{"product_id":"bill-w-and-mr-wilson-the-legend-and-life-of-a-a-s-co-founder-2","title":"Bill W. and Mr. Wilson: The Legend and Life of A.A.'s Co-founder - 2000 Hardcover ODJ - Ex-Library","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill W. and Mr. Wilson: The Legend and Life of A.A.’s Cofounder\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMatthew J. Raphael | 2000 First Edition | Original Dust Jacket\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is a 2000 hardcover edition of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill W. and Mr. Wilson: The Legend and Life of A.A.’s Cofounder\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMatthew J. Raphael\u003c\/span\u003e, published by the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eUniversity of Massachusetts Press\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis thoughtful biography examines both the public figure known throughout Alcoholics Anonymous as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill W.\u003c\/span\u003e and the private man, William Griffith Wilson, who lived behind that public identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRaphael approaches Wilson’s life from a more critical and historical perspective than many traditional A.A. biographies. Rather than simply repeating the familiar stories surrounding the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, he looks closely at the historical record, considers areas where later retellings may have become simplified or embellished, and places Wilson’s ideas within a broader intellectual and spiritual context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book explores influences including \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWilliam James, Carl Jung, the Oxford Group\u003c\/span\u003e, and other people and ideas that helped shape Bill Wilson’s thinking and, ultimately, the development of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Different Look at Bill Wilson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOne of the central themes of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W. and Mr. Wilson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e is the distinction between the public figure of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Bill W.”\u003c\/span\u003e and the private \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Mr. Wilson.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRaphael examines Wilson not only as the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, but also as a complicated individual whose personal struggles, ambitions, spiritual searching, and human imperfections existed alongside his enormous influence on twentieth-century recovery culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe result is less a traditional celebratory biography and more an interpretive historical study of the man, the legend that grew around him, and the development of A.A. itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eChapters include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBill’s Elusive Childhood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBill’s First Drink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBill’s Roaring Twenties\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBill and the Oxford Group\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBill’s “Hot Flash”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBill W. Meets Dr. Bob\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWriting the Big Book\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForging the Traditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Sage of Stepping Stones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe book opens with Raphael’s observations from \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFounders’ Day 1998 in Akron, Ohio\u003c\/span\u003e, giving the work a strong connection to both A.A. history and the living recovery culture surrounding Bill W. and Dr. Bob.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e Bill W. and Mr. Wilson: The Legend and Life of A.A.’s Cofounder\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Matthew J. Raphael\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e University of Massachusetts Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace of Publication:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Amherst, Massachusetts\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 2000\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original dust jacket\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1-55849-245-3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eformer library copy\u003c\/span\u003e and retains clear evidence of institutional use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe original dust jacket is present beneath a clear protective plastic cover. The protective cover has been \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eadhered to the front and rear boards\u003c\/span\u003e, preventing the dust jacket from being removed without risking damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eLibrary markings include a label on the front pastedown, a classification label, and a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eJohnson County Library, Shawnee Mission, Kansas\u003c\/span\u003e stamp on the title page. There is also a small handwritten date notation on the title page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe rear endpaper area shows additional library-related adhesive residue and\/or label remnants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe dust jacket itself appears generally well preserved beneath the protective covering, with some light surface wear visible through the plastic. The book remains structurally sound, and the interior pages shown are clean and readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBecause this is an ex-library copy, it is being offered primarily as a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ereading, research, and historical reference copy rather than a fine collectible example\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they show the exact copy being offered and are an important part of the condition description.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector and Research Interest\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor readers interested in Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous history, the Oxford Group, the development of the Big Book, or the creation of A.A.’s Traditions, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eBill W. and Mr. Wilson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e remains a useful secondary source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIts value lies especially in Raphael’s effort to examine Bill Wilson as both a historical figure and a human being, separating the public legend from the more complicated private individual behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is a particularly useful addition to a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eresearch library of A.A. history\u003c\/span\u003e, even though the ex-library condition limits its appeal as a high-grade collectible.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50549687189746,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/BD879ED3-A445-4C41-8AD6-349B12841817.jpg?v=1790261413","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/bill-w-and-mr-wilson-the-legend-and-life-of-a-a-s-co-founder-2","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}