carl Jung, Emmet Fox, Richard Peabody, William D. Silkworth, and others. In turn, this quest led him to other movements that had contributed to A.A.'s development both before and after 1935--United Christian Endeavor Society, Young Men's Christian Association, the Gospel rescue missions, the Salvation Army, and others. Dick then turned to writing books that would explain to AAs and others exactly how to utilize the history and founding sources to achieve recovery today. And at present, he has turned to biographical materials about Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob that will explain the source of their own particular ideas and practices as those were transmitted into the early A.A. program--conversion, Bible studies, prayer meetings, morning meditation, and even revival techniques. The search and research go on. But Turning Point remains the turning point that describes in much detail how the early AAs turned to the one, true, living God for the solution to their problems, and used His Word to tell them more.

Turning Point: A History of Early A.A.'s Spiritual Roots and Successes

History

Dick B.

World

Good Book Publishing

The very first, and the most popular, study of A.A.'s roots in the Bible. A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob stated in his last major talk in Detroit, Michigan, in December 1948 that the basic ideas of A.A.'s 12 Steps came from Bill W. and Dr. Bob's study of the Bible [The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches: Their Last Major Talks (Item # P-53), 14]. So too that the Book of James, Jesus's "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7), and 1 Corinthians 13 were absolutely essential to the early program. Dr. Bob also said that he and Bill W. were convinced that the answer to their problems was in the Good Book (as he called the Bible) [The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (Item # P-53), 13]. The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible by Dick B. explores every observable source and appearance of Bible ideas in the Big Book which Bill W. began writing about three years after A.A. was founded in Akron in June 1935. It has become a regular shelf item among those who believe in God, understand the importance of the Bible, diligently seek to apply the teachings of Jesus Christ in the march to sobriety and a life of love of service thereafter. The book is a page-turner for those who, like the author at first, had never realized the specific sources of A.A. in the Bible, and the specific Bible language in A.A.'s basic text, talks, and literature of the early days.

The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (Bridge Builders Edition)

Religion & Spirituality

B., Dick

Christian Books & Bibles

AAs and those in most recovery programs are urged to involve themselves in "prayer and meditation." But what does that mean? Does it mean acquiring and taking a look at the hundreds of "meditation" books that have been marketed over the past decade or so? Does it mean looking at a verse or a thought for the day or a packaged prayer? Those questions are best answered in this book about how early AAs observed what they then called "Quiet Time." This idea had been popular in the 1800's, the YMCA, United Christian Endeavor, among evangelists, and later in the Oxford Group. It took on different names--Morning Watch, Quiet Hour, Quiet Time. But not "meditation." This phrase appeared on the scene in the 1939 A.A. program. And the Big Book provides few materials that tell one how to "pray" or how to "meditate." Some have opined that prayer is talking to God, while meditation is listening to God. But this self-made religious idea neither squares with early A.A. practices nor with the Bible. Instead, Quiet Hour had some well-defined suggestions about how to observe the time. First, it was clear that the time was meant to involve Bible study, prayer, seeking God's guidance, reading of religious literature, and then obeying God's directions. Second, there were suggestions as to how and where this was to be done. There were suggestions about relaxing, getting a quiet place, setting aside a specific time, and so on. This practice was not embedded in concrete. For people observed a Quiet Time when it seemed appropriate or convenient. Dr. Bob had observed it while in Christian Endeavor as a youngster. When A.A. began, Dr. Bob would retire upstairs three times a day for about 20 minutes. At that time, he would study a favorite Bible segment, pray, ask for God's guidance, and then "go about his Father's business," as he put it. Dr. Bob's wife Anne Smith conducted a morning quiet time each day at the Smith Home in Akron. She gathered AAs and their families in the early morning hours. She would open the session with prayer, then would read from the Bible, and join the group in prayer or seeking guidance. This was often followed by her sharing from her spiritual journal and conducting a discussion about it. On the East Coast, Rev. Sam Shoemaker had frequently spelled out how he observed Quiet Time. He recommended several books that told how to have a quiet time. Oxford Group writers did likewise. This book pulls it all together. It provides an excellent guide for you to do a quiet time that comes close to the principals and practices that produced such early A.A. success rates and cures. It will suggest where, how, and when. It will suggest the early A.A. devotionals and guides that were used. It will highlight the importance of the Bible and prayer. It will cover "guidance." And it will provide you with a number of practical suggestions. It is a healthy and welcome alternative to the many secular "meditation" and "reflection" books still in circulation, but which provide little help to those who are seeking, in early terms, to "practice the presence of God." This book is a simple, authoritative guide for individuals and groups to use in establishing and observing a special time with God each day. And on Christian terms!

Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A.

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Alternative Medicine

There have been a number of limited publications of books believed to be those that early AAs read. However, the first question is whether a listing of books will be helpful today to those who want to recover and be cured of alcoholism. The fact is that early A.A. had a documented 75% to 93% success rate among seemingly hopeless medically incurable real alcoholics who went to any lengths to establish a relationship and fellowship with their Creator. One of their major spiritual tools consisted of the large number of specific Christian books and articles they read in their effort to learn about God, about His son Jesus Christ, about the Bible, and about how to pray and lead a life based on cardinal Christian teachings. Several different people were advising them as to books to be studied. First, of course, was Dr. Bob Smith. And this title covers the books he read, studied, recommended, and circulated. Second, his wife Anne Ripley Smith kept a journal of the books read and those she recommended. These also are covered. Then there were the lay leaders of the early Christian fellowship--Henrietta Seiberling and T. Henry Williams and his wife Clarace. The books they read, discussed, and recommended are listed. So too those studied by Clarence Snyder, who had such great success helping alcoholics in Cleveland and then for many years thereafter. Also, there were the daily devotionals in common use--the Upper Room, The Runner's Bible, Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, the E. Stanley Jones devotionals--Abundant Living and Victorious Living. Glenn Clark produced devotionals that were used, as did Emmet Fox, Harry Emerson Fosdick, and many others. This title covers them all. It offers many choices to those who want to acquire and study the religious literature that was so much a part of the early pioneer prayer, Bible study, quiet time, and reading life. You will find the book, now in its 7th edition, a real guide to what you can read today for recovery, following the same path the highly successful early pioneers followed in Akron.

The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth (Seventh Edition)

This is the definitive work on the Reverend Canon Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr., and his relationship with and contributions to Alcoholics Anonymous and its founder William Griffith Wilson. Prior to the writing of the first edition of this book, few in or out of A.A. had any idea what Bill Wilson really meant when a called Sam Shoemaker a "cofounder" of Alcoholics Anonymous. In this book, however, you will learn the details about Sam Shoemaker, about his participation in and leadership of the American activities of the Oxford Group, his activities in both Calvary Episcopal Church in New York and Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh. The book reviews almost every one of Sam's more than 30 published titles as well as many of his articles and sermons. It shows his towering stature as a life-changer, both in early A.A. and later in the Pittsburgh businessmen's scene. Bill Wilson said that Shoemaker had taught Bill and Bob almost all the subjects encompassed in A.A.'s last of the ten Twelve Steps. This book reveals that Bill actually asked Shoemaker to write those steps, but that Shoemaker declined. The reader will see the great resemblance between A.A. Big Book language and the language which Shoemaker used so often in his writings. The personal friendship between Bill and Sam is covered at length. And, in connection with the Second Edition, author Dick B. and his son traveled to the home of one of Shoemaker's daughters to view Sam's personal journal entries about Bill and other early A.A. figures. They then traveled to the Episcopal Church Archives in Austin, Texas, and there searched through 58 boxes of papers that disclosed Shoemaker's correspondence with Wilson, with Roman Catholic priests, with Oxford Group members, and with many others. The appendices in the book are wide-spread in detail and coverage. They include observations by Oxford Group people, by Lois Wilson, by Wilson, and others. And, in all, they enable the reader to see this clergyman who was named as one of the leading American preachers just as Bill Wilson and the many Shoemaker admirers saw the man. There are also the articles by Shoemaker about A.A. and the contents of his talks to AAs at their international conventions in St. Louis and Long Beach. Three notable people contributed Forewords to this book--Mrs. W. Irving Harris, wife of Shoemaker's assistant minister, who was a resident of Calvary House where Shoemaker lived and was the steward of the Oxford Group and Shoemaker books sold there; Mrs. Nickie Shoemaker Haggart, Shoemaker's younger daughter, who told of her father's affection for AAs and for Bill; and the distinguished former professor of chemical dependency and counseling at Penn State University, Dr. Karen Plavan. There is simply nothing as important, as comprehensive, or as useful for the study of Bill Wilson's formulation of the Big Book as this study of Wilson and Shoemaker.

