A professor of communication at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has written a book about the precursors of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.).

Richard Dubiel is the author of "The Road to Fellowship: The Role of the Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club in the Development of Alcoholics Anonymous," published by iUniverse through the Hindsfoot Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit scholarly organization that publishes and distributes works on the history and theory of alcoholism treatment. 

The book is available at $17.95 through the publisher online as well as at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Copies also will be sold locally at the University Store and at Book World.

The Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club, founded in Boston in 1906 and 1909, had 30 years of success in treating alcoholics prior to the founding of A.A. Based on fellowship, lay psychological counseling and spirituality, the two movements heavily influenced the A.A. group that would form in Boston in 1940 at the Jacoby Club quarters. The influence of Boston-style A.A. was subsequently passed on to the rest of the U.S. by author Richmond Walker and his "Twenty-Four Hours a Day."

In the new book, Dubiel, a specialist in public relations and communication ethics, explores this world of early 20^th century thought and its influence on today�s 12 step self-help groups.

Dubiel has taught at UWSP for 19 years. He holds degrees from the Pennsylvania State University and from Purdue University, where he also taught and served as a director of development. In addition, he has done graduate work in religious studies at Drew University and Indiana University.