A not-for-profit organization founded in 1993 for the publication
of materials on the history and theory of alcoholism treatment and the
moral and spiritual dimensions of recovery
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A not-for-profit organization founded in 1993 for the publication of materials on the history and theory of alcoholism treatment and the moral and spiritual dimensions of recovery |
 Alcoholics Anonymous history Alcoholism and addiction treatment Spirituality and religion Psychology and philosophy Recovery and self help Click on squares below: HOME Recent books and Index 
Table of contents
A.A. historical materials Part 1
A.A. historical materials Part 2
A.A. historical materials Part 3
Essays
Spirituality
Books on philosophy & theology
Future publications in progress
To order books
To contact Hindsfoot
Links
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The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. E-MAIL ADDRESS: hfaabooks-mail@yahoo.com  South Bend, Indiana, bridge over the St. Joseph River 
FOR BEGINNERS 
Jane S., Q & A: Alcoholism and Sobriety, March 2007, ISBN 0-595-42334-5, xvi + 135 pp., $14.95 U.S. click here for moreA GUIDEBOOK TO RECOVERY: An old-timer answers basic questions about alcoholism and sobriety. I think I have a drinking problem? What do I do? How does A.A. work? What are the meetings like? What is a sponsor? What are the Twelve Steps? Are there answers other than A.A.? What about alcoholics who are also manic-depressive (bipolar)? 
Glenn F. Chesnut, The Higher Power of the Twelve-StepProgram: For Believers & Non-believers, September
2001, ISBN 0-595-19918-6, xii + 260 pp., $19.95 U.S. click here for more about the book click here for more about the author
"I can honestly state that this book is one of the most practical books I have ever read. It allows one to approach spirituality from ANY perspective and, at the same time, inspires confidence in the method .... This book can save a life without a doubt!" George J. Dagis (Saugerties NY) "As an old hard-bitten, somewhat cynical surgeon I started reading it with a very critical attitude which quickly evaporated and I found much to admire and practically nothing to criticize .... I wish the book had been available for the many questions that my alcoholic sailors had that I could not answer. You make the Twelve Steps good medicine for a host of problems." Captain Joseph Zuska, M.D., who founded the world famous Navy alcoholism treatment program at Long Beach in 1965 "This book was designed to gently lead people who are antagonistic toward traditional religious language into a deeper understanding of what those spiritual concepts are actually about, and how they help the everyday working of a good twelve-step program." A.A. oldtimer Sgt. Bill S. who (with psychiatrist Dr. Louis Jolyon West) developed the enormously successful Lackland Model of alcoholism treatment in 1951 "It should be required reading for anyone who wants to become a chemical dependency counselor. It makes the process of the spiritual awakening within the context of the twelve step program understandable to both professionals and lay person." Lori Croy, psychiatric nurse, Elkhart, Indiana
RECENT
 BOOKS
Available from Barnes & Noble Bookstores And from their subsidiary iUniverse, e-mail book.orders@iuniverse.com toll free book order phone 877-823-9235 international phone number 001-402-323-7800 (also available from amazon.com and the other major online booksellers)
Annette R. Smith, Ph.D., The Social World of Alcoholics Anonymous: How It Works, December 2007, ISBN 978-0-595-47692-3, xx + 150 pp., $15.95 U.S. click here for more"With astute application of sociological concepts, Annette Smith .... reveals that a combination of frequent meetings, the Twelve Steps, an encompassing concept of God and the pressure of groups and mentors that are integral to the A.A. program, have the unintended consequence of creating a 'larger whole than the sum of its parts.' A.A. members find themselves in a social world offering individuals of diverse personality types an ongoing sense of belonging." Jacqueline P. Wiseman, Ph.D., author of Stations of the Lost: The Treatment of Skid Row Alcoholics
Ernest Kurtz, Shame & Guilt, second edition, revised and updated, July 2007, ISBN 978-0-595-45492-1, xiv + 60 pp., $10.95 U.S., order from amazon.com.
click here for more about this book Particularly in its new and revised version this little book, though short, is one of the best and most insightful works ever written on the sense of shame -- feeling bad about our lives and what we perceive as our failures -- that inner pain which haunts so many alcoholics and addicts and so many other human beings. And from his deep wisdom and accumulated experience, Kurtz also tells us how the twelve step program can be used to heal that sense of worthlessness and fear of abandonment, and restore us to lives that are happy, joyous, and free.
