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My Name Is Bill: Bill Wilson--His Life and the Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous
The definitive biography of Bill Wilson, the man who established Alcoholics Anonymous, and the first to be written with access to documents in that organization's archives, by a noted author who is herself a recovering alcoholic.
In this definitive and groundbreaking biography, acclaimed author Susan Cheever offers a remarkably human portrait of a man whose life and work both influenced and saved the lives of millions of people. Drawing from personal letters, diaries, AA archives, interviews—and Cheever's own experiences with alcoholism —My Name Is Bill is the first fully documented, deeply felt account of Bill Wilson and Alcoholics Anonymous.
In this definitive and groundbreaking biography, acclaimed author Susan Cheever offers a remarkably human portrait of a man whose life and work both influenced and saved the lives of millions of people. Drawing from personal letters, diaries, AA archives, interviews—and Cheever's own experiences with alcoholism —My Name Is Bill is the first fully documented, deeply felt account of Bill Wilson and Alcoholics Anonymous.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 29, 2011
ok bio of a fascinating life, that of the man who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous. Having worked in a 12-step-oriented alcohol treatment program in the VA, I'm quite familiar with the program but didn't know much about his life, his other addictions (lifelong heavy smoker who died of emphysema while begging nurses on his deathbed for whiskey they wouldn't provide; sexually compulsive outside the confines of his marriage), his acquaintances [e.g., the writer Aldous Huxley) and benefactors (Rockefeller family), etc.
The writing is favorable toward the subject, to the point of fawning. If he does something generous, such as agree not to take more than a minimal salary from AA, that is fantastic. If he does something questionable, such as bitterly complain about his wife to his mistress, then that's cool too because it shows that he was a flawed person, and he'd be the first to admit that, and principles before personalities and.........
Completely ignores research on AA and related programs, while making empirical claims about it.
So if you are interested in a critical analysis of an influential approach to understanding and treating addictions, forget it, but if you want to know the specs on some interesting twists and turns in the life of Bill W, this is your book.
The writing is favorable toward the subject, to the point of fawning. If he does something generous, such as agree not to take more than a minimal salary from AA, that is fantastic. If he does something questionable, such as bitterly complain about his wife to his mistress, then that's cool too because it shows that he was a flawed person, and he'd be the first to admit that, and principles before personalities and.........
Completely ignores research on AA and related programs, while making empirical claims about it.
So if you are interested in a critical analysis of an influential approach to understanding and treating addictions, forget it, but if you want to know the specs on some interesting twists and turns in the life of Bill W, this is your book.
October 20, 2014
The funny thing about putting someone on the pedestal of celebrity status is that they seldom live up to our scrutiny which often arrives moments after they have a seat. Bill W. co-founder of AA is very deserving of his celebrity status regardless of his failures to live up to a “sober man” ideal.
AA was created by William Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith along with a dozen other contributors from the medical field, the Oxford Group, prominent psychologists and clergymen. Bill was able to see that addiction was part of the human puzzle. To address addiction one had to heal the whole person and the 12 steps he created did just that. He then traveled to groups around the US and saw strong personalities and petty grievances in many groups of early AA. His creation of the 12 traditions laid the foundation for AA and kept it from breaking apart as other organizations have in the past.
This book tells the story of his life and experiences which brought him to a state of mind and a specific skill-set, which enabled him to get sober himself and pass the gift on. Although profoundly human and apt to make mistakes himself, his contribution to society is undeniably profound and worthy of our hearty recognition.
AA was created by William Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith along with a dozen other contributors from the medical field, the Oxford Group, prominent psychologists and clergymen. Bill was able to see that addiction was part of the human puzzle. To address addiction one had to heal the whole person and the 12 steps he created did just that. He then traveled to groups around the US and saw strong personalities and petty grievances in many groups of early AA. His creation of the 12 traditions laid the foundation for AA and kept it from breaking apart as other organizations have in the past.
This book tells the story of his life and experiences which brought him to a state of mind and a specific skill-set, which enabled him to get sober himself and pass the gift on. Although profoundly human and apt to make mistakes himself, his contribution to society is undeniably profound and worthy of our hearty recognition.
