Signed by Father Ralph Pfau - Sobriety and Beyond - 1955
Signed Father by Ralph Pfau - Sobriety and Beyond - 1955
“Sobriety and Beyond”
By Father John Doe (Father Ralph Pfau)
Signed “Sincerely Father Pfau” on the front free endpaper.
Indianapolis, Indiana: The SMT Publishing Co., Inc., 1955. First edition, First Printing.
Father Ralph Pfau was the third most published early A.A. author (only Bill Wilson the founder and Richmond Walker had more books out in print), and was the first Roman Catholic priest to get sober in A.A.
He was born in Indianapolis, educated at St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, and served Catholic churches all over Indianapolis, as well as other towns in Indiana. After taking up full time A.A. work, he made his headquarters in three rooms at the Convent of the Good Shepherd in Indianapolis, with three nuns serving as his secretaries and assistants.
Early A.A. people from the South Bend area traveled to attend his weekend A.A. spiritual retreats, and formed study groups to read his books.
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SOBRIETY AND BEYOND is, in the words of the well-known psychiatrist, Doctor Karl Menninger of Topeka, Kansas, "born of vast experience and high purpose". It was written over a period of ten years, during which time the author devoted all of his time among members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Written in a unique un-pedantic style, the author seems to possess unusual ability to simplify what appears to be complicated; to clarify chaos; and to make seem obvious what is hidden beneath the surface. Avoiding all unnecessary words he uses the language of the average man and woman to express and explain the everyday truths of the "spiritual life". Indeed the whole theme of the volume is to bring into focus and express with ordinary words and phrases the "spiritual thread of Alcoholic Anonymous", which to the average person in AA is simply adjusting to happy and sober living, for most of these men and women are convinced that no alcoholic will remain sober, unless he also achieves happiness in life. This happiness, this adjustment to life, this "spiritual phase" of Alcoholics Anonymous is achieved in that area of living BEYOND SOBRIETY. It is into this phase of happy living and peace of mind and soul that the author so deftly and with simplicity guides the reader.
Although originally compiled for al-coholics, and members of Alcoholics Anonymous, all readers — alcoholic and non-alcoholic — will find an un-equalled, safe and simple guide to happiness and peace of mind and soul, in its pages.
The author, Father John Doe, although a Catholic Priest, is still simply one of the thousands of John and Jane Does of Alcoholics Anonymous, that ever-growing anonymous family of happy and sober alcoholics. He has travelled extensively and has spoken to and with thousands and thousands of alcoholics. It is this unusual back-ground, together with the gift of a talent for teaching without trying that has produced SOBRIETY AND BEYOND, which explains effectively and without the complexities of denomination or formality, those truths for happy living contained in the suggested spiritual steps of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is really nothing more than a solid philosophy of living — with contentment, with peace of mind and with peace of soul.
—M. L. R.
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The book is in very good condition. There is pen writing on the inside of the front cover. The original dust jacket does have tears around the edges and spine. The dust jacket is protected in mylar.