Bobbie B. The Untold Story of A.A.'s "Fantastic Communicator - Signed by Author Gary N.
Bobbie B. The Untold Story of A.A.'s "Fantastic Communicator
Paperback Edition signed by Author Gary N. on the title page.
Step back in time when A.A. was so new and small that their Headquarters carried an unlisted phone number. The only way most "prospects" could contact this new recovery phenomenon was through the mail. From 1942 through mid-1949, Bobbie answered thousands of written requests from all over the world, which earned her love and respect from many A.A.s she would never meet.
She was the only alcoholic employed there until 1946. She also carefully protected Bill W.'s reputation during periods when news of his difficulties might have jeopardized the future of Alcoholics Anonymous. Previously unknown letters written by Bill showing his gratitude for Bobbie's contributions are documented here for the first time after being hidden away for seventy years.
Gary W. Neidhardt is a retired software executive and American history lover living in Lilburn, Georgia. He has been interested in the history of recovery from alcohol and drugs for many years.
He literally stumbled upon Habits That Handicap written by Towns, which is his only work that remains in print. At first, this book mainly gathered dust until a friend of his had his picture taken in front of the building that used to be Towns Hospital. Eventually that picture peaked Gary's curiosity, which led to King Charles of New York City, which reveals Town's huge influence on the origins of narcotic legislation in the U.S. The book that resulted was King Charles of New York City published first in 2015 and republished in 2018.
In 2015 Gary was asked to present the history of Alcoholics Anonymous in Georgia. The associated research revealed the strong influence of a lady who had previously been almost entirely unknown to A.A. Margaret "Bobbie" Burger was only the second National Secretary A.A. ever had. She served from 1942 until mid-1949 until she resigned. She had been Bill Wilson's chief protector during a perilous period when the future of A.A. was in jeopardy. The book that resulted became Bobbie B The Untold Story of A.A.'s "Fantastic Communicator" published in 2022.
Gary, born and raised in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and a 1970 graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University, moved to New England in 1978 where for years he was part of America's Technology Highway outside of Boston. He moved to Georgia in 1992. He is father of three and lives with his second wife Mary, to which the new book is dedicated.
Gary's first book was Poseidon and the PC, which was published in 2013. The book documented the 115 letters written by his father, a Navy officer, to his mother during World War II. Because Gary's father was also a bit of a historian himself, there is a surprising among of interesting observations contained in the book. Many quite familiar with World War Il aren't aware of the Okinawa events of October of 1945, which might have changed the course of history had the A-bombs not ended the war.