August 14, 2008
I found this book both in poor taste and sugar coated to meet Hazelden's approval for inclusion. Bill Wilson was known in the Founder's Circle for pursuing women while married to Lois. He experimented with seance's and ouija boards, as well as LSD. His close friend Tom Power's threatened to leave if Bill did not stop his behavior, and eventually did so to form his own groups. Cheever plays lightly with the man who would refer to newcomer's as, "pigeons." I would refer to Cheever's book as, "delivering partial truths."
October 30, 2017
three stars feels too harsh but whatever goodreads is an imprecise tool. definitely worth reading for people who are spellbound by the simple, odd clarity of the AA big book and 12x12 (which apparently, per cheever, was pretty aggressively edited/re-written by many hands, though bill w was indeed the main author). there's plenty of interesting info here, and cheever does a good job situating bill as a product of his time (specifically, turn-of-the-century vermont).
i found the read a little uneven -- repeating scenes and motifs in a kind of scattered way and narrating various aspects of his/the program's life out of chronological order. in addition, (and this is probably not cheever's fault) it seems like there wasn't firm info on the full gnarly weirdness of bill ("he got super depressed for 10 years, no one was sure why" wasn't an especially enlightening sentence to read five times). also, the frontloaded narrative about bill being in search of a lost mother didn't really pay out as much as i expected it would. anyway, pretty good, not overly long. i want to know way more about bill's LSD phase but this was a nice starting place for enhanced bill w awareness.
i found the read a little uneven -- repeating scenes and motifs in a kind of scattered way and narrating various aspects of his/the program's life out of chronological order. in addition, (and this is probably not cheever's fault) it seems like there wasn't firm info on the full gnarly weirdness of bill ("he got super depressed for 10 years, no one was sure why" wasn't an especially enlightening sentence to read five times). also, the frontloaded narrative about bill being in search of a lost mother didn't really pay out as much as i expected it would. anyway, pretty good, not overly long. i want to know way more about bill's LSD phase but this was a nice starting place for enhanced bill w awareness.
March 12, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and very carefully read any of the reviews before buying it. I think Cheever did an excellent job in portraying the man Bill was without bashing him. She admitted he was flawed and imperfect. She showed how he struggled with many aspects of his life in an eloquent manner. I disagree with the reviews that said she was "fawning" over him and excusing his poor choices in life. She addressed them fairly and openly. If people were looking for a book that aired Bill's dirty laundry they came to the wrong place!
February 4, 2018
How did someone who was broke, sick, and challenged in other ways wind up creating a movement that has helped millions of people around the world? This story is interesting on multiple levels, and is useful for anyone trying to spread an idea and help people at scale.
January 1, 2021
So-so biography of Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA. Disjointed and poorly written in places. She references other bios of Wilson and it left me thinking that those were probably better and this book isn’t necessary.
March 20, 2019
Susan Cheever's biography of Bill Wilson, it should be noted, is not a biography of Alcoholics Anonymous, the organization Wilson co-founded. This might be a disappointment to those searching for more insight into what is arguably one of the world's most successful grassroots organizations, one that has saved millions of lives and continues to grow more than 80 years after its creation.
But Cheever's focus is on the man and, in particular, his early years: By the time Wilson creates AA, his biography is more than half-over; the last 20 or so years of his life are dispensed with in a few short chapters. Cheever's painfully detailed description of Wilson's life is intended to reveal the character of a man whose values shaped the organization he founded, but instead it's a bit of a slog to get through — there are only so many descriptions of late 19th-century life in Vermont one can read.
There are some interesting nuggets here. In the early years, Wilson reluctantly made the decision not to profit from his creation of AA, denying him and his long-suffering wife Lois a vast fortune but forever maintaining the organization's integrity. He was a curious character, a Republican Yankee who hated FDR yet was fascinated with the paranormal, frequently kept mistresses, and experimented, late in life, with LSD. His death, at age 76, was caused by emphysema, a result of an addiction he never managed to kick: cigarettes.
What I took from My Name Is Bill isn't how extraordinary Wilson was, but how ordinary. This makes him a relatable figure — someone the average alcoholic can identify with. But relatable people don't always make the best biographical subjects.
But Cheever's focus is on the man and, in particular, his early years: By the time Wilson creates AA, his biography is more than half-over; the last 20 or so years of his life are dispensed with in a few short chapters. Cheever's painfully detailed description of Wilson's life is intended to reveal the character of a man whose values shaped the organization he founded, but instead it's a bit of a slog to get through — there are only so many descriptions of late 19th-century life in Vermont one can read.
