Easy Does It... The Story of Mac with a Foreword by Dr. William D. Silkworth
Easy Does It… The Story of Mac
Hugh Reilly · 1950 · First Printing · Original Dust Jacket · Reproduction Silkworth Promotional Band
Easy Does It… The Story of Mac is one of the more unusual and difficult-to-find books from the formative years of Alcoholics Anonymous—a full-length fictionalized account of alcoholism and recovery published in 1950, when A.A. itself was only fifteen years old.
Written under the name Hugh Reilly and published by P. J. Kennedy & Sons of New York, the book follows “Mac” through the progression of alcoholism, the destruction it brings to his life, and ultimately his introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery.
Its connection to early A.A. history, however, goes considerably deeper.
The book opens with a Foreword written and signed in print by Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, the physician whose understanding of alcoholism profoundly influenced Bill Wilson and the development of Alcoholics Anonymous. Adding another layer of intrigue, questions have persisted for decades over whether “Hugh Reilly” was actually a pseudonym—and whether Silkworth himself may have had a much greater role in writing the book than his credited Foreword suggests.
For collectors of early A.A. literature, Easy Does It occupies a fascinating place somewhere between an outside account of Alcoholics Anonymous and a work emerging from remarkably close proximity to the people and ideas that shaped the Fellowship.
The Story of Mac
The copyright page makes an important statement about the nature of the book:
“Although the story which follows is based on fact, all personal names—including that of the author—places and situations have been altered.”
That single statement has contributed considerably to the mystery surrounding Easy Does It.
The story itself follows an alcoholic called Mac and attempts to place the reader inside the alcoholic experience—the physical deterioration, mental obsession, isolation, desperation and eventual possibility of recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous is not merely mentioned in passing. It becomes part of the actual narrative. Mac encounters A.A., its members, meetings and principles, while other characters attempt to understand both the alcoholic and the new fellowship helping alcoholics recover.
Published in 1950, this is an exceptionally early portrayal of Alcoholics Anonymous in book-length narrative form. The First Edition of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book had appeared only eleven years earlier, and A.A. was still a comparatively young and rapidly expanding movement.
Even the book’s structure reinforces its theme. The first section is appropriately titled “The Ramp Down,” reflecting Mac’s descent before the story moves toward the possibility of reconstruction and recovery.
Dr. William D. Silkworth and the Foreword
The most historically important association with Easy Does It is unquestionably Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, M.D.
Silkworth treated thousands of alcoholics during his medical career and was the physician who treated Bill Wilson at Towns Hospital during the period surrounding Bill’s final drink and spiritual experience in 1934.
His medical explanation of alcoholism—the concept of a physical susceptibility or “allergy” combined with the alcoholic’s inability to reliably control drinking—became enormously influential in early Alcoholics Anonymous. His writings appeared in the Big Book under what became known as “The Doctor’s Opinion.”
In Easy Does It, Silkworth contributes a substantial Foreword under his own name and is identified as:
“Physician-in-Charge of the A.A. Wing in Knickerbocker Hospital, New York.”
Silkworth begins by discussing alcoholism as a social and medical problem and describes the comparatively recent medical classification of alcoholism as a disease and manifestation of an allergy.
He then turns specifically to the author, writing that:
“The author of this book has long been a close student of the alcoholic problem.”
Silkworth emphasizes that the book is not intended as a scientific textbook. Instead, he describes it as the vivid story of an alcoholic facing destruction and ultimately discovering the possibility of reconstruction.
Most importantly for A.A. historians, Silkworth explicitly recognizes the role of Alcoholics Anonymous in the story, writing that the author integrates the “moral psychology of Alcoholics Anonymous” as an essential part of his philosophy and teaching.
He concludes by describing the work as vigorous and original.
This is a remarkable endorsement from the physician whose ideas had already become part of the intellectual foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Did Dr. Silkworth Write Easy Does It?
One of the great mysteries surrounding this book is the identity of “Hugh Reilly.”
The book itself tells us that the name of the author was altered. Therefore, “Hugh Reilly” was not presented by the publisher as the author’s actual identity.
