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The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous

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Dick B. has done a great service for AA members who want to retain their sobriety. The original spiritual roots of AA are contained in the Bible and in the early spiritual literature. Dick outlines these roots in an informative and interesting manner. During the early days of AA, the recovery rate from alcoholism ranged from 75 - 93%. This was due to the spiritual emphasis of AA's life changing program. Much of that emphasis had been lost, that is, until Dick began to write about where AA really came from. Continuous sobriety in AA is more than just not drinking and going to meetings. As a professional in the treatment field, I have seen too many AA members return to old drinking behaviors by just relying on attempting not to drink. I have also seen AA members go on to lead productive and useful lives after getting in touch with their spirituality and embracing their spiritual roots. In the original Hebrew, Genesis is the word, Bereshith. This means - "In the Begining." The Book of Genesis in the Bible was originally called "Sefer Maaseh Bereshith" or, "Book of Creation." The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous by Dick B. decribes the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous directly from its spiritual roots.

This is an entertaining and very readable book. Some tend to recoil from the word "history" in A.A. But most, like myself, like a good story. And a well-told history story is just as appealing as a drunkalog. Dick begins the tale with the Russell Firestone story, Jim Newton's important catalytic role in life-changing recovery ideas, the famous 1933 Oxford Group meetings in Akron, and the way Akron's Christian Fellowship developed from those roots. There is no lack of discussion and depiction of the important personages in the Akron scene--Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob Smith, Anne Ripley Smith, Henrietta Seiberling, Dr. Walter Tunks, Rev. Wright, other pioneers and what they gave to the original A.A. program and its ideas. I found the book very appealing to me as one much involved in recovery work, a person deeply participating in Bible research and history, and a former VMI student and Marine who has a taste for history. Especially when the history demonstrates the potential for victory. There are some who have wondered why the book stops in 1939. But its scope was to cover the "Akron Genesis"--the early beginnings that transpired primarily between 1935 and 1938 and produced such highly successful results. There are other works which cover Rev. Sam Shoemaker,the Oxford Group, New Thought, Father Dowling, Sister Ignatia, Clarence Snyder, and some of the other luminaries of the 1940's. This book is for those who want an accurate and complete picture of the original A.A. program--the one that had a documented 75% success rate among real alcoholics who wanted to get well by relying on God.

After 29yrs of reading different books this provided me with a wealth of information of how and were it all begain.

Dick B. had barely begun his extensive research and publishing on A.A. history before he realized the real hole in A.A. history centered around the total lack of information about the origins, program, and people involved in the Akron A.A. Fellowship. Dick went to Akron, searched the newspapers, interviewed Dr. Bob's daughter and later his son. He spent hours with Congressman Seiberling and later with T. Henry Williams's daughter as well as many Oxford Group and A.A. activists who were knowledgeable of A.A. Bible roots in Akron. These included Rev. T. Willard Hunter, the venerable Mel B., Ray G., the archivist at Dr. Bob's Home, the Clarence Snyder crowd, the Shoemaker family, and many others. The resultant work in this book has become timeless in importance. It has been printed by more than one publisher. It has had several editions. And it is still much in demand. Fortunately, it told the truth. Hence the many additional facts about Dr. Bob, Anne, Henrietta, the Akron AA fellowship, the AA Akron pamphlets, the literature AAs read have served to embellish and enrich The Akron Genesis story rather than contradict it or diminish the value of its contents. Don't miss this book. It is foundational to the understanding of how A.A. really began--in Akron.

Most members of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that their program of recovery began with the Twelve Steps. Not true. Many believe that the majority of the pioneer members of AA died drunk. Not so. Still many others believe that AA is at least as successful today as it ever was, and maybe even more successful. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.

Today's mainstream "histories" of AA contain the usual generalizations of purported "facts" about its formative years. They follow the lead of New York co-founder Bill Wilson and his woefully inaccurate description of this period as one of "flying blind." One recently published book by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. suggests, "They were still a little unsure and afraid of this `thing' they had found, still groping for clear guidelines, still largely uneducated about their alcoholism." Yet in 1948 AA co-founder Dr. Bob Smith recalled, "...in early AA days, we became quite convinced that the spiritual program was fine." This should signal the observers to conclude that maybe we haven't been properly educated about our own history.

