This is the story of the immense contribution made by early A.A. pioneer Clarence H. Snyder to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, its astonishing growth there in early A.A. years, and its even more unique documented 93% success rate. It is told through the eyes of Clarence Snyder's widow "Amazing Grace" Snyder (as Clarence called her). There have been other accounts, some very good, of the Clarence Snyder story. But this one was prepared by author Dick B. after spending a week in Florida with Grace, interviewing her and going over historical details not previously reported. Here you will learn the close bond between Clarence and his third wife, Grace. You will learn how they worked together in sponsoring new people, praying and studying together, and conducting the spiritual retreats for AAs and their families that Clarence had earlier founded. In a sense, you will conclude that Clarence is really the hero of early A.A. He didn't care for Bill Wilson or his financial meanderings. But, when he chose to organize the Cleveland fellowship, he took the best of A.A. with him and applied it. There were four basic parts: (1) The Bible. (2) The Four Absolutes of the Oxford Group. (3) The new Big Book just published. (4) The Twelve suggested steps for recovery that the Big Book laid out. This was new ground. Dr. Bob had already thoroughly convinced and indoctrinated Clarence about the efficacy of God's power, the importance of the Bible, the techniques for approaching newcomers, and the essential conversion to Christ. But, as he essentially made A.A. palatable and available to Roman Catholics who had been having difficulty with the so-called "Protestant" Akron program, Clarence brought the Bible with him. He kept the biblical principles in the Four absolutes--honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. He dived into the Big Book, and he began taking hordes of newcomers through the Twelve Steps in very short order. In other words, he embraced the essentials of Oxford Group standards; he embraced the biblical orientation of Dr. Bob; and he applied the Big Book program of recovery that Bill Wilson had just gained approval to publish in 1939. All this as seen and interpreted by Clarence's devoted and loyal wife Grace. And carried forward by Grace after Clarence died. The companion to this book is the "Our Legacy" book recently compiled and edited by Dick B. and written by three Clarence Snyder oldtimer sponsees and their wives, detailing the history and the exact methods Clarence used in taking people through the Steps and in conducting the spiritual retreats which are still being held in the United States and Great Britain. This is a heart-warming personalized book about an unusually devoted couple of A.A. Twelfth-steppers.

That Amazing Grace: The Role of Clarence and Grace S. in Alcoholics Anonymous

Health, Fitness & Dieting

B., Dick

Addiction & Recovery

Paradise Research Publications, Inc.

One of the most thorough and finest recent A.A. history books, which brings to the fore the real beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron. It shows the roles of the founding workers--Bill W., Dr. Bob, Anne Smith, T. Henry and Clarace Williams, and Henrietta Seiberling. It shows how A.A. arose from the unusual cure of Russell Firestone in 1931 and the events in 1933 that celebrated his recovery. It explains the Akron crucible and the precise methods adopted in the summer of 1935 by Bill and Bob. The book was immediately acclaimed by Dr. Bob's two children (Sue Smith Windows and Robert R. Smith), by Congressman Seiberling, and by the daughter of T. Henry Williams. This book changed the approach of later historians who realized that the entire Akron beginnings had simply fallen through the cracks in the zeal to talk about Bill Wilson's later Big Book. The contents allows the reader to see the full picture from the beginning. The first three AAs formed the first A.A. group in Akron. The 75% success rate was achieved in Akron. Public recognition of the A.A. program grew from Akron's miraculous cures. These are the details.

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous

Religion & Spirituality

A comprehensive history of the origins, principles, practices, and contributions to Alcoholics Anonymous of "A First Century Christian Fellowship" (also known as the Oxford Group) of which A.A. was an integral part in the developmental period between 1931 and 1939.

The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living that Works

Anne Ripley Smith was the wife of A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob. She compiled and shared with early AAs and their families the materials comprising early A.A.'s spiritual program--the Bible, Quiet Time, the teachings of Sam Shoemaker, the principles of the Oxford Group, and Christian literature of the day. This priceless source of information about where A.A. came from, what it did in the early days, and what its ideas mean has been presented concisely and thoroughly by author Dick B. This is the third edition.

Anne Smith's Journal 1933-1939: A.A.'s Principles of Success

In 12 Step groups, there is a constant stream of questions: How do I take the 12 Steps? How do I work those Steps? How do people practice the 10th, 11th, and 12th Steps? The questions have gone on for decades, and 12 Step guides abound. Yet there have seldom been simple, complete answers. 
Author Dick B. has devoted 13 years to researching the roots of Alcoholics Anonymous, its Big Book, its Twelve Steps, and the history of how each developed. The result is this group of simple instructions based on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous, the contributions of its founders, and the writings and teachings of its predecessors. 
In just a few pages, you will learn what the "Twelve" ideas were in the mind of their writer - Bill Wilson. You will learn how they developed from the 7 practices of the pioneers in Akron. You will see the various ways in which Wilson later phrased the "six steps" he said were representative of the word-of-mouth program used before the Big Book was published. Far more important, you will see the Step ideas described in the journal kept by Dr. Bob's wife Anne Smith, in the teachings and writings of Bill's spiritual mentor Rev. Sam Shoemaker, Jr., Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in New York, and in the life changing program of the Oxford Group, from which A.A. sprang. Most importantly, you'll see where in the Bible the ideas can be found in the Bible - from which all the basic ideas of A.A. and the Twelve Steps were. 
For the first time in many decades, you can see how to take the 12 Steps in accordance with the instructions of A.A.'s Big Book, how to understand each step in terms of its varied historical root, and how you can know the meaning and purpose of each Step once you see how the fit into the basic, original program of A.A. which involved "finding God," "reliance on the Creator," "establishing a relationship with God," and practicing the principles of the Bible as they found their way into the principles of 12 Step programs. 
Long needed, this simple tool meets requests from clergy, sponsors, counselors, therapists, facilitators, and those wanting accurate, helpful guidance as to the steps from the Bible, A.A.'s Founders, and A.A.'s Big Book. Writer Dick B. is a hands-on recovered AA. He's long been sober and active in the program, gone to many Big Book Seminars, attended thousands of meetings and conferences, conducted many AA history programs, and sponsored almost 100 men and women in their recovery. He knows the questions. He's researched the answers. He's utilized them in helping hundreds of newcomers. And here he presents them for you.

Twelve Steps for You: Let Our Creator, A.A. History, and the Big Book Be Your Guide

In the summer of 2004, the Gate Lodge on the immense Seiberling Estate which is known as Stan Hywet Museum and Gardens as opened to the public. This historic site is where Mrs. Henrietta Seiberling raised her three children and where she introduced A.A. co-founders-to-be Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith to each other in the hope that the result would be Dr.Bob's recovery from alcoholism. Henrietta's deep faith in God, familiarity with Scriptures, and frequent resort to prayer were factors which enabled her to work effectively in the early days of the Akron A.A. pioneer fellowship and help bring about the astonishing cures. In this title, which was written and presented at the opening of the Gate Lodge, A.A. historian Dick B. tells the Seiberling story from Henrietta's marriage into the famous Seiberling family to her spiritual infusion of ideas into the A.A. program of the 1930's. It is inspirational, informative, and presents facts hitherto unknown about Henrietta's vital role in the development of Alcoholics Anonymous

Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio's Lady with a Cause

Biographies & Memoirs

Dick B.

Community & Culture

Discusses the personal stories (testimonies) of early A.A. pioneers which tell how they established their relationship with God and the role of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in recovery in 1935 and today.

Pioneer Stories in Alcoholics Anonymous: God's Role in Recovery Confirmed!

B., Ken

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