vol 310. History Lesson: The Story of Dr. Bob & Anne Smithvol 310. History Lesson: The Story of Dr. Bob & Anne Smith
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Mark Dreyer offers a history lesson on Dr. Bob and Anne Smith, sharing how their lives, faith and favourite books shaped early Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron. The conversation blends AA history, personal anecdotes and practical ideas about practice, service and spiritual growth in recovery.
1:10:19•3 Oct 2026
Dr. Bob, Anne Smith and the Roots of AA: A History Buff’s Sobriety Lesson
Episode Overview
- AA’s roots in Akron are closely tied to the lives and home of Dr. Bob and Anne Smith, who turned 855 Ardmore into a haven for alcoholics and their families.
- Anne’s faith practices, quiet time sessions and spiritual journal strongly influenced early AA materials, including the Spiritual Milestones pamphlet.
- Early members were given a substantial reading list, and books like *The Greatest Thing in the World* and *Sermon on the Mount* helped shape AA’s focus on character and spiritual growth.
- Mark contrasts “Bob AA” and “Bill AA”, showing how different styles of surrender, spirituality and sponsorship blended into the programme used today.
- The episode stresses Dr. Bob’s view that practice, service and slowly cultivated faith are essential to doing AA well and sustaining long-term recovery.
“I don’t think we can do anything very well in this world unless we practice… and I don’t believe we do AA too well unless we practice.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This episode zeroes in on the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous through the story of Dr. Bob and his wife, Anne Smith, told by long-time member and history buff Mark Dreyer, who’s celebrating 40 years sober. You’ll get a mix of storytelling, AA history class, and friendly banter, all aimed at people in recovery who want to understand where their fellowship came from and why its principles matter.
Mark traces his own sponsorship lineage directly back to Dr. Bob and uses that connection to share vivid details about early AA in Akron, from meetings at 855 Ardmore to the birth of “group number one” at King School. He talks about Anne’s crucial role, her deep faith, and how she became known as “the mother of AA”, opening her home as a haven and guiding newcomers through quiet time, Bible reading and two-way prayer.
Books play a huge part in this episode. Mark runs through the reading list that shaped AA’s early members — titles like *The Greatest Thing in the World* by Henry Drummond and *Sermon on the Mount* by Emmet Fox — and explains how they influenced the Big Book and the focus on character change. His own story of waiting 19 years to finally read Drummond’s book adds a relatable, slightly cheeky touch.
There’s also plenty on the different styles of “Bob AA” and “Bill AA”, the pamphlets commissioned in Akron to simplify the programme for newcomers, and the idea that AA has always been evolving as new historical details come to light. A standout moment comes when Mark quotes Dr. Bob: “I don’t think we can do anything very well in this world unless we practice,” linking that straight to service, faith, and daily action in sobriety.
If you’re curious about AA’s roots and how they can enrich your own recovery, this one might be worth your time. What part of your programme could you practise a little more today?
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