Glenn F. Chesnut, Changed by Grace: V. C. Kitchen, the Oxford Group, and A.A., September 2006, ISBN 0-595-40680-7, xv + 184 pp., $17.95 U.S. click here for more"Each century produces a small handful of great spiritual books. I believe strongly that Changed by Grace is going to prove one of the greatest of our present century. The best way to describe it is to say that it does for us today what William James' Varieties of Religious Experience did for the world of a hundred years ago." -- John Barleycorn in the Waynedale News
Mel B., Three Recovery Classics: As a Man Thinketh (by James Allen), The Greatest Thing in the World (by Henry Drummond), An Instrument of Peace (the St. Francis Prayer), September 2004, ISBN 0-595-32631-5, vi + 92 pp., $11.95 U.S. click here for more
Two of the major books recommended to newcomers in early AA, in both Akron and elsewhere: James Allen (New Thought, similar to Emmet Fox's Sermon on the Mount, but shorter and simpler) and Henry Drummond (commentary on 1 Corinthians 13).
Richard M. Dubiel, The Road to Fellowship: The Role of the Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club in the
Development of Alcoholics Anonymous, January
2004, ISBN 0-595-30740-X, xvi + 192 pp., $17.95 U.S. click here for more
The only two groups in the early twentieth century who rivaled A.A. in successfully getting alcoholics sober, with a study of their relationship to early A.A. via Rowland Hazard III, Richard Peabody, and early Boston A.A. and the Twenty-Four Hour book.
Sgt. Bill S., On the Military Firing Line in the Alcoholism Treatment Program: The Air Force Sergeant Who Beat
Alcoholism and Taught Others to Do the Same, July
2003, paperback ISBN 0-595-28382-9, hardcover ISBN 0-595-74836-8, x + 350 pp., $21.95 U.S. click here for more
The great spokesman for that wing of early A.A. which stressed the psychological rather than the spiritual side of the program, Sgt. Bill (along with world famous psychiatrist Dr. Louis Jolyon West at UCLA) was the developer of the Lackland Method for alcoholism treatment.
Nancy Olson, With a Lot of Help from Our Friends: The Politics of Alcoholism, March
2003, ISBN 0-595-27037-9, xxxiv + 534 pp., $30.95 U.S. click here for more
How a small band of A.A. members, including Senator Harold Hughes and Mrs. Marty Mann, got the Hughes Act passed through the U.S. Senate -- the most important legislation on alcoholism in the twentieth century, far more important than the Prohibition Movement, and the basis of the modern alcoholism treatment center.
Glenn C., The Factory Owner & the Convict, Vol. 1 of Lives and Teachings of the A.A. Old Timers, April 2005, ISBN 0-595-34872-6, xii + 325 pp., $23.95 U.S. click here for more
"From one sentence to the next my head was nodding and silently screaming YES, YESSS, YESSSSS, that's exactly what I've observed about alcoholics and alcoholism." -- John S. of the "John Barleycorn" recovery column in the Waynedale News Ken Merrill (one of the great oldtimers who took the psychological approach) and Nick Kowalski (one who took the spiritual approach), plus the stories of one of the two most famous early A.A. prison groups, and one of the earliest black A.A. groups in the U.S.
Glenn C., The St. Louis Gambler & the Railroad Man, Vol. 2 of Lives and Teachings of the A.A. Old Timers, June 2005, ISBN 0-595-34878-5, xvi + 308 pp., $22.95 U.S. click here for more
"This book describes the way alcoholics actually think better than anything I have ever read." -- William E. Correll (Life Treatment Center) A.A. groups still make pilgrimages once a year to honor the memory of the great A.A. teacher Brownie. Plus Ellen Lantz (an early woman in A.A.) who talks about about the power of love, the gentle voice of Ed Pike who quiets and calms our souls, and the pithy sayings of the colorful, unforgettable Goshen Bill.
