Rating: 
Summary: trash or treasure?
Review: Hartigan's new bio of Bill W., that anonymous guy with the warts, certainly will provoke trash reviews from some. Well, such reviewers would criticize St. Paul who killed Christians and then spread the Gospel worldwide. Hartigan's book is well-researched in the literature and through many personal interviews. His years with Lois Wilson, Bill's widow, provided him with the kind of history that is practically non-existent any more. The oldtimers are dead. So his bio of Bill saves much from oblivion. Argue all you want with his interpretations at times but let's give credit here for a first-class effort to paint a balanced picture of a guy who struggled all his life, not with sobriety, but with his weaknesses and moral, emotional and spiritual warts. In America today, we very often place multi-billionaires, sports heroes, movie stars, and the latest "15-minutes of fame" TV personalities on a pedestal...only to enjoy ripping them to shreds as they fall to moral weakness and media exposure. We place them up there with the virtues of power, prestige, and greed. How spiritually refreshing then to find this book about Bill W. who knew poverty most of his life and was tempted often by money, who was offered great public prestige and rejected it, who gave away the power of leadership to the AA Fellowship at large. Trying to hide these things would turn Bill W. into an empty plastic saint. I'll take Hartigan's book, warts [if any] and all. His experiences with Lois and many others were a treasure and he has shared that treasure with us. Thanks, Fran. Amen.
Rating:
Summary: Unsanitized version
Review: Having read all of the "authorized" and "official" biographies of Bill W. I find this one refreshing in its candor and revealing an unsanitized report of the truth. Though Bill was one of the co-founders of AA, most reports of his story left out the human part of him and helped in continuing the myths.Mr. Hartigan did an excellent job in researching through the original documents and relying upon the oral history of who Bill really was. Having known Lois and doing my own research through original documents, I have found the sanitized versions of AA history quite lacking through obfuscation of accurate historical facts. Negative reviews coming from those who prefer the sainthood of Bill W. to the actual facts presented in this work will surely continue. These people who look upon any revealing of the truth as an attack on their idol prefer to denegrate the works of those who reveal the truth. The historians and archivists who have had the opportunity to read the original documents and who have heard from those who were there know better. More books revealing the truth will only serve to make AA stronger. After all, rigorous honesty is a part of AA's principles. Myths and legends make nice reading but the truth makes it all the more rewarding in the long run. If one prefers the official party line and wants to read something that is less than reality this book will not be what they seek. However, if one is seeking the truth and chooses not to rely upon contempt prior to investigation - Mr. Hartigan's biography of Bill will be very informative.
Rating: 
Summary: A Griffith again
Review: I had skimmed the book but I had not read it. Now that I HAVE read it, I want to say that I liked it. It seems to give a well rounded picture of Bill and it tells quite honestly the background of AA. It did skip around a bit but on the whole the writing was good. And although the older members of our family considered him no good, I am proud to say he was my cousin.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done !
Review: I just finished Mr. Hartigans biography of Bill Wilson. I thought it was well researched and well written. I found it amazing that someone could be so dysfunctional in the first half of his life and yet display great organizational skills in his later years. I have never had the misfortune to need AA but this book helped me to understand those who do. I would highly recommend this fine biography.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes A Good Doorstop
Review: Most of us know that Bill Wilson was human, not a Saint. It's a shame that St. Martin's Press would see fit to publish a poorly documented ranting such as this, written by a disgruntled former servant of Bill's widow, Lois Wilson. I can only hope that a properly researched and documented biography will be done, to put Bill's humanity in perspective. A shame that the formerly solid St. Martin's Press has now joined the ranks of the lesser tabloids in their editorial due diligence process.
Rating:
Summary: Great details for us sponges:}
Review: Thank goodness someone took the time to compile all the details and sides of this very important person and period in the AA program. The details are a wonderful addition to the oratory of the program. We are all human and to have a book written with such balance for all aspects of Bill W. life gives this book and the author my respect.
Rating:
Summary: I Didn't Want To Put It Down
Review: This is a wonderful biography of one of the century's greatest individuals. I have never before seen such a full treatment of his contributions to Alcoholics Anonymous, or such a well-rounded portrayal of Bill Wilson as a person. His personal problems make the sacrifices he made to start AA and all the years he stayed with it to see it become internationally recognized all the more remarkable. Francis Hartigan's well-rounded, highly readable book truly brought Wilson alive for me.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: Why over 200 references and not one footnote? Autor's claims are based on "people told me" and they are not cited. Sensationalized fictional poorly written junk attempting to be factual. Save your time and money!
| 
