Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The term not-God is the theme around which this history of Alcoholics Anonymous is recounted and its interpretation offered..." (more)
Key Phrases: alcoholic squadron, shared honesty, alcoholic grandiosity, Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The most complete history of A.A. ever written. Not-God contains anecdotes and excerpts from the diaries, correspondence, and occasional memoirs of A.A.'s early figures. A fascinating, fast-moving, and authoritative account of the discovery and development of the program and fellowship that we know today as Alcoholics Anonymous.

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, and 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. Some of his articles have been published in the 1999 book, The Collected Ernie Kurtz. Dr. Kurtz 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: 456 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894860658
• ISBN-13: 978-0894860652
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid study by a Harvard US History scholar, January 7, 1999

By A Customer

Good book without the mumbo jumbo that one usually finds on the subject. He tackles the question: "Is AA a cult" by describing the common characteristics of cults. A book for the thinking AA member and those interested in the background of a very influential movement that started in the USA and has spread over a large part of the developed world.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not God, August 28, 2004

By	Bookrook "Bookrook" (Pittsville,Wi.USA) - See all my reviews

Wonderfully insightful for all. Splendidly illustrates the history and formation of AA and it's painstaking growth through the early formative years of AA.
A great read!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars helpful background, February 16, 2006

By	anxious al (orange county, ca) - See all my reviews

in depth history of aa beginnings, including much insight into the formative reasons for the successes and failures of this program. very helpful for someone new to aa, trying to grasp the essence of the program.