The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Creator's Role in Early A.A.

A biography of A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson, unlike any previously written. It covers his religious experiences and background in family, youth, as well as his subsequent relationships and activities. The substance of the book's beginning is the conversion and cure of alcoholism of Bill's Grandpa Willie in Vermont; the attendance and involvement of Bill's Wilson grandparents and his Griffith grandparents, as well as his own parents, all in the East Congregational Church in East Dorset, Vermont; then Bill's Bible studies, Sunday School attendance, participation in temperance and revival meetings, and his listening to sermons; then to Bill's daily chapel attendance in Burr & Burton Academy where he was also president of the YMCA; then Bill's first love's YWCA participation and her rearing as the child of a Christian minister; then Bill's marriage to Lois Burnham, a Swedenborgian, and his exposure to the Burnham family's religious ideas; then to Bill's three self-described spiritual experiences--in Newport, on the ship Lancaster, and at Westminister Cathetdral; then with Bill's talks with Dr. Silkworth about the healing power of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician; then with Ebby Thacher's decision for Christ and conversion at Calvary Mission and Ebby's explaining to Bill the Dr. Carl Jung theory of conversion as a solution for alcoholism; then Bill's following suit by accepting Christ at the Calvary Rescue Mission altar and proclaiming that he had been born again; then Bill'w trip to Towns Hospital where Bill called on the Great Physician for help and had his "hot flash" conversion experience; then Bill's study of the William James book on conversions and cure of alcoholism in the missions; then Bill's first message that the Lord had been so wonderful curing him of his terrible disease that he just wanted to keep telling others about it; and then the rest of the founding story pertaining to Akron, Sam Shoemaker, and Bill's framing of the Big Book and Twelve Steps. Most of these highly significant historical signposts have previously gone unreported, been distorted, or were just misunderstood. A treasure for those seeking cure of alcoholism is waiting for those who have thought that it was Dr. Bob alone who had the excellent spiritual training as a youngster and who have long been told that Bill had no religious background. And that tale is simply not true. In fact, when one learns of the importance of conversions to Christ in Bill's own family, in Ebby Thacher's mission experience, in Bill's own born again experience at the mission, and his cries for help from the Great Physician, one can hardly leave Bill in the dust heap when he came to belief in the power of God received through conversion to Jesus Christ. This account will surprise you because it seems almost artfully to have been set to one side until recent Wilson biographies began sharing pieces of the puzzle. This book puts the Wilson conversion picture in focus and leaves the puzzle behind.