New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.

Biographies & Memoirs

Leaders & Notable People

Here's a very special book for those who want to rely on the power of God for healing and cure of alcoholism and addiction, want to join others of like mind, and also want to gather as a study group that resembles and uses early A.A. principles and practices. This book tells you how the A.A. pioneers got well. It makes many specific suggestions as to how to conduct a study group, what the topics can be, what the leader should do, what the resources can be, and how the group can organize and proceed. It is a very practical guide being used by many groups today. Some operate as A.A. groups. Some as church groups. Some as recovery groups. Some as Big Book, or Bible or Twelve Step study groups--and even all three together. Some fellowships are conducted with the help of a church, a professional, or a garden variety drunk. Some have even called themselves The James Club which was the name the early AAs wanted to give to the A.A. Society at the time the Big Book was being written. They favored study of the Book of James in the Bible. So did Bill Wilson. And Dr. Bob and his wife mentioned it frequently. Here is a guide you can use for yourself, for a meeting, for a group, for a church, or for a recovery program.

By the Power of God: A Guide to Early A.A. Groups and Forming Similar Groups Today

Addiction & Recovery

A Bible-study primer by an active, recovered AA for AAs and 12-Steppers. Specifically written to help the thousands in 12 Step Fellowships who want the specifics about early A.A. Bible study (what was said and done), where Bible study fits in recovery today, and how to begin that study with specific focus on portions of the Bible assuring victory in sobriety and the abundant life that makes it worthwhile.

Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today (A Bible Study Primer for AAs and Other 12-Steppers)

God and Alcoholism presents a new challenge for the 21st Century. It is a study of the original and highly successful spiritual recovery program of early Alcoholics Anonymous and the changes that have occurred in the last six decades since the founding. It presents the seven specifics, the "musts," and the "not required" features of the pioneer program. It points to A.A.'s merits and accomplishments in the 20th Century, particularly its success through reliance on the Creator, its pride in producing "cures," and its challenges to finding definitions for "alcoholism." Next, the author describes the enormous emphasis early AAs placed on the power of Almighty God, the views of scholars about that, and the Biblical assurances of help from the "Heavenly Father." Then there is a review of the "nonsense gods" of recovery and the wide attraction they've had for therapists, 12 Steppers, clergy, psychologists, and others. The author concludes with a challenge to eliminate! the dismal recovery rate today by recalling, re-affirming, and reinstating the God-centered program of the Founders, Bill W. and Dr. Bob. Bibliography, index, and endorsements.

God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century

Follow travelling evangelist and master storyteller Bob Unterseher and wife, Sharon, down Miracle Highway 101 as Bob tells his true stories of supernatural deliverance from impossible situations. He begged God to spare his friend's life when his 250-horsepower tractor crushes him under a wheel. A newly remodeled church mysteriously bursts into flames after a 16-year-old girl, whose family worships the devil, comes forward in a revival meeting to accept Christ yet Bob and his family are uninjured in the explosion. And, Bob experiences a big surprise while visiting with a dying man who despises preachers. With candid humor and authenticity, this down-to-earth preacher relates 15 personal testimonies of healing, comfort in the tragic loss of loved ones, miraculous financial provision, divine protection in the mountain wilderness of Montana, and on several occasions, deliverance from death. The stories, which cover the gamut of life s experiences, will entertain you, inspire you and leave you with a greater faith for God s miracles in your own life.

Miracle Highway 101: An Incredible Journey

Bob Unterseher

Good news is rare in our 21st century world. Are you hungry for news that crushes your fears and gives wings to your hope? Storm Proof is bursting with awesome news, genuine good news about: What God really thinks of you. What Christ has already accomplished for you. Your new identity in Christ. The positive effects of your tough times. God's unwavering commitment to your future.

Storm Proof: Ten Tie-Downs for Turbulent Times

David Haines

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