There are some interesting nuggets here. In the early years, Wilson reluctantly made the decision not to profit from his creation of AA, denying him and his long-suffering wife Lois a vast fortune but forever maintaining the organization's integrity. He was a curious character, a Republican Yankee who hated FDR yet was fascinated with the paranormal, frequently kept mistresses, and experimented, late in life, with LSD. His death, at age 76, was caused by emphysema, a result of an addiction he never managed to kick: cigarettes.
What I took from My Name Is Bill isn't how extraordinary Wilson was, but how ordinary. This makes him a relatable figure — someone the average alcoholic can identify with. But relatable people don't always make the best biographical subjects.
August 6, 2024
I'm a recovering alcoholic with just over two years of sobriety. I actively attend AA meetings & found it has been the only way for me to stay sober. The program of Alcoholics Anonymous has helped save millions yet the ambiguity & interpretive nature of how the "program works" is what led me to discovering this book as I sought information beyond the "big book" of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Susan Cheever does a wonderful job of portraying the fascinating life of Bill Wilson & how at the core of what many believe to be a divinely inspired program was a well-intentioned yet still very flawed human.
What I had learned of Bill W. prior to reading this book already gave me a sense of kindred spirits with the deceased founder. Not all alcoholics are the same but many of us share similar personalities & thought patterns. Susan's ability to tell Bill's story allowed me to experience the world through the eyes of Bill Wilson. Perhaps my experience was singular but it was only through the quality of Cheever's storytelling ability that Wilson's life was revived for me to witness.
Further, I learned things about Bill W. on a more intimate level than I had when reading Not God: The History of AA by Earnest Kurtz which Cheever references. Details surrounding the life of the respected founder were revealed which fundamentally changed my view of the program he helped create & ultimately saved my life. I changed as a person & member of AA after reading this book. Susan Cheever painted a beautiful portrait of how despite the fallibility of humanity, there is still beauty.
Susan Cheever does a wonderful job of portraying the fascinating life of Bill Wilson & how at the core of what many believe to be a divinely inspired program was a well-intentioned yet still very flawed human.
What I had learned of Bill W. prior to reading this book already gave me a sense of kindred spirits with the deceased founder. Not all alcoholics are the same but many of us share similar personalities & thought patterns. Susan's ability to tell Bill's story allowed me to experience the world through the eyes of Bill Wilson. Perhaps my experience was singular but it was only through the quality of Cheever's storytelling ability that Wilson's life was revived for me to witness.
Further, I learned things about Bill W. on a more intimate level than I had when reading Not God: The History of AA by Earnest Kurtz which Cheever references. Details surrounding the life of the respected founder were revealed which fundamentally changed my view of the program he helped create & ultimately saved my life. I changed as a person & member of AA after reading this book. Susan Cheever painted a beautiful portrait of how despite the fallibility of humanity, there is still beauty.
May 6, 2018
Susan Cheever portrays the life of Alcoholic's Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson- from his rural Vermont childhood, his father's early desertion, his dealing with his mother's austere nature; and the influence of his few male friends and adult role models- thru his marriage, several job changes, and the struggle with drinking that led to that faithful day in 1935 when he met Bob Smith, an Ohio doctor and alcoholic, and together they discovered the therapeutic value of one alcoholic helping another. Influence by the Oxford Group and Dr. Silkworth at Towns Hospital, who believed that alcoholism was a disease similar to an allergy, are discussed. In 1935, Wilson's constant interaction with Bob Smith laid a foundation for the program that came to be known as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)- although they initially worked their recovery within the framework of the Oxford Group until 1937, when some Oxford members thought they were not 'maximum' enough. The initial struggles of AA are described, including the editing and publishing of the Alcoholics Anonymous book (better known as the Big Book) in 1939. After a very favorable article on AA in March of 1941 on the Saturday Evening Post, membership in the fellowship skyrocketed from 1,500 to 30,00 members in 1946. With AA's growth, many groups developed their own complex set of rules. Bill Wilson synthesized the development of simple guidelines which eventually became AA's Traditions, which were accepted worldwide by 1950. By then Wilson and Smith had turned the running of AA to others. Cheever also covers Wilson's controversial failed experimentation with LSD between 1956 and 1959. The author also digs into Bill Wilson's struggle with depression and emphysema, the latter leading to his death in 1971. During several times during his last sad days of illness, Bill Wilson still had a craving for alcohol. As somebody with nearly 13 years in recovery, I greatly enjoyed reading the biography of this AA co-founder. This book is a must read for those seeking an understanding of the life of this co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. It partly inspired me to narrate my own experience with addiction and recovery in Out of Numbness.
