The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. Then jack alexander wrote a feature article in the saturday evening post and placed such a compelling picture of a. When working with a new comer i tell them to not buy or read it until they have finished all their amends. He is said to be the founder of alcoholics anonymous when in fact hes not the founder at all. This is a reference tool to help us improve our knowledge of the big book that we. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. Based on the readily available reference material, bill wilson was the author of the chapter of the big book titled. Biographies of the authors the west baltimore group home page. The story of how many thousands of men and women have. First published in 1939, alcoholics anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. The missing link he looked at everything as the cause of his unhappinessexcept alcohol. Acknowledgments and credits for all that follows for story author biographies.
Author unknown canada, his conscience big books 2nd edition. She had several slips, but was sober over a year when she wrote her story for the big book. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Jan 15, 2017 i guess since aa branched out beyond the first two groups and aa ceased being directly taught by the original pioneers, a different aa sprang up along side and parallel to the aa delineated in the big book and twelve and twelve. A personal story on page 407 called acceptance was the answer is also wellknown among aa membership. Although its not properly confirmed its said that bill wilsons secretary wrote the big book. The big book chapter on working with others tells us that, because of our own drinking experience, we can be uniquely helpful to others. There is comfort in knowing you arent alone, that what youre feeling isnt unusual, and that there is a solution.
May 06, 2018 indianapolis colts owner jim irsay bought the big book, written by aa founder william bill w. Here is another example of a common misconception spread by wordofmouth. When i am disturbed, it is because i find some person, place, thing, or situationsome fact of my life unacceptable to me, and i can find no serenity until i accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Ruth hock, aas first national secretary, wrote if it wasnt for bill wilson the big book would never have been written. Both big book zealots and aas harshest critics will have a problem. Outlining the steps and traditions that make aa famous, as well as numerous stories about recovering addicts who have been through the process, the big book has helped guide millions into a life of sobriety. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism also known as the big book describes how to recover from alcoholism.
At any rate, discounting someone else s truth can be a slippery slope as facts can be declared, but truth, especially spiritual in nature, is open to. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that i compiled from the first edition of the big book. Most newcomers to aa have probably either heard of, or been given a copy of the book living sober. Pauls lesson in the big book regarding expectations being inversely proportional to serenity. Alcoholics anonymous also known as the big book in recovery circles sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. The wisdom from the big book isnt limited to 10 quotes.
Jul 17, 2019 the book alcoholics anonymous, affectionately known by members as the big book, is the textbook for the original 12step recovery program now known by the same name. At the beginning of the living sober text, it emphasizes that it is providing methods, not a program to be followed a through z or 1 through 12, like the big book s 12. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic. January 1968 aa grapevine big book stories updated 4 of 5 this is the fourth article in the grapevine s series by authors of the personal histories in the big book, alcoholics anonymous.
The book alcoholics anonymous, affectionately known by members as the big book, is the textbook for the original 12step recovery program now known by the same name. This is a gross inaccuracy as approximately 30 million total copies have been printed. Alcoholics anonymous which we in aa affectionately call the big book. Alcoholics anonymous, now better known as the big book. Marty mann 19041980 wrote the chapter women suffer too in the second through fourth editions of the big book. Mar 18, 2012 from page 417 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous and acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. Hes actually the one who ruined aa, by introducing the big book to aa. To spread his message of salvation, wilson started writing what would become aas sacred text.
The big book has given me that comfort and the push to. Indianapolis colts owner jim irsay bought the big book, written by aa founder william bill w. Big book as the first of the stories, as has bill ws story in chapter 1 of the first 164 pages. Well, there are a lot of people out there who think that giving living sober to newcomers. Since we are alcoholics, we can work the steps of aa and help ourselves. Our online big book is used by thousands of people all over the world, and incurs substantial bandwidth expense. The big book was originally published in 1939 by bill w. Bill w has said he was less the author and more the umpire, with. The big book of alcoholics anonymous verywell mind. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. From page 417 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous and acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. People talk about the one hundred men that wrote the book. A publication of stories dropped from the first, second and third editions of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, be developed, and a progress report be brought to the 1998 conference literature committee. Where does it say newcomers are the most important.
The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. It is common in aa lore to hear claims that the big book is the secondmost printed book of alltime, second only to the bible. The big book has given me that comfort and the push to move forward. If you would like to become a member, please send a blank email to. I am certainly guilty of dismissing this approach as aa lite.
