Pioneer Series

Marty Mann The first woman to get sober in Alcoholics Anonymous tells her story in a 1968 talk at San Francisco, CA. This is the best example of Marty Mann recovery story I have heard. The sound quality is very good, which is unusual for a 1968 AA recording. Great audiobook about recovery - historic and enjoyable. Marty was the first woman to achieve lasting sobriety in AA, founder of National Council on Alcoholism, author of at least two books on alcoholism, author of AA's The Big Book story "Women Suffer, Too", and co-founder of The AA Grapevine.

Willis has a powerful recovery story and a spiritual message that is different from everyone getting sober today, because he got sober before the 12 Steps and the Big Book were written.

Bill is casual, upbeat and humorous as he talks about the events that founded the Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship.

Wife of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W., Lois tells many wonderful stories from her and Bill's lives.

Easy Does It, the Story of Mac is a biographical novel written by the late Doctor William D. Silkworth MD about an alcoholic named Mac who recovers from alcoholism in Alcoholics Anonymous. Mac seeks help from a church pastor know throughout the text as the Padre. Together they learn all about Mac’s alcoholism and the Padre helps Mac along as Mac finds sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. In the course of the novel the listener learns in depth about alcoholism and alcoholics anonymous in altogether human terms.

Tom Powers got sober in early New York AA. He was a friend and confidant of Bill W and many pioneer era AAs. He shows by his own experience what alcoholism does to a person. A lot of his talk is about getting sober in AA; his experiences in AA. Tom founded All Addicts Anonymous to help people with complicated addictions and pioneered a recovery community (East Ridge).

One of the first longtime sober members of AA talks about the people, events, and development of ideas and practices that created AA, including Ebby, Bill Wilson, and the Oxford Group; Hank Parkhurst, Ruth Hock, and the writing of the Big Book; how AA got the name Alcoholics Anonymous; Jack Alexander and the Saturday Evening Post article; The 12 Traditions; and more.

He opens with a very funny drunk joke that I was surprised that I hadn't heard. Clarence tells his own story, his drinking and how he came in contact with his sponsor Dr. Bob. He talks about his early sobriety some of which qualifies as AA history. How the Cleveland contingent of the Akron Oxford Group broke away because of its many Catholic members and the need for a group made up solely of alcoholics and their families.

During 1947, Bill toured the United States and Canada drumming up support for the 12 Traditions. The membership, not aware of the wide range of problems the New York Office had been addressing since AA became popular in the early 1940s, often saw no need for the Traditions.

This was a momentous occasion. First, Bill officially transfers the leadership of AA to the General Service Conference. Then he introduces Lois, who speaks for almost 10 minutes. Then Bill Introduces Ebby who speaks briefly. And then Bill Introduces Sister Ignatia. She says some nice things and invokes God's blessing on AA and everyone AA touches. Bill Tells his story and the story of AA from the beginning.

Mrs. Delaney’s first introduction to AA was when her brother, Oscar, sobered up with the help of Bill Wilson. It was seven years later, after battling her own alcoholism that she found herself, one of the first women, in the rooms of AA. Mrs. D was a pioneer in the field of alcoholism treatment and was instrumental in the treatment and recovery of many alcoholics and their family members.

In telling his recovery story, Chuck weaves into it the topic of surrender. He talks about his drinking and descent into alcoholism. His complete powerlessness to either control his drinking or stop for good. How he got sober and then learned to rely on his Higher Power through surrender.

This talk by Sam Shoemaker begins with a brief history of AA told by Sam. It contains some things which only Rev. Sam Shoemaker could tell correctly. Sam was the preeminent Oxford Group leader in the US at the time Bill Wilson and Ebby T. were affiliated with it. The mission that Ebby was livening and working at during his pivotal meetings with Bill around the time Bill sobered for life was a branch of Sam's church.

Warren Chisholm was 12-stepped, sponsored by and a lifetime friend of Clarence Snyder. He talks about his drinking and how it deeply troubled both he and his wife that he had no control once he took a single drink.

A very insightful look at each of the 12 steps by a very spiritual guy with long term sobriety in early AA. John shares his own experience taking the 12 Steps and insights learned while taking hundreds of other alcoholics through them. This is a very good AA talk, an enjoyable presentation of 12-step wisdom with some humorous parts.

In less than one hour, Bill Wilson sketches the historical development of Alcoholics Anonymous....

This audiobook is informative and enjoyable!

Marty tells the short version of her recovery story. This is followed by a codependency story. Before crossing the line into alcoholism, she was married to an out of control alcoholic.

Sandy Beach of Washington DC. June 1976 at Palm Desert Roundup. Drop the Rock talk. Prefaced with Sandy Beach reading How it Works. Sandy Beach and the classic Drop the Rock talk. A very good AA talk that has been popular for decades. This talk was given at the same Roundup as Chuck Chamberlains New Pair of Glasses. This is a really good AA talk.

Bill W. recounts the stories and talks about the principles and people who shaped Alcoholics Anonymous and its program of recovery from alcoholism.