{"product_id":"sobriety-without-end-father-john-doe-1957-signed-first-printing","title":"Sobriety Without End — Father John Doe (Ralph Pfau) | 1957 First Printing | Signed","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Printing, 1957\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInscribed “Sincerely Father Pfau”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFirst Printing of \u003cb\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, published in 1957 by Father John Doe—the pseudonym used by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFather Ralph S. Pfau\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, one of the most important early spiritual writers associated with Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWhat makes this particular copy especially collectible is that it has been \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003epersonally signed by Pfau under his real name\u003c\/span\u003e, with the inscription:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Sincerely Father Pfau”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor a book originally published under the anonymous identity \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Father John Doe,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e a copy signed as Father Pfau creates an especially interesting connection between the pseudonym known to generations of A.A. readers and the priest behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFather Ralph Pfau and Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFather Ralph Pfau (1904–1967) was a Roman Catholic priest from Indiana who entered Alcoholics Anonymous in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1943\u003c\/span\u003e. He is generally identified in biographical accounts as the first Roman Catholic priest to achieve sobriety through A.A. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWriting as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFather John Doe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, Pfau became a prolific early voice on the spiritual life of recovery. His writings included the celebrated series of fourteen \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGolden Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, as well as the full-length books \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety and Beyond\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. His work explored many of the subjects that recovering alcoholics encountered after putting down the drink: resentment, fear, humility, acceptance, emotional maturity, prayer, spiritual growth and serenity. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eUnlike an official Alcoholics Anonymous publication, Pfau’s books represented the experience and interpretation of an individual A.A. member. They nevertheless became widely read within the recovery community and remain in print today. \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e is still published for modern readers more than six decades after its original appearance. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePublished in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1957\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e followed Pfau’s earlier \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety and Beyond\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eA contemporary 1957 review described \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e as Pfau’s second book addressing the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eaims and techniques of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/span\u003e, organized around four objectives:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSobriety — Sanity — Security — Sanctity\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe book moves beyond simply stopping drinking and addresses the continuing mental and spiritual development Pfau believed was necessary for lasting sobriety. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThat theme has given the book considerable longevity. Modern editions describe serenity as central to long-term sobriety and emphasize Pfau’s belief that continued mental and spiritual growth prepares the recovering alcoholic to meet the challenges of everyday life. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSigned as “Father Pfau”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe signature is what separates this copy from an ordinary First Printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe title was deliberately published under \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFather John Doe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, yet this example bears the author’s real name:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Sincerely Father Pfau”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor the A.A. collector, that makes the inscription particularly appealing: the book presents its author anonymously as Father John Doe while the inscription identifies the man behind that name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eSobriety Without End\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Father John Doe (Father Ralph S. Pfau)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e SMT Publishing Co., Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlace:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Indianapolis, Indiana\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e First Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1957\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 363\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSigned:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Yes — inscribed “Sincerely Father Pfau”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginal Published Price:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e $3.95\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubject:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve Step recovery, spirituality and long-term sobriety \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis copy is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003every good condition for its age\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe book shows general wear and some fading to the exterior consistent with age and use. There is previous-owner handwriting inside the front cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe author’s inscription, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Sincerely Father Pfau,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e appears on the opening page and remains clear and legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eNo other writing or markings have been noted within the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the exact condition of this individual copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFather Ralph Pfau occupies an unusual place in early A.A. literature. He was neither an A.A. founder nor an official spokesman for the Fellowship, but his books became part of the broader body of spiritual recovery literature read by generations of A.A. members.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eA \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1957 First Printing of one of his principal books signed “Father Pfau”\u003c\/span\u003e brings together the early publication, the Father John Doe pseudonym, and the identity of the individual behind it in a single artifact.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43205004558578,"sku":null,"price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/products\/image_75d9759d-8186-424b-a94b-96584edb38c6.jpg?v=1663747992","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/sobriety-without-end-father-john-doe-1957-signed-first-printing","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}