Customer Reviews

New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A. (2d ed.)

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During my high school and early college years, I was a member of The Rev. Sam Shoemaker's congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I got to know him and his family quite well. He was, without doubt, the most dynamic and holy man I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Since that time, I have spoken with many alcoholism counselors as well as A.A. members -- all (who knew anything about the history of A.A.) had only positive things to say about the role "Sam" played in helping to develop the "12 step" program. Now, having said that, let's get to the book itself.

I found this book to be a very extensive and, I believe, thorough account of the influence of this one Episcopal clergyman (and the God who obviously directed him) on the wording of the twelve steps. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who would like to know more about the early development of A.A. and the clergyman working behind the scenes during that development.

This book is a tough chew because it covers so many items in such great depth. It details some of Rev.Sam Shoemaker's life. It covers his personal relationship with A.A. and Bill Wilson. To make a knowledge of Shoemaker writings much easier, it specifically reviews almost every Shoemaker book written from 1921 through the year A.A.'s Big Book was published. And it touches on those published thereafter which commented on A.A. or contained repeat and relevant materials. It lists the dozens of words and phrases from Shoemaker writings that can be found in the Big Book, Twelve Steps, and A.A. materials. And, in its body and appendices, it covers the astonishing body of Shoemaker treasures Dick unearthed at the Episcopal Church Archives in Austin, Texas; at Shoemaker's two Calvary churches in Pittsburgh and New York; in Shoemaker's books and articles and sermons; in Sam's personal journals--never before seen or reported; and in the minds and memories of those friends who knew and worked with Sam. The particular treasure was the Pittsburgh section. Dick went back to Pittsburgh and interviewed the "golf club crowd" which Sam had rounded up and put to work in the Pittsburgh Experiment, businessmen's prayer meetings, and other unique outreach. These old-timers were alive and kicking and gave their reports on Sam and his methods with lots of enthusiams. There's plenty more. But I wanted to report that I've learned much much more in the last few years about the Rev. Sam Shoemaker that every A.A. ought to know. For it was to Sam that Bill turned and asked if Sam would actually write the Twelve Steps--Sam humbly declining.

Bill W. called Rev. Shoemaker a co-founder of A.A. He said most of the ideas in the 12 Steps came from Rev. Shoemaker, and he actually asked Shoemaker to write the 12 Steps, but Shoemaker declined, saying they should come from an alcoholic. Shoemaker's books, articles, and talks from beginning to end were about faith, prayer, and the Bible. This book helps to bring the A.A. roots and the Bible into focus

This book is so large, so comprehensive in the details it relates, and so thorough in its discussion of the relationship between Bill Wilson and his real spiritual teacher that many of its comments still seem to remain unnoticed. But the book, revised in the second edition, gives you some extremely useful spiritual history and tools. It reviews almost every book that Sam Shoemaker wrote. It covers the relationship between A.A. Cofounder Bill Wilson and the clergyman who taught him most of the Step material. It shows precisely the Shoemaker ideas and language that can be found in the Twelve Steps and the Big Book. It reports Shoemaker's talks to AAs at two of their International Conventions--St. Louis and Long Beach. It reveals the extensive findings of the author and his son at the Episcopal Church Archives in Austin, Texas where the vast number of Shoemaker papers are lodged. In the second edition, it gives a great picture of Sam Shoemaker in action after he took his second major church rectorship--in Pittsburgh. Wade through it. Get informed. And see how much about A.A., Bill Wilson, and Sam Shoemaker you never knew. I recommend it highly.