{"product_id":"the-american-magazine-includes-why-men-drink-by-richard-peabody-september-1931-copy","title":"The American Magazine - Includes 'Why Men Drink' by Richard Peabody - September 1931","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmerican Magazine — September 1931\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeaturing “Why Men Drink” by Richard R. Peabody\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEarly Alcoholism \/ Temperance \/ Pre-A.A. Recovery History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOffered here is an original September 1931 issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe American Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, featuring the article \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Why Men Drink” \u003c\/b\u003eby Richard R. Peabody\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRichard R. Peabody occupies an important place in the pre-history of Alcoholics Anonymous. A member of an old Boston family, Peabody struggled with alcoholism himself before becoming one of the better-known lay counselors of the early twentieth century. His 1931 book \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Common Sense of Drinking\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e became influential in early alcoholism thought, and his writing helped shift the conversation away from simple moral failure and toward the idea that chronic alcoholism could be understood as a distinct condition requiring specific treatment and guidance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis article, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Why Men Drink,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e appeared several years before the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous and offers a fascinating look at Peabody’s developing ideas about alcohol, self-control, character, and recovery. The article is introduced with the statement:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Mr. Peabody rings a clear bell for temperance as an accomplishment of character rather than as a result of heredity or environment… It is character, and character only, that counts and conquers, and Mr. Peabody’s unusually interesting and convincing article sounds this as the clearest note of all.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor collectors of A.A. history, Peabody is especially interesting because several phrases and concepts associated with his work appear to echo through later recovery language. Expressions such as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“half-way measures”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“once a drunkard always a drunkard”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e have often been noted by historians and collectors as part of the broader pre-A.A. language that helped shape early recovery thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhile Peabody’s approach was not Alcoholics Anonymous, and differed from A.A. in important ways, his work represents one of the significant streams of alcoholism literature that preceded the Big Book and helped prepare the ground for later recovery movements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical \u0026amp; Collector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis issue is a meaningful pre-A.A. artifact for anyone interested in the development of alcoholism treatment, temperance thought, early recovery philosophy, and the intellectual background that existed before Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePeabody’s work stands at an important crossroads: after the older temperance movement, but before A.A.’s spiritual fellowship model became widely known. His writings reflect a period when doctors, clergy, reformers, and lay counselors were still trying to understand why some men could not safely drink and what kind of help might actually work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTitle: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe American Magazine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDate: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSeptember 1931\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeatured Article: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“Why Men Drink”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eRichard R. Peabody\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Magazine \/ periodical\u003cbr\u003eSubject Areas: Alcoholism, temperance, early recovery thought, pre-A.A. history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis magazine is in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003egood condition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, with normal wear and aging consistent with a periodical from 1931. Covers and pages show expected toning and handling wear from age. The issue remains a collectible example of early alcoholism-related magazine literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease view all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA strong pre-A.A. recovery-history piece featuring one of the important early voices in American alcoholism counseling. Richard Peabody’s writings remain collectible because of their connection to the language, ideas, and treatment concepts circulating in the years immediately before Alcoholics Anonymous emerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis magazine is in good condition. Normal wear and aging to the issue. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease view all of the photos for the conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49757439492338,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/1D899BFF-B752-4BEB-8843-3CF6A400F246.jpg?v=1783138825","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/the-american-magazine-includes-why-men-drink-by-richard-peabody-september-1931-copy","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}