INDEX A.A. historical materials and articles and essays on spirituality and Alcoholics Anonymous history on this website (beginning with the most recent) Click here for an alphabetical list of these articles and essays.  2/17/08 Glenn F. Chesnut, God and Spirituality: Philosophical Essays 2/16/08 Glenn F. Chesnut, The First Christian Histories: Eusebius, Socrates, Sozomen, Theodoret, and Evagrius has now been put back in print by Mercer University Press 2/10/08 Glenn F. Chesnut: Dates in His Life 2/3/08 John Barleycorn, "A Nun's Story: Sister Ruth Finds God in the A.A. Meetings" 1/1/08 Annette R. Smith, The Social World of Alcoholics Anonymous: How It Works 1/1/08 Linda Farris Kurtz, Introduction to Annette R. Smith, The Social World of Alcoholics Anonymous: How It Works 8/29/07 John Barleycorn, "I'm not a Nice Guy" 8/12/07 Richard M. Dubiel, "Paul Tillich: Key Philosophical Theologian of the Mid-Twentieth Century" 8/7/07 John Barleycorn, "The Right Side of the Page" 7/9/07 John Barleycorn, "Alcoholics Anonymous and Buddhism" 3/27/07 Jane S., Q & A: Alcoholism and Sobriety 2/13/07 Ernest Kurtz, Shame & Guilt, second edition, revised and updated, 2007. 12/2/06 Rudolf Otto, author of The Idea of the Holy, photo, importance for understanding Bill W.'s primary conversion experience 12/2/06 Rowland Hazard photo 12/2/06 Cora Finch, "Stellar Fire: Carl Jung, a New England Family, and the Risks of Anecdote," link to her account on the Stellarfire website of Rowland Hazard's life and struggles with alcoholism, and the evidence proving that he was Carl Jung's patient in 1926, not 1931 12/2/06 Richard M. Dubiel, "Sober Sleuths: Lawrence Block and James Lee Burke" 11/26/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, "Twelve-Step Meditation in the A.A. Big Book and the 12 & 12" 9/15/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, "Practicing the Presence of God: the path to soul-balance and inner calm." The spiritual teaching of Richmond Walker's Twenty-Four Hour book. 5/27/05 "Early Six-step Versions of the Steps" 9/11/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, "The Higher Power of the Twelve-Step Program: Discovering a Higher Power." 9/11/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, "Being at Home: Agapê Love and the Goal of Twelve-Step Spirituality." 9/10/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, "The Names of God: how to find a God of our understanding." 9/9/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, Changed by Grace: V. C. Kitchen, the Oxford Group, and A.A. 7/29/06 Glenn C., "Writing Local A.A. History: Stories as the Vessels of Wisdom and Grace," talk given at the Eastern Pennsylvania History & Archives Gathering on June 24, 2006. 4/30/06 Bob Pearson, "Our Greatest Danger: Rigidity" 1/21/06 Glenn F. Chesnut, "The God-Shaped Hole in the Human Soul" 11/16/05 Ed Webster, "Instructor's Outline" for the old-time A.A. beginners classes in Minneapolis. 11/10/05 Glenn C., Funeral Service for A.A. funerals and memorial services 11/10/05 Sophia (Lady Wisdom) and the feminine aspect of God 7-8-05 Glenn C., The St. Louis Gambler & the Railroad Man, Vol. 2 of Lives and Teachings of the A.A. Old Timers 6-13-05 Floyd P. (Frankton, Indiana) and the A.A. group in Anderson, Indiana, "Adventure of Recovery: The Beginnings of A.A. in Anderson June 1943 - February 9, 1947" 5-20-05 Glenn C., The Factory Owner & the Convict, Vol. 1 of Lives and Teachings of the A.A. Old Timers 5-11-05 Neil S. (Fishers IN), "History of Indianapolis A.A." 4-26-05 Bob E. (Evansville, Indiana), "Early Evansville A.A., the first A.A. group in Indiana, founded April 23, 1940 by Akron old-timer J. D. Holmes" 3/25/05 "In Memoriam: Nancy Moyer Olson" (9/18/1929-3/25/2005)She was the founder of the AAHistoryLovers, author of With a Lot of Help from Our Friends: The Politics of Alcoholism, and the U.S. Senate aide who coordinated the passing of the Hughes Act, the most successful alcoholism legislation of the twentieth century. 3-24-05 The First edition of Ed Webster's Book on The Twelve Steps, later called The Little Red Book 3-21-05 Glenn C., "The Virtues and the Vices" 3-19-05 Founders Day in Minnesota 1946: photographs 3-12-05 Bar Room Reveries: the joke book Ed Webster published in 1958 3-9-05 Bruce C. (Muncie, Indiana), "October 1945, Muncie: The Automobile in the City Park" 3-3-05 John S. (Fort Wayne), "Dr. Zweig: The Good Physician" 3-3-05 Photos of Richmond Walker and His Family 2-28-05 Photos of Father Ralph Pfau from the Archdiocesan Archives in Indianapolis 2-28-05 Frank N. (Syracuse, Indiana), "In Memory of Big Al Miller (May 22, 1931 - September 21, 2000), sober December 1, 1973" 2-25-05 Ilene S. (Warsaw, Indiana), "Historical Highlights of the Monday Night Kosciusko Combined Group" 2-25-05 Beth M. (Lafayette, Indiana), "Interview with John Shaifer (June 19, 1923 - November 13, 2000, Gary, Indiana), sober September 15, 1960" 2-25-05 Frank N. (Syracuse, Indiana), "Bob M.'s Memories: Early A.A. in Kosciusko County" 2-21-05 Mel B., "Elder Statesman: Bill W. in Akron, June 15, 1958" 1-3-06 Glenn C., "The Books the Good Old-Timers Read" 1-4-06 Ed Webster (Minneapolis) and The Little Red Book 12-26-05 Glenn C., How A.A. Came to Indiana 1-5-05 Glenn C., "The Lafayette area: January 1948," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 1-2-05 Glenn C., "The Third A.A. Group Started in Indiana: Fort Wayne, December 1941," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-30-04 Glenn C., "The St. Joseph River Valley Region: South Bend, February 22, 1943," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-29-04 Glenn C., "Doherty Sheerin and the Founding of A.A. in Indianapolis: October 28, 1940," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-29-04 Glenn C., "The First A.A. Group in Rensselaer: early 1948," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-28-04 Glenn C., "J. D. Holmes and the First A.A. Group in Indiana: Evansville April-May 1940," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-26-04 Glenn C., "Early Black A.A. along the Chicago-Gary-South Bend Axis: The Stories and Memories of Early Black Leaders Told in Their Own Words," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-20-04 Glenn C., "The A.A. Prison Group Founded in 1944 at the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City," in How A.A. Came to Indiana 12-9-04 Mel B., "Love's Ingredients" 9-13-04 William E. Swegan, "The Psychology of Alcoholism," Chapter 2 of Victory Over Alcohol 9-10-04 Mel B., Three Recovery Classics: As a Man Thinketh (by James Allen), The Greatest Thing in the World (by Henry Drummond), An Instrument of Peace (the St. Francis Prayer) 8-22-04 Glenn C., "The Earliest Printings of Richmond Walker's Twenty-Four Hours a Day," with photos from the collection of Jack H. (Scottsdale, Arizona) 8-22-04 William E. Swegan, "The Thrill of Victory Over Alcohol," Chapter 1 of Victory Over Alcohol 8-22-04 William E. Swegan, Victory Over Alcohol: Old-Time A.A. Beginners Lessons 8-16-04 Mel B., "Ebby" 7-27-04 Glenn C., "The Upper Room and Early A.A." 7-27-04 Mel B., "Requiem for a Resentment" 7-20-04 Sgt. Bill S., "The Challenge of Normalcy" 7-19-04 Akron early A.A. pamphlet, Guide to the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 7-19-04 Akron early A.A. pamphlet,
Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous 7-19-04 Akron early A.A. pamphlet,
Second Reader for Alcoholics Anonymous 7-19-04 Akron early A.A. pamphlet,
Spiritual Milestones in Alcoholics Anonymous 7-19-04 Akron reading list for A.A. beginners 7-19-04 Detroit Pamphlet, Alcoholics Anonymous: An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps 7-19-04 Detroit Pamphlet, introduction to these early A.A. beginners' lessons 7-14-04 Linda Farris Kurtz, review of Nancy Olson, With a Lot of Help from Our Friends, on Amazon.com (April 10, 2004) 7-14-04 Frazer A. Lang, review of Nancy Olson, With a Lot of Help from Our Friends, in The Addiction Professional (January 2004) 7-14-04 Mel B., "Emmet Fox: Making Your Life Worthwhile" 7-12-04 Dubiel, Richard M., "The Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club" 7-12-04 Mel B., "AA and Jesus: How Ancient Spiritual Teachings Are Linked to the Inspirational Program of Alcoholics Anonymous" 6-09-04 Glenn C., "Classical Protestant Liberalism and Early A.A." 5-31-04 Sgt. Bill S., On the Military Firing Line in the Alcoholism Treatment Program: The Air Force Sergeant Who Beat Alcoholism and Taught Others to Do the Same 5-28-04 Glenn C., "Psychological vs. Spiritual Interpretations of A.A." 5-27-04 Sgt. Bill S., "The Lackland Model for Alcoholism Treatment" 5-27-04 Sgt. Bill S., "Dr. Louis Jolyon West and the Lackland Model" 4-20-04 Glenn C., "Ralph Pfau (Father John Doe) and the Golden Books" 4-17-04 Glenn C., "Richmond Walker in A.A. History: Chronology of His Life" 4-17-04 "The Tools of Recovery," northern Indiana reading for the beginning of A.A. meetings 4-16-04 Richmond Walker, Memoirs 4-15-04 Glenn C., "Richmond Walker and the Twenty-Four Hour Book" 4-11-04 Nancy Olson, With a Lot of Help from Our Friends: The Politics of Alcoholism 4-09-04 Alan P. (Simi Valley, California),
review of Glenn F. Chesnut, The Higher Power of the Twelve-Step Program: For Believers and Non-Believers, on Amazon.com 4-09-04 Sgt. Bill S. (Sonoma, California), review of Glenn F. Chesnut, The Higher Power of the Twelve-Step Program: For Believers and Non-Believers, in On the Military Firing Line in the Alcoholism Treatment Program 4-09-04 Richard M. Dubiel, The Road to Fellowship: The Role of the Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club in the Development of Alcoholics Anonymous 4-09-04 Glenn C., The Higher Power of the Twelve-Step Program: For Believers and Non-Believers 4-09-04 Capt. Joseph Zuska, M.D., review of Glenn F. Chesnut, The Higher Power of the Twelve-Step Program: For Believers and Non-Believers |