The Collected Ernie Kurtz [Paperback]

Ernest Kurtz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

12 essays, 11 previously published in scholarly journals, but the author of _Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous_ and _The Spiritualty of Imperfection_. Among topics are "Bill W. and LSD," "Commentary on 'Lay Treatment,'" "The Spirituality of William James," "Why A.A. Works: The Intellectual Significance of Alcoholics Anonymous," "Research on Alcoholics Anonymous," "Here's to Spuds!"

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Readers of Not-God and The Spirituality of Imperfection and those of us who have been captivated by the lectures of Ernie Kurtz had long awaited this volume. Here under one cover is Kurtz at his best: historian, gadfly, teacher, interpreter, and master storyteller. Breathtaking in the depth of insight they contain, these are the most definitive essays ever written on Twelve-Step Recovery and Spirituality. This is MUST reading for any student of Alcoholics Anonymous and the evolution of spirituality in America. This book will touch your mind and your heart." -- William White, author Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment in America

About the Author

Ernie Kurtz received his Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University in 1978. His doctoral dissertation was published as the book Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous. Since then, he has published The Spirituality of Imperfection, the booklet Shame and Guilt: Characteristics of the Dependency Cycle. He has also published a number of articles, both scholarly and popular, on topics related to his interests and has lectured nationally and internationally on subjects related to the academic study of spirituality.

Dr. Kurtz has taught American History and the History of Religion in America at the University of Georgia and Loyola University of Chicago. From 1978 to 1997, he served on the faculty of the Rutgers University Summer School of Alcohol Studies and from 1987 to 1997 as a lecturer at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. After a brief stint as Director of Research and Education at Guest House, then an alcoholism treatment facility for Catholic clergy, Ernie retired to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and began taking classes in the School of Information at the University of Michigan. He continued to travel widely offering presentations until late 1997, when a botched medical procedure led to spinal surgery that only partially restored his ability to stand and walk.

Noting that "it is ironic that I now walk like a drunk," Ernie now devotes time to the intricacies and possibilities of electronic research in this field

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Bishop of Books; 1st edition (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877686093
• ISBN-13: 978-1877686092
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,247,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lot of sylables but taken slowly>>>>>>>>>>>, October 20, 2008

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Robert W. Schultz "phramed" (tx) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Collected Ernie Kurtz (Paperback)

If you want to learn about AA, spirituality and how things work for AA, this is the one. It is not a curl up and can't put it down type read, at least for me. But it is a book that can be read and digested a chapter at a time. The chapters are not long and there are pictures, but..... those pictures are pictures in your mind about the beginnings and the frailty of the human spirit that brought AA to this countryside. The differences Dr. Kurtz point out regarding religion and spirituality and the beginnings of this "phenomenon" called AA. "You can do somethings but you cant' do everything; you, alone can do it, you cant do it alone." Best definition of humility I ever heard.