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Contents

1. The early years in Vermont — Bill’s personality develops in the family unit; emotional upheaval following parents’ divorce; steadying influence of Griffith grandparents; depression follows loss of first love. 2. The war years — the young soldier turns his life around with the love of his Lois and the excitement of a military career; the first drink. 3. Building a life — career uncertainties and disappointments; dashed hopes for a full family life; Bill’s drinking pattern emerges and the Wilsons take a motorcycle “geographic.” 4. On “the Street’’ — the successful broker tastes the highs of professional respectability and the lows of emotional devastation as his alcoholism progresses; Bill is hospitalized. 5. From hell to the mountaintop — Dr. Silkworth and Ebby each carry his own message to a broken, suicidal Bill; a spiritual experience releases Bill. 6. On the bridge back to life — a formula for sobriety emerges: spiritual principles and work with other alcoholics. Bill’s attempt to rebuild his career results in the “rumhound from New York’’ meeting Dr. Bob in Akron. 7. “Make it snappy. . .” — Dr. Bob’s 15-minute meeting with Bill becomes five hours of sharing; identification and shared experience of equals as recovery basics; Oxford Group meetings in Akron; Dr. Bob’s last drink. 8. Lost and found — Bill loses in his first sober attempt to find work but finds, with Dr. Bob, A.A.’s No. 3 and No. 4 — Bill D. and Ernie G. 9. Passing it on — small groups of alcoholics begin recovering; a “nameless bunch of drunks” separates from the Oxford Group and develops the custom of group conscience. 10. “Won’t money spoil this thing?” — John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s millions are not available to support the group’s big plans; a small loan provides some relief and Bill and Dr. Bob establish a legal structure. 11. “Alcoholics Anonymous” — the Big Book, written by Bill and edited by the group conscience; the organization’s first public information effort also gives the group a name and a concise recovery program in the Twelve Steps. 12. One door closes and another opens — book sales are nil; Bill and Lois homeless; Hank drinks again — yet some publicity spurs inquiries and a borrowed $1,000 keeps A.A. afloat. 13. Divine dissatisfaction — keeps Bill reaching out for seemingly unattainable goals: a job and home of his own; Big Book sales; restored personal relationships; Father Ed Dowling’s “spiritual sponsorship” gives Bill a new insight into divine “thirst.” 14. On the map — publication of the Saturday Evening Post article puts A.A. on the map; Bill’s correspondence shapes attitudes that become integral parts of the A.A. program, especially bitter experience as growth opportunity. 15. A home of their own — the Wilsons find Stepping Stones; Bill makes a final career decision and as A.A. grows, offers to assist the military during the W.W. II effort. 16. “Spiritual kindergarten” — Bill’s conviction that we are “all pupils” thirsting for more spiritual knowledge and development leads him to explore psychic phenomena as well as Catholic doctrine. 17. On the road — Bill and Lois travel across the country, visiting hundreds of A.A. groups and members, including inmates; a family reunion at Christmas. 18. Beating upwind emotionally — on the heels of incredible joy Bill suffers debilitating depression; colleagues offer their views of Bill’s condition. 19. Assuring the future — Bill develops A.A.’s Traditions and envisions an A.A. service structure. 20. Trusting trusted servants — Bill’s “sledgehammer” campaign for a general service conference meets with trustee resistance and an “Easy Does It” admonition from Dr. Bob; the Twelve Traditions are accepted at Cleveland and Dr. Bob agrees to the conference plan just before his death. 21. “Not to govern but to serve” — Bill’s conference plan is outlined in “The Third Legacy” booklet and backed up with his personal appearances: the First General Service Conference. 22. Coming of age — Bill writes “The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” and in 1955 releases the Fellowship into maturity; major personal losses; correspondence with a death row inmate. 23. “Anything that helps alcoholics. . .” — Bill experiments with LSD but eventually ceases when controversy stirs within A.A. 24. A second journey — touching base with Wall Street and exploring new fields: financial speculation; energy conversion research; the Jung correspondence; niacin therapy and more A.A. controversy. 25. The final chord — trustee ratio harmoniously resolved; Bill’s health declines yet he attends Miami Convention, Bill dies January 24, 1971. Afterword Significant Dates Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous