Alcoholics Anonymous Comes Of Age - First Printing - 1957

This book is the Alcoholics Anonymous Comes Of Age First Printing from 1957.

The book is identified as a first printing with the notation on the copyright page of “First Edition H-G.” The copyright date of this book is 1957.

The spine of the book and dust jacket of AA Comes of Age identifies who published the book; A.A. Publishing, Inc., Harpers, or Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.

Only the first printings were published by A.A. Publishing, Inc. or Harpers. All printings since have been published under the name Alcoholics Anonymous World Service.

Here is the Foreword to AA Comes of Age:

This book is for A.A. members and their friends. It is for all who are interested to know the history of how A.A. started, how its principles of Recovery, Unity, and Service were evolved, and by what means this fellowship has grown and spread its message around the world. Here is an inside and wide-angled view of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The first part of the book presents a panoramic sketch of the historic St. Louis Convention at which the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous came of age and assumed full responsibility for all its affairs.

The second part includes three talks, edited and enlarged, on the history of A.A. Recovery, Unity, and Service, which were given by co-founder Bill W. at the St. Louis gathering.

The third part is devoted to addresses of a number of A.A.'s friends, all of them notable in their several fields: Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, psychiatrist, Dr. W. W. Bauer of the American Medical Association, Father Edward Dowling of the Jesuit order, Dr. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Episcopal clergyman, and Mr. Bernard B. Smith, New York attorney and former Chairman of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous. These friends tell of their association with Alcoholics Anonymous, the part they played in its development, and their view of what the future holds for this society.

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Here is a message about AA Comes of Age written by Bill in 1967 which is included on the front pages of the book:

“Dear Friends,

As you read coming pages, it will be seen that their historical content is not arranged in a conventional, straight-line time-sequence.

For the limited purposes of this book, it was deemed better to throw special emphasis on our A.A. Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service by separately telling the stories of those crucial developments. This has the merit of focusing attention upon them, one concept at a time.

Nevertheless some members may prefer to start reading at page 51, which leads quickly into the early A.A. story as it relates to our present-day program of recovery.

The title of this volume, A.A. Comes of Age, is now and then questioned because it conveys to some people the idea that we A.A.'s really think we have "grown up"; that we have already achieved great emotional maturity.

In reality, the expression "comes of age" is used by us in a very different sense. We simply say that we have arrived at the time of life when adult responsibilities have to be faced and dealt with, as best we are able. To this end we do try to rely upon ourselves-and upon God.

Faithfully yours,

Bill W.

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This book is in good condition. There is an address label on the inside of the front cover. There is no other writing or markings inside this book. This book has an original  dust jacket. The jacket has experienced wear with tears and stains.

Please view all of the photos for the conditions.