{"product_id":"william-james-varieties-religious-experience-1917","title":"The Varieties of Religious Experience — William James | Twenty-Eighth Impression, 1917","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Varieties of Religious Experience — William James\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwenty-Eighth Impression, 1917\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLongmans, Green, and Co. · Original Hardcover\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eOffered here is a 1917 Twenty-Eighth Impression of William James’s landmark work, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFirst published in 1902, the book grew from James’s Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion delivered at the University of Edinburgh in 1901–1902. Rather than focusing primarily on theology or organized religion, James examined the personal experience of conversion, surrender, spiritual awakening, mysticism, and the lasting transformation that can follow profound inner change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis copy was published by Longmans, Green, and Co. in 1917, fifteen years after the original edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilliam James and Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Varieties of Religious Experience\u003c\/i\u003e holds an important place in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous because of its influence on Bill W.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eDuring Bill’s final hospitalization at Towns Hospital in December 1934, Ebby T. brought him a copy of the book. Bill read James following his celebrated spiritual experience and found particular meaning in James’s examination of sudden religious conversion and the transformative experiences of people brought to a point of profound personal defeat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe book helped Bill interpret what had happened to him and reinforced the idea that a spiritual experience could bring about a genuine change in motivation, outlook, and behavior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor collectors of A.A. history, William James represents one of the important intellectual and spiritual influences behind Bill W.’s developing understanding of recovery.\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\u003eThe Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e William James\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Longmans, Green, and Co.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eImpression:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Twenty-Eighth Impression\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1917\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst Published:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 1902\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContent:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion, Edinburgh, 1901–1902\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Original blue cloth hardcover with paper spine label\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\"\u003eGood overall condition for a book published in 1917.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe original blue cloth binding shows considerable age-related fading, rubbing, spotting, and discoloration. The corners and spine ends show wear and fraying, and the original paper spine label is toned, worn, and partially faded but remains identifiable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe interior shows age toning and general wear consistent with age. Pencil notations appear on the front endpaper and title page. The pages remain readable and the book retains its original binding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the exact condition and appearance of this copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThis is an appealing early 20th-century printing of one of the most important works associated with the spiritual and intellectual background of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ePublished seventeen years before Bill W.’s 1934 hospitalization at Towns Hospital, this 1917 impression predates A.A. itself and represents the form in which James’s influential ideas were already circulating long before Bill encountered the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eA meaningful addition to a collection focused on William James, the spiritual influences behind Alcoholics Anonymous, or the books that helped shape Bill W.’s understanding of spiritual experience and recovery.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67632942842098,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/90DBFE6E-63BC-4D97-AD92-D256F20755BB.jpg?v=1791096433","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/william-james-varieties-religious-experience-1917","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}