Dr Silkworth, Bill W. and Sobriety cover art

Dr Silkworth, Bill W. and Sobriety

How Dr Silkworth Helped Alcoholics Anonymous Co-Founder Bill W. Find Sobriety

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Dr Silkworth, Bill W. and Sobriety

By: A Bill Friend
Narrated by: A Bill Friend, Bill W.
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About this listen

Includes two full-length talks by Bill W. (Bill W's 18th Sobriety Anniversary Talk, Duration 36 Minutes, and Bill W's 21st Sobriety Anniversary Talk, Duration 57 Minutes).

From the very start of his medical practice, even during his training, Doctor Silkworth (born 1873) worked with Alcoholics and Drug Addicts. Beginning with details of Doctor Silkworth's early medical career. The book tells how Doctor Silkworth got his Medical Doctorate and license to practice medicine (1899) from Bellevue Hospital in New York City. How he treated the multitude of drunks and drug addicts that passed through Bellevue. Then with the outbreak of World War One Doctor Silkworth joined the Army as a Doctor (Rank=Captain) treating combat veterans suffering battlefield trauma.

The dislike other doctors had for alcoholics enabled Silkworth to specialize in their treatment, including after the war directing an Army-funded clinic. How Silkworth came to work at Towns Hospital. Then Bill W's story becomes entwined with Silkworth's. The book carefully follows each of Bill W's hospitalizations and the events around them using direct quotes of Bill's own recollections. The roles of Ebby, Rowland Hazard, and others in preparing the way. Bill's 'hot flash' is presented in his own words.

Then the important part, how he stayed sober. Dr. Silkworth's reassurance, Ebby's shared experience of release, and Bill's meeting Doctor Bob. Silkworth's role in helping Bill and Doctor Bob get AA started and then to keep it together. Silkworth's life story up to his death in 1951 ends the book.

There is a great amount of detail and two full-length talks by Bill W follow the narrated audiobook, so you can hear Bill tell his story in his own words. The short direct quotes in the biography's text are spoken by the narrator for continuity, but after the biography, Bill W speaks at two events, Over 90 minutes of historic audio, two complete Bill W talks enable audible listeners to hear Bill tell his story, twice.

©2018 Thomas Laperriere (P)2024 Thomas Laperriere
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