Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous by Ernest Kurtz - First Printing from 1979

Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous

by Ernest Kurtz
First Printing · 1979 · Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket

Offered here is a First Printing hardcover edition of Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous by Ernest Kurtz, published in 1979 by Hazelden Educational Services. This copy includes the original dust jacket, making it a desirable example of what is widely regarded as the definitive scholarly history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Originally written as Kurtz’s doctoral dissertation at Harvard University, Not-God was the first academically rigorous, non-promotional history of A.A. Written with full access to early A.A. archives, correspondence, and literature, the book examines the Fellowship’s development with honesty, balance, and depth—placing Alcoholics Anonymous within the broader contexts of American religious history, psychology, and social movements.

The title reflects Kurtz’s central thesis: that A.A.’s enduring strength lies not in perfection, certainty, or absolute authority, but in humility, limitation, and shared human experience. Since its publication, Not-God has become an essential reference for historians, scholars, long-time A.A. members, and serious students of recovery history.

Ernest Kurtz (1931–2015) earned his Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University in 1978. In addition to Not-God, he authored The Spirituality of Imperfection and Shame and Guilt: Characteristics of the Dependency Cycle, and published widely on spirituality, recovery, and American religious history. He taught at the University of Georgia and Loyola University of Chicago, served on the faculty of the Rutgers University Summer School of Alcohol Studies, and lectured internationally. Kurtz remains one of the most respected academic voices in the study of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Edition Details

Title: Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous

Author: Ernest Kurtz

Publisher: Hazelden Educational Services

Year: 1979

Edition: First Printing

Format: Hardcover

Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present

ISBN: 0-89486-065-8

Condition

Book: Very good condition. Blue cloth boards are clean and solid. Binding is tight and square. Pages are clean with no writing or highlighting. The top right corner of the front endpaper has been clipped. Old price marking present on the second page. No other markings noted.

Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present with edge wear and visible staining consistent with age and handling. Fully intact.

Please review all photos carefully for detailed condition.

Collector Significance

• First Printing of the foundational academic history of Alcoholics Anonymous

• Written by A.A.’s most influential historian

• Original dust jacket present

• Essential reference for collectors of A.A. literature, recovery history, and twentieth-century American religious studies

A cornerstone volume for any Alcoholics Anonymous collection and an indispensable work for understanding the Fellowship’s origins, philosophy, and lasting impact.