Easy Does It… The Story of Mac (1950) — First Printing with Original Dust Jacket & Reproduction Silkworth Band 

This is an exceptionally rare and important early recovery book, highly sought after by collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous history. Easy Does It… The Story of Mac was published in 1950 by P. J. Kennedy & Sons and remains one of the most mysterious and significant narrative works connected to early AA. This copy is a True First Printing and includes the original dust jacket as well as a reproduction of the original yellow promotional band referencing Dr. Silkworth’s Foreword.

Though published anonymously under the pseudonym Hugh Reilly, the true authorship of this book has been the subject of debate for decades. Strong evidence—including family accounts, a New York Times obituary, and research presented in Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks by Dale Mitchell—suggests that Dr. William D. Silkworth himself may have been the real author.

About the Book

Easy Does It is a biographical novel about "Mac," an alcoholic whose descent, struggle, and eventual recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous are told with rare emotional clarity. The book’s purpose goes beyond storytelling—it seeks to illuminate the lived experience of alcoholism in a way that educates the mind while speaking directly to the heart.

What makes this work especially significant is the Foreword by Dr. William D. Silkworth, the physician who treated Bill Wilson at Towns Hospital in 1934 and whose groundbreaking medical insights shaped AA’s foundational understanding of alcoholism. Silkworth later authored the famous “Doctor’s Opinion” in the A.A. Big Book, describing alcoholism as a physical allergy coupled with a mental obsession—one of the earliest medical explanations consistent with modern addiction science.

Dr. Silkworth’s Influence & the Authorship Debate

Dr. Silkworth was pivotal in legitimizing Alcoholics Anonymous in its early years. His medical framing of alcoholism as an illness—combined with his endorsement of AA’s spiritual and psychological approach—helped bridge the worlds of science and spirituality in addiction treatment.

Compelling evidence has been presented suggesting that Silkworth may have written this book:

Pages 95–101 of Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks outline striking parallels between the novel and Silkworth’s life and work.

The book’s hospital setting closely resembles Knickerbocker Hospital, where Silkworth served.

The depth of AA knowledge present in the narrative is far deeper than what was publicly available in 1950.

Silkworth’s New York Times obituary identified him as the author.

Family members also privately believed he wrote it.

If true, this makes Easy Does It not only a powerful narrative but a primary historical artifact of early AA thought, authored by one of its most influential medical champions.

Physical Description & Condition

Title: Easy Does It… The Story of Mac

Author: Hugh Reilly (pseudonym; possible authorship by Dr. Silkworth)

Publisher: P. J. Kennedy & Sons

Publication Year: 1950

Edition: First Edition / First Printing

Dust Jacket: Original, in good condition with edge wear and some staining

Promotional Band: Reproduction of original yellow band touting the Silkworth Foreword

Format: Hardcover

Condition: Former library copy. Boards show wear and stains. Library stamps and markings present. No other writing or personal markings inside. Dust jacket shows edge wear and spotting but remains intact and presents well.

Overall, a solid and collectible example of a notoriously difficult book to find in any condition—especially with the original jacket.

Significance for Collectors

Early AA-related literature from the 1940s and 1950s is increasingly scarce, and Easy Does It stands near the top of the rarity scale. Its possible authorship by Dr. Silkworth makes it especially valuable. For historians, archivists, AA researchers, and serious collectors, this book is a foundational piece that documents the evolving understanding of alcoholism and recovery in the years when AA was still finding its footing.

This is a true opportunity to acquire a historically rich and exceptionally uncommon title tied closely to the roots of recovery literature.