{"product_id":"the-oxford-group-history-significance-walter-houston-clark-1951","title":"The Oxford Group: Its History and Significance | Walter Houston Clark — First Printing, 1951 — Original Dust Jacket","description":"\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFirst Printing of The Oxford Group: Its History and Significance\u003c\/span\u003e by Walter Houston Clark, published by Bookman Associates in 1951. This copy retains its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003escarce original dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eClark’s book is one of the more substantial academic studies of the Oxford Group, its founder \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrank Buchman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, and the religious movement that would later become known as Moral Re-Armament.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eRather than writing strictly as either an advocate or critic, Clark approached the Oxford Group as a scholar of religion and psychology. As he explained of the purpose of the study:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e“We have tried to explain the Group in order that it may be understood, that its enemies may be a little less intolerant, its supporters a little more critical.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe book examines the history and development of the movement, Buchman’s religious influences and methods, its expansion internationally, the controversies surrounding it, and the effect participation had upon individual members. Clark also incorporated case studies in an effort to evaluate the Oxford Group from a psychological and sociological perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Oxford Group \u0026amp; Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous history, the Oxford Group occupies an especially important place in the story of A.A.’s development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eBefore Alcoholics Anonymous existed, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith were both exposed to Oxford Group principles and practices\u003c\/span\u003e, and the earliest alcoholics who eventually formed A.A. initially met within the Oxford Group environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eSeveral ideas familiar within early A.A.—including personal inventory, admission of faults, restitution for past harms, reliance upon God, spiritual guidance, and carrying a message to others—have important connections to practices encountered through the Oxford Group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAs Alcoholics Anonymous developed its own identity during the late 1930s and early 1940s, it gradually separated from the Oxford Group. Nevertheless, understanding the Oxford Group provides valuable historical context for understanding the spiritual environment from which A.A. emerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePublished in 1951, Clark’s study is particularly interesting because it appeared while many of the people involved in the formative years of both movements were still living and while the Oxford Group’s transformation into Moral Re-Armament was relatively recent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWalter Houston Clark (1902–1994)\u003c\/b\u003e was an American psychologist of religion, educator, and scholar. His academic work focused particularly on religious experience and the psychological study of religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIn \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Oxford Group: Its History and Significance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, Clark sought to examine the movement’s origins, leadership, beliefs, methods, controversies, and influence rather than simply defend or condemn it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe original dust jacket describes the book as a study intended to provide an objective examination of a movement that had received both considerable praise and considerable criticism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Oxford Group: Its History and Significance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Walter Houston Clark\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Bookman Associates, New York\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e 1951\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e First Edition \/ First Printing\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Red cloth with gilt lettering\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDust Jacket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Original dust jacket present\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=\"p3\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ebook itself is in very good condition\u003c\/span\u003e, with attractive red cloth boards and bright gilt lettering to the front cover and spine. There is light age-related wear, primarily around the extremities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe interior is clean and well preserved with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eno writing or markings observed\u003c\/span\u003e. Pages show normal age toning but remain clean and readable, and the binding appears sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eoriginal dust jacket is present and shows considerably more wear than the book\u003c\/span\u003e, including edge wear, chipping, small tears, creasing, and areas of loss, particularly around the spine ends, corners, and upper edges. Despite the wear, the jacket remains substantially complete, including both flaps, and displays well with the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease view all photographs carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.\u003c\/b\u003e\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\"\u003eFor an Alcoholics Anonymous history collection, this is more than simply a book about a related religious movement. It is an early scholarly examination of one of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eprincipal spiritual influences surrounding the birth of A.A.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe combination of the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1951 First Printing and surviving original dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e makes this an especially appealing example for collectors interested in the Oxford Group, Frank Buchman, Moral Re-Armament, and the spiritual and historical roots of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49968906174706,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/4D566A62-D946-4C3A-8149-A9C62116535B.jpg?v=1787492320","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/the-oxford-group-history-significance-walter-houston-clark-1951","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}