Over the years, researchers have raised the possibility that Dr. William Silkworth himself may have written, contributed to, or been closely involved in the creation of the book.
Research presented in Dale Mitchell’s Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks discusses the question at length and points to several intriguing pieces of evidence and tradition surrounding the book.
Among the factors that have fueled the theory are Silkworth’s exceptionally close association with the publication, the medical and A.A. knowledge reflected throughout the narrative, similarities between elements of the story and Silkworth’s professional world, reports concerning the beliefs of Silkworth family members, and references attributing authorship to him.
None of this establishes Silkworth’s authorship beyond dispute, and for that reason we believe the book is best presented for what it unquestionably is: a pseudonymously authored 1950 recovery narrative with an extraordinary and documented connection to Dr. William D. Silkworth.
The unanswered authorship question only makes the book more fascinating.
The Silkworth Promotional Band
Included with this copy is a reproduction of the scarce yellow promotional band originally used to market the book.
The front prominently advertises Silkworth’s connection, identifying him as physician-in-charge of the A.A. Wing at Knickerbocker Hospital and reproducing part of his endorsement of the book.
The reverse carries contemporary praise from publications including The Nashville Banner, The Pittsburgh Press, The Sunday Mirror of New York and The Tablet of Brooklyn.
The original band is extraordinarily difficult to encounter today. This reproduction allows the book to be displayed much as it would have appeared when marketed during its original period while remaining clearly identified here as a reproduction.
A Remarkable Piece of Provenance
This particular copy also retains an interesting piece of its own history: an original invoice from The Newman Bookshop of Westminster, Maryland, dated August 3, 1956.
The invoice identifies the purchaser as:
Rev. Thos. J. Mardaga
408 N. Charles St.
Baltimore 1, Maryland
The book is entered on the invoice as “REILLY EASY” and carries a total charge of 97 cents.
For a collectible such as this, surviving documentation connecting an individual copy to an early purchaser adds another tangible piece to its story. More than seventy years after publication, the invoice remains with the book as part of its provenance and will accompany the copy.
Condition
This is a very attractive example of this scarce 1950 publication, particularly considering the difficulty of locating copies retaining their original dust jacket.
The blue cloth hardcover remains clean and attractive overall, with strong black spine lettering. There is light age-related wear, including some rubbing and minor fraying along portions of the board and spine extremities.
The interior is especially appealing. The pages remain clean and well preserved with expected age toning. The photographs show a strong, readable text block with the original endpapers intact.
The original dust jacket is present, an important feature for a title that is already difficult to locate. The jacket shows expected age and use, including toning, surface soiling and staining, rubbing, edge wear, small chips and losses, and heavier wear around the spine ends and corners. Despite this wear, the jacket remains substantially complete and retains its striking original front-cover design, spine lettering, flap copy and rear-panel text.
A reproduction of the original yellow Silkworth promotional band is included and is clearly represented as a reproduction.
Also accompanying the book is the 1956 Newman Bookshop invoice described above, documenting an early purchase of this copy.
Please review all photographs carefully for the exact condition of the book, original dust jacket, reproduction promotional band and accompanying provenance.
Collector Significance
For the serious collector of Alcoholics Anonymous history, Easy Does It… The Story of Mac brings together several compelling areas of early recovery history in a single volume.
It was published in 1950, during A.A.’s formative years. It presents Alcoholics Anonymous directly within its narrative. Its author was intentionally concealed behind another name. It contains an original Foreword by Dr. William D. Silkworth discussing alcoholism, the disease concept and Alcoholics Anonymous. And more than seventy-five years later, the question of who actually wrote the book remains an intriguing subject of historical research.
Copies are difficult to find.
Copies retaining the original dust jacket are considerably more desirable.
This example goes further by pairing the original jacket with a reproduction of the scarce Silkworth promotional band and surviving 1956 bookseller provenance tied directly to this individual copy.
Whether viewed as an early A.A. recovery narrative, a significant piece of Silkworth-related literature, or one of the more intriguing mysteries of early Alcoholics Anonymous publishing history, Easy Does It… The Story of Mac deserves an important place in an advanced collection of recovery literature.
