Philosophy of Courage or The Oxford Group Way by Philip Leon - 3rd Edition - ODJ

Philosophy of Courage (The Oxford Group Way)

Philip Leon

Third Edition — 1947 (British Edition)
With Original Dust Jacket

Publisher: Blandford Press Ltd., London
Publication Year: 1947
Binding: Hardcover with original dust jacket
Edition: Third Edition
Illustrated Dust Jacket: Yes

Description

This is a rare Third Edition (1947) of Philosophy of Courage (The Oxford Group Way) by Philip Leon, issued in the original dust jacket featuring a striking and historically significant design.

The jacket illustration depicts an Oxford Group / Moral Re-Armament gathering at the Hollywood Bowl, July 19, 1939, titled “A Call to the Nations for Moral Re-Armament.” Four powerful beams of light rise into the sky, symbolizing The Four Absolutes—Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness, and Love—central principles of the Oxford Group and later deeply influential in the spiritual foundations of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Leon completed the manuscript in December 1938, and the book was first published in 1939, on the eve of World War II. Written during a time of rising fear, nationalism, and moral uncertainty, Philosophy of Courage articulates the philosophical and psychological framework behind the Oxford Group’s call for inner moral change as the basis for social renewal.

Leon, author of The Ethics of Power, addresses not only philosophers or theologians, but what he calls “Everyman,” presenting the Oxford Group’s ideas as a practical path toward moral responsibility, courage, and spiritual renewal. For readers within the Twelve Step tradition, the book contains ideas and language that will feel strikingly familiar, offering insight into the spiritual climate that shaped early A.A. thinking.

Historical & Recovery Significance

• Explains the philosophy and psychology behind the Oxford Group movement

• Articulates ideas that directly influenced early Alcoholics Anonymous spirituality

• Connects personal moral transformation with broader social responsibility

• Features a highly collectible dust jacket documenting a major 1939 Moral Re-Armament event

• A valuable bridge text between Oxford Group thought and early recovery philosophy

Condition

• Book: Excellent condition. Clean cloth boards with minimal wear. No writing, markings, or underlining. Tight binding and clean pages.

• Dust Jacket: Very Good condition. Original jacket present with edge wear and light staining consistent with age. Artwork remains clear and visually striking.

• Overall: A well-preserved and highly presentable copy.

Please review all photographs carefully for detailed condition.

Summary

A scarce and visually compelling Oxford Group / Moral Re-Armament title, this 1947 Third Edition of Philosophy of Courage offers deep insight into the spiritual and philosophical ideas that helped shape early Alcoholics Anonymous. An excellent addition for collectors of recovery history, Oxford Group literature, or 20th-century spiritual movements.