Not-God by Ernest Kurtz - Third Printing from 1980 (Signed)
Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous - Signed
Author: Ernest Kurtz
Publisher: Hazelden Foundation
Year: 1980
Edition: Third Printing
Binding: Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket
Inscribed: “First Things First! Ernest Kurtz”
Description
This is a Third Printing (1980) of Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, the groundbreaking and definitive history of the A.A. movement, written by historian Ernest Kurtz, Ph.D. This copy retains its original dust jacket, showing only light edge wear, with a clean and unmarked interior.
Originally published in 1979, Not-God was adapted from Dr. Kurtz’s 1978 Harvard doctoral dissertation in the History of American Civilization, making it the first comprehensive scholarly study of Alcoholics Anonymous. The title references A.A.’s central theme of humility and surrender — the notion that recovery begins when one realizes they are “not God.”
About the Author
Dr. Ernest Kurtz (1935–2015) was one of the foremost historians and interpreters of A.A. and the modern recovery movement. After earning his Ph.D. from Harvard University, he expanded his dissertation into this landmark volume, tracing the origins, growth, and inner philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous from its founding in 1935 through its mid-century development.
Kurtz’s thoughtful and empathetic treatment of A.A. helped establish the program as a subject of serious academic inquiry. Beyond Not-God, his works — including The Spirituality of Imperfection and Shame and Guilt: Characteristics of the Dependency Cycle — continued to explore the intersections of human frailty, humility, and grace.
Over his long teaching career, Dr. Kurtz served on the faculties of the University of Georgia, Loyola University of Chicago, and Rutgers University’s Summer School of Alcohol Studies. He also lectured widely in the U.S. and abroad on spirituality and recovery, leaving an enduring legacy as both a scholar and a friend to the recovering community.
Condition
This copy is in very good condition. The dust jacket shows only light shelf and edge wear, with no tears or fading. The book itself is clean, tightly bound, and free of any handwriting, underlining, or marks. A beautifully preserved example of this important early edition.
Please view all photos for details of condition.
Collector’s Note
Not-God remains one of the most important works ever written on the history and meaning of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is as much a chronicle of A.A.’s evolution as it is a meditation on its spiritual principles — humility, honesty, and community. For collectors of early recovery literature and students of American religious and social history, this volume holds a special place as the bridge between A.A.’s lived experience and its scholarly interpretation.
