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Hazelden Books by Mel B.
Mel B Talks about AA
History
click here aa bibliography
home Mel B., a Toledo,
Ohio resident since 1972, is a recovering alcoholic who
Nell Wing, Bill W.’s longtime
secretary, explained that Mel’s long friendships with Bill W. and AA
enabled him to discuss meaningfully AA’s early history and Bill’s
special $15.00 New Wine (1991) 193 pages
Modeled after the classic meditation book “Twenty-Four Hours a Day,” this core-recovery book is filled with solid, practical, spiritual advice and time-honored Twelve-Step philosphy. It was written as a guide for persons with a year or more of sobriety, but can be helpful to people at any stage in recovery. It contains inspirational messages for every day of the year. $ 12.95 Walk in Dry Places (1996) 366 pages
Bill’s Story in
the AA Big Book tells of a sober friend whocalled on him in late 1934 to
bring the Oxford Group message that saved his life and led to the
formation of AA. But the friend, Ebby Thacher, eventually drank again
and had a troubled life of frequent slips before finding a measure of
peace in his last years. Bill never forgot what Ebby had done for
him, however, and was his friend and supporter to the end, taking
special steps to assure
$9.95 Ebby The Man Who
sponsored Bill W. 155 pages (1998) Mel B. has given us a gift in Ebby, The Man Who Sponsored Bill W.. Finally, the question of, What ever happened to Ebby, is answered fully and interestingly. I especially enjoyed: 1. the social background of the relationship and friendship which led ultimately to Ebby's call on Bill W., 2. Ebby's particular but familiar character qualities that made continuous sobriety difficult for him, 3. Bill W.'s never ending love and respect for Ebby, his Sponsor, that literally sent AA's to the edge of the earth in a quest to 'get Ebby sobered up again', and 4. Mel B's tasteful insertion of fun facts throughout the text which will delight readers. Ebby, came from a very prominent and wealthy Albany New York family. Both his father and brother served as Mayor of Albany and his brother came astonishingly close to becoming the Governor of New York when FDR left to become President. The family summered in the wealthy retreat of Manchester, Vermont where Ebby's father was a regular in the Lincoln Golf Foresome with Abraham Lincoln's only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln. It is in this resort-like Manchester setting where Ebby met Bill W. (and, indeed, where Bill W. met Lois Burnham who became his wife). Mel B. through his wonderfully flowing style will take you to Manchester for a bird's eye view of these New England Socialites. Mel also does a great job of giving us hints about Ebby's character which will be familiar to all of us in recovery. Ebby was forever pointing the finger at other people, places and things as the source of his problems. You will also learn about the wonderful character assets Ebby had which made him so endering to his family and friends such as his gift with children and his single-mindedness and determination when he was engaged in a project which interested him. You will get a great first hand account of Ebby firing a shotgun in downtown Manchester to rid himself of annoying Pigeons (birds not sponsees) who threatented his just completed paint job on the family property in Manchester. The legal consequences of this incident led to his sponsorship by Rowland H. (The rich Industrialist in the Big Book who Dr. Carl Jung told was hopeless unless he had a vital spiritual experience) and ultimately to Ebby's miracle. The miracle and new found sobriety led him to share his experience with Bill W. Alas, Ebby did not maintain his sobriety. After about 2 and 1/2
years, he returned to drinking and this once dapper gentleman of
colonial lineage was reduced to a homeless urchin roaming the streets of
Manhattan in search of a handout and a drink. In fact, it was not
uncommon for Ebby to beg in the offices of the newly formed AA, and at
times pass out on the couch in the lobby. A group of men from Texas who were founding AA all over the Lone Star State and were feeling a deep debt of gratitude to Bill W. a frequent visitor, asked Bill what they could do next for him and the rapidly expanding AA. (Searcy W. had recently established a drying out clinic in Dallas.) Without hesitation, Bill said, I would like for you to find Ebby and give him a chance to sober up in your clinic. I leave you with one of Mel B's fun facts that color his text: Scholars of AA must read this book, but it is not written for scholars. All members of AA and friends of AA who want to expand their historical perspective will enjoy and treasure this book. I could not put it down.
The AA slogans, often viewed as rather simple platitudes, are actually principles for good living, according to Mel B. and his co-author, Hazelden editor Bill P. While these principles are applicable in anybody’s life, they are especially useful for recovering persons. This book shows why they are useful and should not be lightly dismissed in one’s ongoing quest for sobriety. The 7 Key Principles of Successful Living, 1999 Price $12.95 per copy
Grateful for his own sobriety, Mel B. took a special interest in the personal qualities that contributed to Bill W.'s life and work. The AA co-founder is presented here as a complex and sometimes troubled man with a combination of unusual abilities. Once driven by a strong need for business success, Bill found his true work in helping others learn how to help themselves. This report notes that the strengths of AA, and also some of its weaknesses, can be abstracted from Bill's life and charismatic personality. My Search for Bill W., 2000 Price $14.95 per copy Mel B., a resident of Toledo, Ohio, since 1972, is a writer specializing in recovery,
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