Getting Better: Inside Alcoholics Anonymous

I have read most of the biographies of Bill Wilson and a number of books about AA. I think Nan Robertson gives a realistic view of Wilson and the best sense of AA, of a meeting and the feelings in AA. This is an old book, but for me, it gives a better sense of AA than anything else I have read.

Heard the taped version of GETTING BETTER by Nan Robertson, an inside look at Alcoholics Anonymous . . . I've often wondered about this group, but had seen little ever written about it--in part because of the anonymity factor. Somehow, Robertson (a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for THE NEW YORK TIMES) got permission to write the book . . . in it, she tells the story of how a failed stockbroker and a surgeon together found a way to stay sober--one day at a time. She also describes what happens at the actual meetings . . . and that is what I perhaps liked best about the book: its behind-the scenes view of these gatherings . . . the fact that Robertson actually attended many of these as a recovering alcoholic made her reporting all the more believable. I also liked how she summarized the message of message of AAA into these three key points: Be honest, change yourself and help others. GETTING BETTER was made even more enjoyable by Michael Learned's excellent narration.

This book is well researched (including interviews with the widow of Bill W, co-founder of AA) and well written. It gives an honest history of the origins of AA without the trappings of saintliness often given to Bill Wilson from the works published by the AA general services office and some other sources. For examples, Bill's infidelities, neglecting family responsibilities to help fellow drunks, and "post-sobriety" experiments with LSD and other chemicals are mentioned. The history sections on AA are excellent as a result of this objectivity. The author also gives an excellent account of typical experience in in-patient rehab.The author's personal story is equally compelling, and touches on issues chemically dependant individuals face, including how alcohol addiction relates to other facets of life, including depression and physical illness.All in all, one of the better works on AA and the disease of alcoholism. As a well qualified member of AA, I have one message for other AA members concerned with the author "violating" the 11th tradition on anonimity: "get over it!". Bill Wilson was (and is) hardly "anonymous". If his widow didn't have a problem with this work neither should we.

Nan Robertson's book is the most accurate I have ever read concerning Alcoholics Anonymous. She is devoted to AA, but more so to her research and her honest in writing. If I had to read one book concerning AA, this would be the one. Robert F. Hale

Ms. Robertson's book is a comprehensive review of Alcoholics Anonymous and it's co-founder Bill Wilson. She gives a surprisingly objective history of Bill W.'s life, his joining with Bob Smith, the other co-founder of AA, and AA's evolution into, perhaps, the most sigificant spiritual program of the 20th century. The only negative aspect of the book is Ms. Robertson's compromising of the 12th Tradition of AA which is maintaining personal anonimity in press, radio and films. I strongly urge anyone in recovery from substance dependence as well as mental health professionals to read this book for greater knowledge of the famous founder of AA.