December 30, 2018
My limited knowledge of AA was that there are meeting held in which alcoholics can talk to each other, you get chips for staying sober, and that there are some religious aspects to it. This last note was surprising, as Bill was not a religious man. Bill makes it quite clear that when he refers to 'God' that it is the individual's choice who or what that being may represent. What was most interesting to me is the way alcoholics were treated and the way it was seen; some of this was probably due to the prohibition era. 'Drunks' would end up in the mental institutes or insane asylums, especially women who were not supposed to be alcoholics. Bill Wilson is an intriguing man, and this sounds like one of many novels that delve into his story. AA was formed with the basis that it is helpful for drunks to talk to one another, which makes sense as they know the struggles each is facing. Bill (and his wife) gave their lives to helping individuals they didn't know who struggled with this terrible disease. An inspirational story of sorts.
September 20, 2020
Admittedly I'm biased because Bill Wilson is one of my all-time personal heroes but Susan Cheever does an *INCREDIBLE* job telling his life story in an accessible, compassionate way. I would recommend for all lovers of Alcoholics Anonymous (obvs) as well as those who like reading personal biographies as compliments to & commentaries on social history.
For fans of other AA & AA-adjacent books such as Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous & The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning
For fans of other AA & AA-adjacent books such as Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous & The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning
September 6, 2025
Biographies of people who found movements that, for good or ill, change society run the risk of hagiography or a picking over of the bones that seeks to pin the subject on the wall for an examination that removes all humanity. Cheever does neither. Her biography of Bill Wilson is painstakingly researched, but the research is subsumed into her narrative, which is immensely readable and enjoyable. She gives much more credence to some of Wilson's dalliances with the supernatural, and she's strangely diffident about his sexual life up until the very end of the book (and even then, it's like she talks about it grudgingly), but that aside, the book pays homage to a man who was more than the sum of his parts, a man who created something that truly will live on as long as humanity and disease lives on. Wilson deserves lots of biographies, and he definitely deserves this book's approach.
July 11, 2023
I read this book as it was in the bookshelf of the Air BnB I am staying in. Just because it is not the kind of book I'd opt to read on my own. And though at times the storyline was a bit harsh to follow, as it seemed to jump around quite a bit, the depth is there and it is an insightful story. I am not someone who has ever struggled with alcohol use, but learning about the experience from the perspective of the book was something challenging yet intriguing.
I love biographies, and this was not something I would ordinarily have picked up on my own, but it was a good read. Just wish it wasn't so scattered in organization, and that a central theme would have been written about. Sort of a, why the author felt drawn to write about his life in the first place.
I love biographies, and this was not something I would ordinarily have picked up on my own, but it was a good read. Just wish it wasn't so scattered in organization, and that a central theme would have been written about. Sort of a, why the author felt drawn to write about his life in the first place.
May 29, 2020
I enjoyed this biography, given to me by a friend of Bill's. It's beautifully written, putting me in the shoes of the people in Bill Wilson's life as well as Bill Wilson's. The historical detail is extensive and supports the story utterly. I feel like I'd experience deja vu if I were to visit East Dorset, Vermont, or Clinton Street, or Stepping Stones. The author paints a very relatable picture of a man who struggles with alcoholism and with the birth of the movement to help alcoholics achieve lasting sobriety. A drunk who wished for fame until he found it, and whose many addictions proved him just another sober drunk doing the best he could to stay sober and help others.
February 11, 2022
This is a beautifully written, true account of Bill Wilson’s life and the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous. I’ve read this book many times, and each time I learn something new. It’s not only a book for alcoholics but for anyone interested in life in general. Bill Wilson lived an extraordinary life filled with many obstacles along the way. The story of how he overcame these obstacles is a testament to the perseverance and talent of the man himself. The organization he helped found now numbers it’s members in millions and millions of people around the world. A good book for life.
