Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1945, first edition stated. There is no writing in the book and no torn or missing pages, the cover has moderate wear, the binding is tight. The original dust jacket is very rough with heavy edgewear, most of the spine is missing, and wrinkling. It is now in a dust jacket protector to protect against further degradation. The book is out of print.

The book was reviewed in Alcoholics Anonymous monthly magazine The Grapevine, Volume 2, No. 8, January 1946.

The book retells William Wister’s life from childhood, through his alcoholism and his treatment by Richard Peabody in 1934, when he successfully stopped drinking. After Peabody’s death in 1936, Wister began a career in psychotherapy at the urging of James Bellamy, another Peabody therapist. In a short time he built a good reputation and practice. At the same time he experienced the rejection of many medical doctors who did not agree with the unlicensed practice of lay therapists. After many ups and downs Wister realized a dream in 1942 when he opened a clinic for alcoholics in Newark with the backing of two doctors. Unfortunately the clinic shut down after six months because of WWII. He relocated to Southern California in one last attempt to begin another practice. Rejection, disappointment and anger came to a head in July 1943 and Wister began drinking. In less than one month he ended up comatose in a sanitarium. He vowed never to again to practice psychotherapy.

The entire epilogue was written by Wister himself summing up his beliefs, opinions and study of alcoholism. In it he makes many suggestions for prevention of alcoholism in early childhood. He also summarizes how to seek help if drinking has already begun.

As far as the man who treated Wister, who is Richard Peabody?

In 1922 Richard Peabody was treated by Elwood Worcester, founder of the Emmanuel Movement, and Courtenay Baylor for his alcohol problem. Peabody became a lay therapist and worked with Courtenay Baylor using Emmanuel Movement methods. Over the years Peabody adopted certain techniques he felt were the most effective, at the same time moving away from the spiritual program Worcester offered. Peabody believed self knowledge, restraint, discipline and cultivating new habits were enough to establish and maintain sobriety. His work is sometimes referred to as the “Peabody Method”. Richard Peabody documented his work in the book The Common Sense of Drinking.