Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A.
Dick B. is an active, recovered A.A. member, a retired attorney, and a Bible student. He has sponsored more than eighty men in their recovery. In 1990, he began researching, traveling, interviewing, and reading thousands of pages of the books early AAs read as they were developing their program. He has now written thirty-two titles on all facets of A.A. "spirituality." In early A.A., spirituality meant dependence upon God, the Creator. A.A. was a Christian fellowship. Its pioneers studied the Bible, prayed together, listened for guidance together, listened to the teachings of Dr. Bob's wife (Anne Ripley Smith), and utilized devotionals such as The Upper Room. From this, the author has learned and written about A.A.'s six major roots: the Bible, Quiet Time, the teachings of Sam Shoemaker, the life-changing program of the Oxford Group, Anne Smith's Journal, and Quiet Time. Dick has been called "A.A.'s unofficial historian" by reviewers and by one distinguished pastoral counselor who has written many books on Twelve Step programs and the ministry. Dick's aim has been to bring back for review and, where desired, the adoption of the Bible principles and practices of the 1930's when A.A. was highly successful, had a 75 to 93% success rate, and relied upon the power of God for help.