Feelings began to emerge that i did not understand. Many of us have heard of the ninth step promises from page 8384 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Ive heard the stories about the big book being a collective effort of. Bill wilson was of course the founder of alcoholics anonymous and wrote the big book that serves as the bible to millions worldwide. Bob smith, began holding gettogethers with fellow alcoholics. Bob was sober a few months less than three years, and the other 100 early members who contributed in one way or another to the writing of the. To share their method, wilson and other members wrote the initiallytitled book, alcoholics anonymous. The first edition big book stories barefoots world. But the whole thing didnt really have a name until 1939 when alcoholics anonymoustoday known to aa members as the big book was published. There has been a series of reprints and revisions, as well as. If it wasnt for hank parkhurst it never would have been published.
The 12 promises of aa begin on page 83 of the fourth edition of the big book. The big book of aa and why it was written is an interesting story. The big book includes an assertion first made in the second edition, which was published in 1955. As to two of you men, whose stories i have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine help. How do i cite alcoholics anonymous big book apastyle in. The book is full of tips on how to live a sober life.
W hen i waseight or nine years old, life suddenly became very dif. The person behind the stories who they are and a brief biography. The secretary of the aa central office in new york margaret bobby berger wrote back to dr. The last page of the last story in the book alcoholics anonymous. Depression crept into my life as i started to feel alone, even in crowded rooms.
It is considered one of the most influential tomes in u. Akron members also wrote the personal stories to be included in the book. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. The second portion of the book which focuses on the traditions, is based on the experience of the entire fellowship at that time. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover. The text got this name because the first edition of the book had rather thick pages, making the book even thicker than its content would suggest. Dec 21, 2011 the aa message is the first 164 pages of the book, not this rehabspeak book of suggestions. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. A bunch of people contributed to it so collectively, the author can be cited as alcoholics anonymous. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Big book authors list for alcoholics anonymous includes editions 1, 2. The author is a founder of alcoholics anonymous aa, bill w.
I guess since aa branched out beyond the first two groups and aa ceased being directly taught by the original pioneers, a different aa sprang up along side and parallel to the aa delineated in the big book and twelve and twelve. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Both big book zealots and aas harshest critics will have a problem with this. In 1953 the twelve steps and twelve traditions of alcoholics anonymous aka. Bobs nightmare 171 171 window of opportunity 421 aa number three 182 182 he had to be shown 193 he thought he could drink like a gentlemen.
Thats the way my drinking began, as a way to make the pain go away. How do i cite alcoholics anonymous big book apastyle in text. Top ten alcoholics anonymous books alcoholics anonymous. At any rate, discounting someone else s truth can be a slippery slope as facts can be declared, but truth, especially spiritual in nature, is open to the interpretation of each individual, as the big book teaches.
The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is often referred to in alcoholics anonymous meetings aa as the big book. The big book, in the first 164 pages, lays out the 12 step program, and the stories in the back of the book provide testimonials by people in aa who worked the 12 step program. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program. To spread his message of salvation, wilson started writing what would become aa s sacred text.
The birth of our society dates from his first day of permanent sobriety, june 10, 1935. So the first big book as it is now affectionately known, arrived on australias shores free of charge as it was a gift. He also had a significant role in the development of the big book. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous. The story of how more than one hundred men have recovered from alcoholism, from which aa drew its name. What we know of course is that the big book was bill wilsons baby its a collection of his opinions and beliefs at. The personal stories of the cofounders of aa are special to all of us. Aa began in 1935 when its cofounders, bill wilson and dr. Together they founded the alcoholics anonymous aa fellowship.
Alcoholics anonymous the big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Acknowledgments and credits for all that followsfor story author biographies. One of the many myths that i was taught about the big book is that its the collective workwords of the original 100 members of aa. We expect that this contribution to the recovering community worldwide will continue to grow, as our online big book is a great study tool. These are the original stories as they appeared in the first edition of the big book. Had you offered yourselves as patients at this hospital, i would not have taken you, if i had been able to avoid it.
The big book, the twelve steps and the twelve traditions. Hank p, whose big book story is the unbeliever, started aa in new jersey. Stories in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Original manuscript which went out to the fellowship a few months prior to the publication of the big book 1938. Minogue, and included in the reply was the promise to send a complimentary copy of the book alcoholics anonymous. Mar 23, 2010 a bunch of people contributed to it so collectively, the author can be cited as alcoholics anonymous. Rare collection of nineteen alcoholics anonymous books going. The big book friends is an informal discussion group where men and women interested in the big book of alcoholics anonymous daily discuss the pages of the big book. Biographies of the authors of the stories in the big book. Akron, ohio, alcoholics anonymous number three 2nd and 3rd big book editions. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism, is a collection of texts used by members of the alcoholics anonymous fellowship the book has undergone four revisions since william wilson, also known as bill w. There are, however, additional promises in the big book. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists a sentiment.
Some of the promises are directly associated with completion of a step. Marty mann 19041980 wrote the chapter women suffer too in the. Its words and interpretations are left up to the reader to use as they choose. Authors of the stories from the book, alcoholics anonymous. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc.