The AA Way Of Life - As Bill Sees It - 3rd Printing from 1970 with ODJ

As Bill Sees It — The A.A. Way of Life

Third Printing (1970) — First Orange Dust Jacket Issue
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Description

Offered here is the Third Printing (1970) of The A.A. Way of Life, the edition that introduced the iconic orange dust jacket and the title “As Bill Sees It” boldly displayed across the cover.

This printing marks an important transition in A.A. publishing history. The first and second printings of The A.A. Way of Life (1967) were issued with a plain gray dust jacket, titled simply The A.A. Way of Life: A Reader by Bill. Beginning with the Third Printing, the book was visually and thematically rebranded as As Bill Sees It, a title that has endured ever since.

This copy retains its original orange dust jacket, making it the first appearance of one of the most recognizable jackets in A.A. literature.

About the Book

As Bill Sees It is a curated collection of reflections, letters, talks, and essays by Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Rather than presenting long narratives, the book offers short, focused excerpts addressing the practical and spiritual dimensions of recovery.

Themes include:

• Acceptance and surrender

• Humility and ego deflation

• Gratitude and perspective

• Emotional sobriety

• Spiritual growth beyond early recovery

• Living the Twelve Steps in daily life

Originally conceived as a reader for meditation, group discussion, and personal reflection, this volume distills Bill W.’s thinking from decades of correspondence and leadership within A.A. It remains one of the most frequently read and quoted supplemental texts in recovery circles.

Publication Details

Title: As Bill Sees It (originally The A.A. Way of Life)

Author: Bill W.

Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., New York

Printing: Third Printing

Year: 1970

Binding: Hardcover

Dust Jacket: Original orange dust jacket (first issue with “As Bill Sees It”)

Condition

Book: Very Good. Minor, honest wear consistent with age. Clean interior with no writing or markings. Binding is solid.

Dust Jacket: Good condition with visible edge wear and handling wear. Complete and presentable.

Overall a well-preserved example of this historically important printing.

Please review all photographs carefully for exact condition details.

Collector & Historical Significance

This Third Printing represents:

• The first appearance of the orange “As Bill Sees It” dust jacket

• A key moment in the evolution of A.A. literature branding

• A foundational meditation text drawn directly from Bill W.’s personal writings

For collectors of Bill W. material, A.A. publishing history, or mid-century recovery literature, this printing occupies a special place between the earliest gray-jacket issues and the later, more common editions.

A strong, honest copy of a milestone A.A. title, and a meaningful addition to any recovery collection.