A Biography of Mrs. Marty Mann: The First Lady of Alcoholics Anonymous (Hardcover)

by Sally Brown (Author), David R. Brown (Author) "LATE 1940s. The audience, several hundred strong, packed the ballroom..." (more)
Key Phrases: year zooo dollars, voluntary health movement, alcoholism movement, New York, Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The little-known life of Marty Mann rivals a Masterpiece Theatre drama. She was born into a life of wealth and privilege, sank to the lowest depths of poverty and despair, then rose to inspire thousands of others, especially women, to help themselves. The first woman to achieve long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, Marty Mann advocated the understanding that alcoholism is an issue of public health, not morality. In their fascinating book, Sally and David Brown shed light on this influential figure in recovery history.

Born in Chicago in 1905, Marty was favored with beauty, brains, charisma, phenomenal energy, and a powerful will. She could also out drink anyone in her group of social elites. When her father became penniless, she was forced into work, landed a lucrative public relations position, and a decade later was destitute because of her drinking. She was committed to a psychiatric center in 1938--a time when the term alcoholism was virtually unknown, the only known treatment was "drying out," and two men were compiling the book Alcoholics Anonymous. Marty read it on the recommendation of psychiatrist Dr. Harry Tiebout: it was her first step toward sobriety and a long, illustrious career as founder of the National Council on Alcoholism, or NCA.

In the early 1950s, journalist Edward R. Murrow selected Marty as one of the 10 greatest living Americans. Marty died of a stroke in 1980, shortly after addressing the AA international convention in New Orleans.

This is a story of one woman's indefatigable effort and indomitable spirit, compellingly told by Sally and David Brown.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Sally and David Brown live in Palo Alto, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568386265
• ISBN-13: 978-1568386263
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,356 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unforgettable biography, October 11, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

As its title implies, A Biography Of Mrs. Marty Mann, The First Lady Of Alcoholics Anonymous is the uplifting life story of a singularly strong and incredible woman - one who crusaded to teach all of America, men and women, that alcoholism is a treatable disease. Her life, which spanned most of the 20th century encompasses despair, hope, and redemption through crusading to battle the pernicious evils of alcoholism, and perhaps just as bad, ignorance about the nature of alcoholism. In Marty's own words, "People who dislike the terms 'alcoholic' and 'alcoholism' should consider the alternative of not knowing what was the matter with them and could believe only that they were hopelessly insane." An unforgettable biography of one of America's most fervent public-health reformers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mrs Marty Mann-a wonderful trip into the history of recovery, January 11, 2005

By	Bruce T. Tawson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I loved this book. It is well-written, expertly researched and completly honest.As a recovered person myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the the weaving of historical accounts of the early days of AA and NCA. Even without that, the story of Marty Mann was impressive and powerful. The account of the founding, growth, growing pains and success of NCA was a primer on how to get an impossible job done. Many other historical facts that were intertwined throughout the book provided a sense of reality about developments in our country that are rarely discussed.

My thanks to the authors for writing a book I will treasure it and make it a permamnent part of my personal library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read -- a page turner!, March 25, 2002

By	Nora OConnor (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Riveting and educational! A page turner! Marty Mann was an incredible woman and we finally get to read about her life in detail. This is a must read for those who are recovering from alcoholism, those affected by alcoholism, social service and public health providers and legislatures. We have much to learn from Marty Mann and we must continue her mission today.