The Lois Wilson Story: When Love is Not Enough: The Authorized Biography of the Cofounder of Al-Anon [Hardcover]

William Borchert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2005

A long-awaited look at the unsung story of Lois Wilson, wife of the famously anonymous Bill W.

Acclaimed author and screenwriter William G. Borchert does a masterful job in revealing the life and times of this spirited and determined woman, exploring the tender emotional territory beyond Lois’s role in the formation of AA and the subsequent creation of Al-Anon. From her privileged childhood in turn-of-the-century New York City, to her unexpected but exhilarating courtship with the dashing Bill Wilson, to her socialite status as a "Wall Street Wife" in the Roaring Twenties, to the couple’s audacious cross-country motorcycle excursions in the 1930s, Lois was every bit the adventure-seeker her legendary husband was. But nothing could have prepared her for the chaos, pain, and loss caused by her beloved Bill’s seventeen-year descent into the depths of alcoholism. In the end, however, her husband’s addiction proved not to be the tragic undoing of this brilliant, promising couple, but rather the beginning of one of the twentieth century’s most important social movements.

Features a 16-page section of black-and-white archival photographs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William G. Borchert was nominated for an Emmy in 1989 for writing the screenplay for the highly acclaimed Warner Brothers/Hallmark Hall of Fame movie My Name Is Bill W. His background includes reporting for a New York City daily newspaper and a major media wire service, writing for a national magazine, and creating syndicated shows for radio. As a partner at Artists Entertainment Complex, Borchert produced several box office hits, including Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon. He lives in New York City and South Carolina.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden (October 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592853285
• ISBN-13: 978-1592853281
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,008,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, February 23, 2006

By 

C. Henrich "Grateful" (Little Rock, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lois Wilson Story: When Love is Not Enough: The Authorized Biography of the Cofounder of Al-Anon (Hardcover)

Although I know the story of Lois Wilson, Mr Borchert's writing style and intimate knowledge of the Wilson's taught me so much more. The style is easy to read yet sophisticated- for example, when I neared the end, although I know her story and the ending, I stayed up very late one night because it's one of those books you just can't put down until you are done! That's all about the writer's style. The other big plus is Mr. Borchert's many year friendship with Lois and Bill- he knew details that just couldn't be known by looking in archival materials. This gave me new insights into Lois starting Al-Anon Family Groups and how she came to see her illness- I could identify.
thanks for writing this book, so many people just don't get it that Lois Wilson herself was a woman destined for greatness and it took God putting these two together, because without Lois, Bill would've perished long before he started AA. Thanks!!!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, April 27, 2006

By 

Tn Annie (TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lois Wilson Story: When Love is Not Enough: The Authorized Biography of the Cofounder of Al-Anon (Hardcover)

I identified, I re-felt the pain, I laughed, I cried and felt overwheling gratitude for the lives of Lois and Bill as the writer took me through the unfolding of their lives as the wonderful gift of AA and then Al-Anon emerged. What a gift! Suburbly written.

Anyone, be they a friend, loved one or suffering alcoholic, whose life has been affected by the cunning, baffling, powerful family dis-ease of alcoholism can find hope when reading this book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Message for everyone, June 5, 2007

By 

Kristen Hoaglin (CST) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lois Wilson Story: When Love is Not Enough: The Authorized Biography of the Cofounder of Al-Anon (Hardcover)

The Lois Wilson Story: When Love is not Enough
By: William G. Borchert
Hazelden
Center City, Minnesota 55012-0176

Lois Wilson was an amazing, wonderful woman and the world is a better place because she and her husband were in it. Author William G. Borchert used his words to express this woman's life, her trials, tribulations, and sanctification. Lois Wilson was the co-founder of the Al-Anon, and Alateen fellowships. Her husband Bill Wilson was one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This amazing book about her life starts as a flash back. It begins with introducing you to a very unhappy Lois in the early 1930's. Then it shifts to her beginnings. The book takes your hand and walks you through the entire life of Lois Wilson, her family, and some of her friends. It gives you explicit details about her life, how AA came about, Bill, and Al-Anon.

Lois met her husband Bill, who was four years her junior, in Vermont. This would prove to be a love that stood the test of time and alcohol. They married in January, before he went of to fight in WWI. They had a beautiful wedding in her parent's house in Brooklyn, and they were married for fifty-three years.

Lois's life with Bill was full of ups and downs. He was in the Army, and then an investigator on Wall Street. Bill was a genius. He began his drinking days when he was overseas, and it continued as it was seen as acceptable in his profession. This later carried on into him becoming an alcoholic.

Lois was forced to be the breadwinner of the family as Bill's drinking got worse and cost them everything that they had. Through all the years that she went through with him having this horrible sickness, she began to change and harbor much resentment. To add to her pain she was unable to have children, and when they tried to adopt, a friend put a stop to it because of Bill's drinking. Later Mrs. Wilson came to realize that it was for the best that they did not have children, and she looked at all the alcoholics in AA as her dear children.

As Bill started to recover after many hard years of his illness, Lois was still hurting inside with deep resentment, and anger. Bill formed Alcoholics Anonymous with Dr. Bob Smith, in Akron, Ohio. He found that the only way for him to stay sober was to be with another drunk. This revelation only injured the already wounded heart of Lois even more. She had wanted to be the reason and the one that caused her husband to be sober and to stay that way.

As the fellowship of AA continued to grow, one day Lois went out on the porch and noticed that there were other wives just sitting in the cars that lined the street. She went out to the other women and invited them in. She had a revelation that there were others out there hurting just as badly as she from this horrible alcohol demon. Thus started her little kitchen group. As the years progressed, this kitchen group concept developed into what is now Al-Anon. They followed the same twelve steps that AA did, but they also had their own twelve steps to follow as well.

Once it was realized that the children were being left out Lois, and some of the volunteers who helped with Al-Anon decided that something needed to be done for them, thus the dawning of Alateen. It was headed by one of the original volunteers, and each group was set up to be fostered by an Al-Anon member. Lois took particular interest and joy over the group for the children.

Because of the will and determination of Bill and Lois wisdom, there is now what is called a "cure" for alcoholics, and their families. Alcoholism is a disease that effects all members of a family, co-workers, and even some people in the community. Monumental steps were made by these two amazing people, and none of it would have happened if Lois had not stayed by Bill's side.

This is a story about heartache, pain, stamina, faith, and above all love. God had both Lois and Bill Wilson here for a reason, and I believe that they fulfilled their calling. Mr. Borchert did a wonderful job of telling the story, and letting the reader feel that they also personally knew Lois Wilson. This was a hard life to read about, but I learned a lot from the experiences in the pages. I hope that God will use this book to expand understanding about alcoholism, and the strong family that it takes to support one.