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous magnificently encapsulates the actual details behind the earliest years of Alcoholics Anonymous and its program of recovery, including its root sources and their practical applications, as led in Akron, Ohio by Dr. Bob Smith. The reader will learn of the vital ingredients of the pioneer program, including: permanent abstinence, complete surrender to God through His only son Jesus Christ, the removal of sins such as hatred and adultery, morning Quiet Time [including reading of the Bible and other religious devotionals], helping other alcoholics, forming social and religious comradeships, and church attendance. This book also introduces the reader to the key people who helped to influence the course of early Alcoholics Anonymous, including early Oxford Group members like James Newton, Russell Firestone, T. Henry and Clarace Williams, Henrietta Seiberling, and perhaps the most overlooked figure in AA history, Anne Ripley Smith, the wife of Dr. Bob.

Many revisionist historians are content to say that the Akron influence effectively ended in 1939 with the publication of AA's Big Book. And yet it was the Midwest AA that first commanded the national attention if the media. It was Akron's program that was noticed by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller. It was the Akron formula that produced a 75% success rate for "medically incurable" alcoholics who "really tried." Recently AA's General Service Office concluded that today's fellowship is experiencing a 95% dropout rate for first year members. Maybe there is something in this book that we can all learn from. In an era when an increasing number of individuals are seeking an answer to their problems, it would make sense to start at the beginning. The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous should be the first book on their list.

Many go to Akron, Ohio, in June of each year to celebrate the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous by Dr. Bob and Bill W. in June of 1935. I have been there many times myself. And, in addition to interviewing Dr. Bob's daughter, Sue Smith Windows, and Henrietta Seiberling's son, Congressman John Seiberling, I made a point of visiting the many historical repositories that could tell me more about how A.A. originated and what it accomplished in the early days. This meant visiting Dr. Bob's Home (a picture of which is on the cover of this book); St. Thomas Hospital; the Seiberling Gate Lodge (where Bill and Bob first met), the Akron A.A. Intergroup Office, Founders Day archives, the Summit County Library, the Bierce Library at University of Akron, St. Paul's Episcopal Church--where Dr. Walter Tunks had been rector, and with which Dr. Bob became a communicant shortly before his death. and the home of T. Henry and Clarace Williams. It's a treat many A.A. lovers of history would thoroughly enjoy.

Alas, however, while buildings have their appeal to our reminiscent side, they seldom contain the resources that make the inhabitants and use of the buildings a matter of common knowledge.

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous is the subject of this review. And it is the flagship history of how A.A. began when Dr. Bob got sober in Akron at his home about June, 1935. But The Akron Genesis covers the whole story. It begins with the famous events of 1931 when Russell Firstone got sober miraculously by turning to Jesus Christ. The next events are those which involved the 1933 Firestone celebrations where the testimonies of Russell and of Oxford Group leaders ultimately brought Dr. Bob to pray for his own recovery at a tiny Oxford Group meeting. Then comes the almost miraculous appearance in Akron of Bill Wilson, his meeting with Dr. Bob, and the great affinity each felt forthe other. The Akron program began to develop. And many individuals had a role in that development. They are all detailed in The Akron Genesis of Alcoholcs Anonymous. And the role of these founding individuals is expanded by some important Alcoholics Anonymous History Books that will make the Akron A.A. story come alive for those who want to prepare for the Akron visit.

"DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers." Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers

"The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonmous."The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous

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

"Dr. Bob and His Library."Dr. Bob and His Library: A Major A.A. Spiritual Source

"Sister Ignatia." Sister Ignatia - Second Edition: Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous

"Henrietta B. Seiberling."Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio's Lady with a Cause, Third Edition

"Children of the Healer."Children of the Healer: The Story of Dr.Bob's Kids

"Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous."Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good Book As a Youngster in Vermont

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous provides a thorough and well researched picture of the individual elements mentioned one by one.

Under the guise of "AA History" the writer attempts to bend AA to fit an Evangelical Christian agenda: its his position that "true" recovery is only possible if the alcoholic converts to the writer's version of Christianity...

Not only is this exclusivist revisionism in direct conflict with AA World Service sanctioned histories, it is an assault on the Big Book itself. This is the kind of (truly anti-Christian) stuff that kills drunks.

I thank God and Dick B for "The Akron Genesis" in that order! See, Dick B. explains in tremendous detail the simplicity of recovery through the power released by God as introduced in the twelve steps. The Bible is by far the greatest book on recovery and for those of us who have/had a hard time understanding that fact, this book will help! After 10+ years in "the program", I started REALLY getting to search-out the power that changed me. First, "Dr, Bob and the Good Old-timers" explained about the Oxfords and the Bible thumpers. Then, "Two Tracks One Goal", then "Life Recovery Bible", then, thanks to the tremendous resource opened by the "net", found Dick B's books. I intend to digest them all... I am alive and sober thanks to the grace of God! I will spend all of my time learning more about my "power" called Jesus! "My" time is... after all.. HIS! Thanks Dick B! Hallelujah!