Pass It On - First Printing from 1984 - with Original Jacket

Pass It On: The story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world.

This is the First Printing from 1984. This book has its original dust jacket.

Learn more about Pass It On:

Here is Bill W., the man everybody knew and nobody knew. Here too, inextricably entwined with his life, is the dramatic story of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, its early struggles and amazing growth.

Bill's character was complex and contradictory. Although we always tried to place him on a pedestal, he strove for genuine humility, declining honors and stressing the spiritual value of anonymity.

The co-founder of A.A., he was never a member of A.A., because we never allowed him to be. Ego-driven, he nevertheless always gave credit to others: to Ebby, to Dr. Bob, to Lois, as appropriate.

A charismatic leader, he eschewed power and "was willing to let go of us before we were willing to let go of him" (in Dr. Jack Norris' words). He was hailed as one of the most significant figures of the 20th century; yet a nonalcoholic typist for the manuscript of this book commented, "Isn't it too bad he never did anything with his life!"

In these pages is the full and rounded story of a remarkable life: The boy growing up in Vermont, always striving to be Number One. The Army officer serving "over there" in World War I. Bill's romance and marriage with Lois. The fair-haired boy of Wall Street plummeting to rum-soaked despair. Ebby T. and Dr. Silkworth, Bill's spiritual experience, and his meeting with Dr. Bob. And of special significance to the A.A. reader, Bill's role in Alcoholics Anonymous.

In preparation over five years, this is the definitive biography of Bill W. Every word is documented, every source checked. For the scholar this volume is invaluable. For all of us, it is exciting reading.

Here is the Foreword to Pass It On:

“Bill told his story countless times. He himself dubbed it "the bedtime story," and this name quickly caught on in the groups, as the story acquired a comforting familiarity. As many times as he told it, A.A. never tired of listening to it.

This is a detailed retelling of the bedtime story. Bill's life was so full of adventure, experiment, thought, and invention that to report it all would require much more space than a single volume affords. Bill showed us how to receive the gift of life. This is our gift to him — his life, as we see it. We like to think he would enjoy this telling of his tale.”

Who Wrote Pass It On?

ANSWER: After finishing "Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers," <<Niles P. immediately began research for a similar biography of Bill W., except that the problem was now one of selection from the plethora of material to draw on, including the Robert Thompson biography published by Harper & Row. Also, Niles felt overwhelmed by the challenge of portraying Bill’s complex character, colored by his own personal acquaintanceship with the co-founder. Finally Niles fell ill with cancer and resigned from the assignment.

Mel B., a professional writer working in corporate relations in Toledo, Ohio, was engaged to take over. After working for two years, Mel produced a voluminous, thoroughly researched, well-written manuscript. (A remark made by the nonalcoholic stenographer whom Mel hired to type the final manuscript should be preserved for posterity. Unfamiliar with A.A., she got caught up in the drama of Bill’s story, and when she had finished, she said, “He was such an intelligent and talented man. It’s too bad he never did anything with his life!”)

The Literature Committee felt that Mel B.’s manuscript lacked vitality and failed to make Bill come alive. So the project was turned over to Catherine N., a freelance writer in New York, to add human interest touches. After conducting additional interviews, she started to work on the manuscript. Soon, however, Catherine stopped in frustration, reporting that she could not do justice to the subject by patching and filling and asking for permission to do a complete rewrite in her own style. She was given a go-ahead and spent another year and a half in producing the final book.

A number of suggested titles were considered, but none seemed quite right. Then one day, a staff member showed Bob P. general manager of G.S.O. a thank you letter from a member who was the delegate from Delaware for his visit to G.S.O. on Open House Day. He compared his feelings with the first time he had met Bill. “I was a couple of months sober and so excited,” he wrote, “so thrilled to actually meet the co-founder that I gushed all over him with what my sobriety meant to me and my undying gratitude for his starting A.A. When I ran down, he took my hand in his and said simply, ‘Pass It On'” Bob P. exclaimed, “There’s our title!” The book was subtitled, “The Story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world.” Again designed by Nelson Gruppo, it came off the press just before Christmas 1984.>> Bob P. (Bob P.'s history MAY contain information that not all historians agree on. Documented corrections or additions are welcomed.

CONFERENCE ADVISORY ACTION: 1984 It was recommended that: The Bill W. biography be approved with the title Pass It On.

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The book is in very good condition. There is a pen marking on the first page. There is no other writing or markings inside the book. The dust jacket has some edge wear.

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