December 27, 2022
I loved this book. As someone who literally physically grew up in AA beginning at age 14, over 30 years ago now; I had definitely put Bill W on a pedestal. This book was great to give me a way more balanced view of who he was as a person, and separate that from his involvement in the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous. The disillusionment I felt when Bill W became incredibly human faded away as I read the book. Wonderful read!
September 11, 2017
The topic interested me but the book was filled with the same information included in other Wilson biographies.
Also, the author credited a quote to Wilson that was actually from Dr. Bob.
I can't recommend this book fully, I expected more information and better writing.
Also, the author credited a quote to Wilson that was actually from Dr. Bob.
I can't recommend this book fully, I expected more information and better writing.
June 11, 2018
* Fascinating. This is a table-of-contents of sorts to all that other material 'out there' concerning AA.
* An endearing story of the cradle-to-grave experience of Bills life, his humanity, and his legacy--AA.
* An endearing story of the cradle-to-grave experience of Bills life, his humanity, and his legacy--AA.
July 7, 2018
Great read!
She made Me feel as if I were there in vermont. I loved how she described the nature. Bill was an amazing man and I'm glad there is so much about his life to read and hear.
She made Me feel as if I were there in vermont. I loved how she described the nature. Bill was an amazing man and I'm glad there is so much about his life to read and hear.
June 27, 2017
New (to me) stories
Bill Wilson was an amazing human being. It read best in the book: "His life was complicated, but his mission was simple." Very good book!
Bill Wilson was an amazing human being. It read best in the book: "His life was complicated, but his mission was simple." Very good book!
October 6, 2019
Poorly structured and badly written. So disappointed!
September 8, 2020
Wonderful book. great subject loved it
September 26, 2020
Interesting to read, insights into cultures and his home life that impacted how he thought and lived.
December 28, 2021
This book is a beautifully written biography that exposes who the real leader of AA was. It took me a long time to finish it but I really enjoyed it.
June 17, 2023
a thoughtful, truthful, independent biography of Bill Wilson. "We are not saints!" but we can still be helpful to others.
April 28, 2024
Starts a bit slow, but is an interesting look into the co-founder of a way of recovery that has helped thousands of us.
November 15, 2025
Liked the writing style of bill , its unmatchable
January 14, 2011
I read My Name is Bill because I studied with Susan Cheever and am a fan. Her admiration of this complicated man drew criticism from some reviewers who wanted complete objectivity. Cheever brings a personal history with alcoholism secondary to her famous father John Cheever (see: Home before Dark) and her personal walk with alcoholism (see: Note Found in a Bottle: My Life as a Drinker.) These acclaimed works, and more, serve as more than a literary CVA. Cheever is an insider to addiction. I would have been disappointed if she had tried to put this history aside: it would have read as false. She keeps the focus on Wilson, but the voice carries a subtle point of view.
She admires Wilson. As we learn about his drives and imperfections, we do gain a greater understanding of the man and the disease. If that understanding comes with the ability to see the greater good of his lifes' work, despite his many flaws, we readers might just glimpse the truth of a multi-faceted life. We are all a compendium of screw-up acts and noble days. We hope our good outweighs the bad. Cheever places Wilson's nobility on the scale with affection, but she does allow the reader to balance the weights for themselves. Every reader who knows an addict will understand them better after reading My Name is Bill.
It also be noted that Cheever's account is the only full biography widely available, and it's a good one.
She admires Wilson. As we learn about his drives and imperfections, we do gain a greater understanding of the man and the disease. If that understanding comes with the ability to see the greater good of his lifes' work, despite his many flaws, we readers might just glimpse the truth of a multi-faceted life. We are all a compendium of screw-up acts and noble days. We hope our good outweighs the bad. Cheever places Wilson's nobility on the scale with affection, but she does allow the reader to balance the weights for themselves. Every reader who knows an addict will understand them better after reading My Name is Bill.
It also be noted that Cheever's account is the only full biography widely available, and it's a good one.
February 9, 2017
This is an interesting description of the man who was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and how he came to the realization that something was needed for drunks like him. It shows that even though he "beat" alcoholism, there were other addictions in his life that he was unable to conquer. However, what he did for alcoholics is a program that works without one person in control - an amazing feat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews