Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

DayTrader · 03-05-2012, 09:49 PM

I just snagged this book...

Don't know why....didn't have the money (really) and I've got at least 4 books ahead of it that I plan to read (and I haven't been reading all that much lately). It just seemed like I "needed" to get it for some reason......so a bought it at one of my homegroups the other night.

Anyone have any experience with it? (don't ruin it for me.....just curious what you thought about it).

** I noticed "The Orange Papers" haaated it......so I assume it's pretty good.

shaun00 · 03-06-2012, 01:42 AM

looks good.....is on my "to buy list" but mighty expensive for a paperback here in UK.
Was recommended to me a while back....the author apparently takes a long hard look at the founders.....especially bill....should be fun..lol.

awuh1 · 03-06-2012, 02:01 AM

For the AA history buff “Not God” is the best done history of AA, bar none.

An even better read is Ernie’s “spirituality of imperfection”.

This is a link to his book “Shame and Guilt” that is available free online.
Ernest Kurtz, Shame & Guilt

This is the link to “The Collected Enie Kurtz” and also free online
Ernest Kurtz, The Collected Ernie Kurtz

WakeUp · 03-06-2012, 04:08 AM

I have Not God but haven't read it yet. Ernest Kurtz plays off his theme of imperfection, not-God theme throughout the book.

sugarbear1 · 03-06-2012, 06:06 AM

I read "Not-God A History Of Alcoholics Anonymous"

It's Ernest Kurtz' dissertation, so it's a bit of a dry read (my opinion), but it does discuss the history quite well. The - hyphen is most important to this book, don't forget to add it to its title! My sponsor gave it to me as the first book beyond the big book to read.

miamifella · 03-06-2012, 07:56 AM

I read it years ago. Really terrific read. I have to admit that the platitudinous nature of recovery literature always makes it seem suspect to me. This is a more objective view of the origins of AA and so to me it was a lot more interesting.

I better understood the distance between the BB and the way AA is practiced in the real world after reading Not God.

Terminally Unique · 03-06-2012, 08:13 AM

I've read it, and I thought it did a very nice job. Since it was his dissertation, Kurtz also lists references and sources, which is good if you want to 'dig deeper'.

UpperbucksAAguy · 03-06-2012, 06:28 PM

Not God is the most informative AA history book written. Most of the other ones ( even Pass it on and Dr Bob and the Good oldtimers) leave alot of things out. The other stuff out there is revisionist history ( Wally P's writings, Dick B etc...) The Spirituality of Imperfection is another favorite from Kurtz.

***PaperDolls*** · 03-06-2012, 06:43 PM

Off topic but a long time ago I set up an account on a book swapping site for us to use ...... then we don't have to spend money we don't have on books

If you're interested, let me know and I'll post the info.

CarolD · 03-06-2012, 06:51 PM

I'm moving this to the proper forum....The Book Club
I too think it is interesting ...read it years ago.

Thanks for shareing everyone....

Boleo · 03-28-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DayTrader

Don't know why....didn't have the money (really) and I've got at least 4 books ahead of it that I plan to read (and I haven't been reading all that much lately). It just seemed like I "needed" to get it for some reason......so a bought it at one of my homegroups the other night.

I have some bad news for you. If you like "Not God" you will want to read "The Spirituality of Imperfection". I thought both were 5 star reads. If I can find it I would be willing to loan it to you.

Not to mention "A.A.: The Story". Something I have on my reading wish list. It goes for $70 new. Perhaps we could split the cost on it?

Tcat3rd · 04-24-2012, 12:32 PM

Sober 31 years and come here to find all of these books I never knew about!,

bryangt · 04-24-2012, 12:43 PM

Wow-what a reading list here...I have heard "A New Pair of Glasses" by Chuck C is a great read. I just saw it recommended by a Dan Barden in the magazine This Week a week or two ago. Dan Barden has written a few recovery books including "The Next Right Thing"...

03-05-2012, 09:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
DayTrader 12-Step Recovered Alcoholic Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,666	Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous I just snagged this book... Don't know why....didn't have the money (really) and I've got at least 4 books ahead of it that I plan to read (and I haven't been reading all that much lately). It just seemed like I "needed" to get it for some reason......so a bought it at one of my homegroups the other night. Anyone have any experience with it? (don't ruin it for me.....just curious what you thought about it). I noticed "The Orange Papers" haaated it......so I assume it's pretty good. __________________ "We can't solve our problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein /-all BB quotes-1st. Edition-\**

03-06-2012, 04:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
WakeUp Awakening... Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: in the present Posts: 1,119	I have Not God but haven't read it yet. Ernest Kurtz plays off his theme of imperfection, not-God theme throughout the book. __________________ I am not who I think I am. All quotes from the 1st Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (aka The Big Book)

03-06-2012, 06:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
sugarbear1 ~sb Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: MD Posts: 9,752	I read "Not-God A History Of Alcoholics Anonymous" It's Ernest Kurtz' dissertation, so it's a bit of a dry read (my opinion), but it does discuss the history quite well. The - hyphen is most important to this book, don't forget to add it to its title! My sponsor gave it to me as the first book beyond the big book to read. __________________ Someday everything will all make sense. For now, laugh at confusion, smile through tears, & remind yourself that everything happens for a reason. All Big Book quotes are from the first edition. Linked with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

03-06-2012, 06:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
*PaperDolls* Community Greeter Join Date: May 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 7,744 Blog Entries: 10	Off topic but a long time ago I set up an account on a book swapping site for us to use ...... then we don't have to spend money we don't have on books If you're interested, let me know and I'll post the info. __________________ Advice is like snow; the softer it falls the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. --Samuel T. Coleridg

03-06-2012, 06:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
CarolD Forward we go...side by side Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Serene In Dixie Posts: 37,601	I'm moving this to the proper forum....The Book Club I too think it is interesting ...read it years ago. Thanks for shareing everyone.... __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery!

03-06-2012, 01:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
shaun00 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: uk Posts: 2,503	looks good.....is on my "to buy list" but mighty expensive for a paperback here in UK. Was recommended to me a while back....the author apparently takes a long hard look at the founders.....especially bill....should be fun..lol.

03-06-2012, 02:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
awuh1 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,088	For the AA history buff “Not God” is the best done history of AA, bar none. An even better read is Ernie’s “spirituality of imperfection”. This is a link to his book “Shame and Guilt” that is available free online. Ernest Kurtz, Shame & Guilt This is the link to “The Collected Enie Kurtz” and also free online Ernest Kurtz, The Collected Ernie Kurtz

03-06-2012, 07:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
miamifella Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 880	I read it years ago. Really terrific read. I have to admit that the platitudinous nature of recovery literature always makes it seem suspect to me. This is a more objective view of the origins of AA and so to me it was a lot more interesting. I better understood the distance between the BB and the way AA is practiced in the real world after reading Not God.

03-06-2012, 08:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Terminally Unique Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: « USA » Recovered with AVRT (Rational Recovery) ___________ Posts: 3,133	I've read it, and I thought it did a very nice job. Since it was his dissertation, Kurtz also lists references and sources, which is good if you want to 'dig deeper'.

03-06-2012, 06:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
UpperbucksAAguy Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 464	Not God is the most informative AA history book written. Most of the other ones ( even Pass it on and Dr Bob and the Good oldtimers) leave alot of things out. The other stuff out there is revisionist history ( Wally P's writings, Dick B etc...) The Spirituality of Imperfection is another favorite from Kurtz.

04-24-2012, 12:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tcat3rd Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lakewood ohio Posts: 2	Sober 31 years and come here to find all of these books I never knew about!,

04-24-2012, 12:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
bryangt Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bridgeton Posts: 610	Wow-what a reading list here...I have heard "A New Pair of Glasses" by Chuck C is a great read. I just saw it recommended by a Dan Barden in the magazine This Week a week or two ago. Dan Barden has written a few recovery books including "The Next Right Thing"...

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