Bill W. by Robert Thomsen - First Printing 1975 - ODJ
Bill W.
The Biography of Alcoholics Anonymous Co-Founder Bill Wilson
by Robert Thomsen
First Printing · 1975
With Original Dust Jacket
This is a First Printing (1975) of Bill W., Robert Thomsen’s landmark biography of Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Published shortly after Bill W.’s death in 1971, this book was one of the first full-length, independent biographies devoted entirely to his life and legacy.
Thomsen, a respected journalist and author, was granted unusual access to AA members, archives, and personal recollections, allowing him to present a detailed and human portrait of Bill Wilson—his struggles, spiritual awakening, and the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Historical Significance
Bill W. occupies an important place in AA literature as one of the earliest major biographies of Bill Wilson, written close enough to AA’s founding era to include firsthand accounts, explores both the public and private sides of Bill W.’s life, and helped shape later historical and biographical treatments of AA’s origins.
For many readers and collectors, this book marked the first time Bill W.’s story was told in a broader narrative form beyond AA-published materials.
Book Details
Title: Bill W.
Author: Robert Thomsen
Publisher: Harper & Row
Publication Date: 1975
Edition: First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Dust Jacket: Original, present
Condition
Book: Very good condition overall. Minor wear consistent with age. No writing, highlighting, or markings. Binding firm and pages clean.
Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present. Light general wear.
Please review all photos carefully to assess exact condition.
Collector Notes
First printings of Bill W. with the original dust jacket are increasingly scarce, particularly in solid, honest condition. This copy offers an excellent balance of collectibility and readability and remains a key volume for anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous history or Bill Wilson’s life.
A foundational biography for AA historians, collectors, and students of recovery history.
