{"product_id":"harper-s-magazine-alcoholics-anonymous-cult-or-cure-february-1964","title":"Harper’s Magazine — February 1963  Featuring “Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?” by Arthur H. Cain","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarper’s Magazine — February 1963\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeaturing “Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?” by Arthur H. Cain\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarper \u0026amp; Row, Publishers · February 1963\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVol. 226, No. 1353\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Magazine Issue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDescription\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is the February 1963 issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHarper’s Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, featuring the provocative and historically significant article \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e by Arthur H. Cain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePrinted prominently on the front cover, Cain’s article appeared at a time when Alcoholics Anonymous had already become a widely recognized national fellowship, with hundreds of thousands of members and growing influence in the public understanding of alcoholism. Unlike earlier popular articles that helped introduce or praise A.A., this piece took a sharply critical view.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eCain, a psychologist and writer in the alcoholism field, argues that A.A. had shifted from a helpful informal fellowship into what he viewed as a rigid, quasi-religious movement. He criticizes what he saw as A.A.’s resistance to psychiatry, scientific research, and alternative treatment approaches, while also questioning the growing influence A.A. held over public education and discussion around alcoholism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe article is especially collectible because it represents one of the earliest widely circulated critical articles on Alcoholics Anonymous to appear in a major American magazine. For collectors of A.A. history, it offers an important counterpoint to the more favorable publicity pieces of earlier decades, such as the 1939 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e article and the 1941 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSaturday Evening Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e feature by Jack Alexander.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eRather than simply celebrating A.A.’s success, this article captures a moment when A.A.’s rapid growth, spiritual language, and public authority were beginning to be challenged by voices from the professional treatment and psychiatric communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical \u0026amp; Collector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis issue is a meaningful addition to any collection focused on A.A. publicity, outside commentary, alcoholism treatment history, or the evolving relationship between Alcoholics Anonymous and the professional medical\/psychiatric world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eHighlights include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFebruary 1963 issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHarper’s Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?”\u003c\/span\u003e by Arthur H. Cain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne of the earliest major popular-magazine critiques of A.A.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFront cover specifically promotes the article: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous — Cult or Cure?”\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eImportant artifact in the history of public debate around A.A., psychiatry, treatment, and alcoholism research\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA strong companion piece to earlier favorable A.A. magazine articles from 1939, 1941, and the postwar years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors, this issue helps tell a fuller story: not only how A.A. was praised and promoted, but also how it was questioned, challenged, and debated as it became a powerful national movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eTitle: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHarper’s Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDate: February 1963\u003cbr\u003eVolume\/Number: Vol. 226, No. 1353\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Harper \u0026amp; Row, Publishers\u003cbr\u003eFeatured Article: “Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?”\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Arthur H. Cain\u003cbr\u003eArticle Pages: 48–52\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Original magazine issue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis magazine is fully intact with no missing or torn pages noted. The cover shows general wear, rubbing, creasing, surface marks, and age-related handling wear. Interior pages show normal toning consistent with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA fascinating and important piece of A.A. history, this 1963 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHarper’s Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e issue preserves an early public challenge to Alcoholics Anonymous at a time when the Fellowship’s influence was rapidly expanding. Whether viewed as criticism, controversy, or historical context, Cain’s article remains a valuable artifact for understanding how A.A. was perceived, debated, and studied in mid-century America.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49757449453810,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/441E3CD3-7300-4E72-A0A3-806EA1DF270B.jpg?v=1783139923","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/harper-s-magazine-alcoholics-anonymous-cult-or-cure-february-1964","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}