Primer On Alcoholism by Marty Mann - Fifth Printing - ODJ
Primer on Alcoholism
Author: Marty Mann
Publisher: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York
Edition: Fifth Printing
Publication Year: ca. 1950s
Binding: Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket
Description
This is the Fifth Printing of Primer on Alcoholism by Marty Mann, one of the most influential figures in the history of alcoholism education and recovery advocacy. The dust jacket clearly states “Fifth Printing” and remains in very nice condition with only light edge wear.
First published in 1950, Primer on Alcoholism was among the earliest major works to present alcoholism as a disease rather than a moral failing — a groundbreaking concept at the time. Written with clarity and compassion, the book provides both the scientific framework and the practical guidance for understanding and addressing alcoholism in families, workplaces, and communities.
Marty Mann, often referred to as the “First Lady of Alcoholics Anonymous,” was one of the first women to achieve long-term sobriety in A.A. Her recovery in 1939 inspired a life of service and education. She went on to found the National Committee on Alcoholism (now the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) in 1944 — the first national organization to promote public understanding of alcoholism as a treatable illness.
About the Book
In Primer on Alcoholism, Marty Mann writes from both experience and expertise, combining scientific understanding with empathy. The book explores: The physical and psychological nature of alcoholism. How to distinguish between social, heavy, and problem drinking. The stages of alcoholism and paths toward recovery. The essential role of Alcoholics Anonymous, medical care, and supportive family involvement
Her central message is one of hope and education: that millions of alcoholics could recover if only the public and loved ones had the right information and attitude.
“It is my belief that millions more alcoholics could recover — if they and those surrounding them had, and used, the basic knowledge and practical information which we already possess.” — Marty Mann
Author Background
Marty Mann trained at the Yale School of Alcohol Studies and worked closely with pioneers Dr. Howard Haggard and Dr. E.M. Jellinek. As Executive Director of the National Committee on Alcoholism, she became the first woman to devote her life full-time to public education about alcoholism. Her tireless work — giving over 250 lectures a year and writing for both popular and medical audiences — helped shift public attitudes, paving the way for modern alcoholism treatment and advocacy.
Physical Details & Condition
Format: Hardcover with original dust jacket
Edition: Fifth Printing (as stated on jacket)
Condition (Book): Very Good — clean boards, tight binding, no writing or markings
Condition (Jacket): Very Good — light edge wear and mild rubbing, colors bright, fully intact
Pages: Clean and lightly toned, consistent with age
Please view all photos for an accurate representation of condition.
Significance
Primer on Alcoholism remains a cornerstone in the history of recovery literature — a bridge between the medical, spiritual, and human dimensions of alcoholism. Marty Mann’s insights were instrumental in shaping both public policy and personal understanding of recovery.
For collectors of A.A. and Al-Anon history, this Fifth Printing is a valuable artifact — representing not only one of the earliest public voices for compassion and education in the field, but also a vital companion volume to the A.A. Big Book era.
A well-preserved Fifth Printing of one of the most important early works on alcoholism education — written by Marty Mann, the pioneering woman who changed how the world viewed the alcoholic.
