-Show me a drunk and I'll show you someone in search of God-, is a saying that could be derived from Carl Jung. Jung wrote to Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), about his understanding of Rowland Hazard's alcoholism: -His craving for alcohol was the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness, expressed in medieval language: the union with God-. This book marries the writings of Carl Jung and Bill Wilson, and develops the idea that alcoholism is, primarily, a spiritual illness.

The author visited the archives of the headquarters...

The author visited the archives of the headquarters of A.A. in New York, and discovered new communications between Carl Jung and Bill Wilson. For the first time this correspondence shows Jung's respect for A.A. and in turn, its influence on him. In particular, this research shows how Bill Wilson was encouraged by Jung's writings to promote the spiritual aspect of recovery as opposed to the conventional medical model which has failed so abysmally. The book overturns the long-held belief that Jung distrusted groups. Indeed, influenced by A.A.'s success, Jung gave "complete and detailed...