Reader's Digest Condensed Books: BILL W. by Robert Thomsen - 1976
Reader’s Digest Condensed Books
BILL W.
A condensation of the book by Robert Thomsen
Illustrated by George Jones
Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket
Overview
Offered here is the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books edition of BILL W.—a condensed, illustrated presentation of Robert Thomsen’s biography of Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Designed for wide readership, this edition brings Bill’s story to a broad audience in the accessible, narrative style Reader’s Digest was famous for: clear, dramatic, and deeply human.
The condensed text still captures the essential arc: a Vermont boy raised by an idealistic grandfather; a bright, persuasive young man who found leadership in World War I and success on Wall Street; the growing dependence on alcohol; and the turning point in Akron—where Bill found another suffering alcoholic, Dr. Bob, and the chain reaction began. The story has always read like a spiritual odyssey—failure, surrender, rebirth—and that’s exactly what this edition preserves.
About the Author
Robert Thomsen knew Bill W. personally for twelve years. After Bill’s death in 1971, Thomsen traveled with Lois to Vermont to speak with family and childhood friends, interviewed associates around the country, and immersed himself in Bill’s writings. In the Reader’s Digest notes included with this edition, Thomsen describes being haunted by a childhood letter Bill typed to his sister, signed: “Your unknown friend, Willie G. Wilson”—a phrase that helped shape Thomsen’s attempt to capture the elusive personality behind a public legacy.
For collectors, this condensed edition is a fascinating “popular history” artifact—evidence of the moment Bill W.’s story moved beyond A.A. shelves and into mainstream American reading culture.
Edition Details
Title: BILL W.
Series: Reader’s Digest Condensed Books
Based on: Robert Thomsen’s biography of Bill W.
Illustrations: George Jones
Format: Hardcover
Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present
Condition
Very Good condition with minimal wear.
Dust Jacket: Original jacket present with edge wear and small tears consistent with age and handling.
Please view all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.
A strong, readable condensed edition of Thomsen’s Bill W.—an appealing piece of mid-century recovery history in “mainstream” format, and a fun companion item for A.A. biography collectors.
