What a great American hero! Marty Mann has been grossly underappreciated for her accomplishments of having addiction: perceived and treated as a disease; educating the medical profession, government and the public about the need for treatment; formally treated in a logical methodology; and, advancing the worldwide spread of one of the most effective treatments, the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. She worked tirelessly at reducing the stigma of addiction. She founded what is now the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. She did this while having to hide her sexual orientation and with countless obstacles for being a woman and struggling to make ends meet financially. In some ways she plowed ground for all women in many arenas. Her story deserves to be spread wider and more often, if for nothing else to give young women a role model for the success of tenacity and success in the face of cultural obstacles.

This book is an exhaustive study of her life which may not hold the attention of all but I found fascinating, enlightening and inspiring. Anyone with addiction in their life, family or self could benefit by reading this biography. ( )