How is this title-–which describes the materials Dick B. gathered during his eleven years of research into the biblical roots of Alcoholics Anonymous-–different than other publications to date? There has been no other attempt to revive, describe, and document the nature and content of early A.A.’s distinct spiritual roots. There have been partial histories, extensive book collections (left unexplained as to content), wool-gathering efforts, and opinions by the hundreds. Scholar after scholar has stuck to a party line that is focused on Bill Wilson, Carl Jung, William James, and Dr. William Silkworth-–with grudging nods to the Oxford Group and Sam Shoemaker. There has been a dearth of attention to the Bible, to Quiet Time, to Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith, to the Seiberlings, to T. Henry Williams, and to the devotionals and books early AAs read.

Dick has incorporated much of what he has learned into his various titles, articles, talks, panel discussions, correspondence, and email. But the 23,900 items comprising his research collection were and still are, for the most part, locked away in the State of Hawaii. Dick was determined to make the information available, in his books, on the internet, on radio, on television, in articles, in newspapers, and in talks. Yet the resources of one recovered alcoholic are dim when compared to the 18 million alcoholics and 2 million A.A. members who might want to hear the facts.

Acquisitions piled up. Oxford Group leaders, Shoemaker family members, archivists, scholars, historians, librarians, A.A. old-timers, and countless others made books and materials available to Dick. Some were purchased. Many were purchased for the author and presented to him. Many were donated. Many were simply collected bit by bit by hundreds who were willing to part with their shares of history. All to the end that other suffering alcoholics could be blessed.

Making Known the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous details all the items, names their donors where appropriate, states the dissemination mission, and provides the largest extant annotated bibliography of materials related to the spiritual roots of Alcoholics Anonymous available.

Paradise Research Publications, Inc.; 229 pp.; 6 x 9;
perfect bound; 2006; $27.95; ISBN: 1-885803-97-4.