Varieties of Religious Experience by William James - First American Printing from June 1902
The Varieties of Religious Experience
A Study in Human Nature
By William James
First American Edition, First Issue (June 1902)
Longmans, Green & Co., New York
This is an authentic First American Edition, First Impression of The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature by William James, published in June 1902. Widely regarded as one of James’s greatest works, this landmark book explores the psychology and lived experience of religion through the renowned Gifford Lectures delivered in Edinburgh in 1901–1902.
Beyond its towering importance in philosophy and psychology, The Varieties of Religious Experience holds a singular and deeply meaningful place in Alcoholics Anonymous history. This is the book that Ebby Thacher brought to Bill Wilson while Bill was hospitalized at Towns Hospital in 1934. Bill W. later described having his profound spiritual experience during this hospitalization while reading this work. The book is also explicitly referenced in the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, making it one of the most important non-AA texts associated with the origins of the Fellowship.
For collectors of AA history, this title represents a direct intellectual and spiritual bridge between classic American philosophy and the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Historical & Recovery Significance
William James’s exploration of conversion, surrender, despair, and spiritual awakening resonated deeply with early A.A. members. His open-minded, experiential approach to religion — grounded in personal transformation rather than doctrine — strongly parallels the spiritual framework that would later emerge in A.A.’s Twelve Steps.
Bill W. credited this book as one of the key influences that helped prepare him for the spiritual experience that marked the beginning of his sobriety on December 11, 1934.
This volume remains one of the cornerstone books in recovery history.
First Edition Identification (First Issue)
This copy meets all points required for a true First American Edition, First Issue:
Publisher: Longmans, Green & Co., New York
Date: 1902 on title page
Copyright page states: “First Edition, June, 1902”
Known first-issue textual error present: Page 38 contains the misspelling “Nietsche” (later corrected in subsequent printings)
Binding: Original cloth binding
Bibliographically referenced as McDermott 1902-1.
Notably, the English issue (published from American sheets) does not contain the “First Edition, June 1902” statement, making this American issue especially important to collectors.
Publication Details
Title: The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature
Author: William James
Publisher: Longmans, Green & Co.
Place: New York
Date: June 1902
Edition: First American Edition, First Issue
Format: Hardcover, original cloth
Size: Octavo
Condition
Complete and intact. Original cloth boards present with visible age-related fading and toning. Spine label present (often absent on surviving copies). Binding solid. Interior pages clean overall with expected age toning and light spotting. No loose or missing pages.
Overall condition is Good to Good+, honest and consistent with a well-preserved book over 120 years old.
Please review all photographs carefully to assess condition.
Collector Notes
First-issue copies of The Varieties of Religious Experience are increasingly scarce, especially those retaining clear first-issue points.
This is a cornerstone volume for any collection of Alcoholics Anonymous history, recovery literature, or classic works in American philosophy and psychology.
