Most of this speak is counterwise to the aa 12 step program. Barry died in 1985, but the big book manuscript wasnt transferred to aa world services as was promised in barrys letter, and there isnt any evidence that aa world services presented the leach estate with barrys notarized letter. Alcoholics anonymous aa is an international mutual aid fellowship with the stated purpose of enabling its members to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. In what follows, the reader is encouraged to use and think in whatever term best fits her or his condition. This is a link to the complete 4 th edition of the aa bigbook online. Buy alcoholics anonymous big book 4rev ed by alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The political contradictions of the lone star state. But it is neither unreasonable nor dogmatic to want more contemporary literature about the fundamental nature of alcoholism and recovery from aa world services, which crescentdave points out hasnt happened in half a century. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Big book, page 117, line 29 as each member of a resentful family begins to see his shortcomings and admits them to the others, he lays a basis for helpful discussion. Why are people so unwilling to discuss the obvious contradictions in the big book of aa.
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. In short, i hate alcoholics anonymous aka aa and all its related 12step. Subjecting aa to critical thinking sort of misses the point of aa. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
We find out things about ourselves that we have been inclined to beat ourselves up about. I think about what life was like for the early alcoholics before aa came into being. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. Today, alcoholics anonymous has millions of members. The preface to the fourth edition of the big book notes, because this book has. This is a reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. There was so much godinspired events that took place, culminating in the creation of the big book in 1938. The big book of alcoholics anonymous kindle edition by. The step 4 prayer from how it works page 66 of the big book. Released in 1939, the big book, as its commonly known, has sold an estimated 37 million copies, been translated into seventy languages, and. Ernest kurtz says this is the closest the book alcoholics anonymous comes to a definition of alcoholism.
The little big red book limited to 4,730 individually numbered copies the same number printed of the first editionfirst printing big book affectionately known as big red. However, i cannot help but notice many contraditions within aa. Mar 23, 2010 indeed, the big book makes clear to the reader that its main objective is to help you find a higher power which will solve your problem. The dishonest program alcoholics anonymous aarmed with the. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. Failure in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. The dust cover of the fourth edition quotes a letter written by bill w. Apr, 2015 but didnt the aa big book, page 83, state. I believe because they are trying to improve themselves and find contradictions they find or things they dont believe in to be unnecessary detours. Call 419 5635905 or email abookman for more information, order a big book, or to sell your books.
Lets start with alcoholics anonymous, also known as the big book bb. I think trying to discern what the program of aa is or not by only attending meetings will cause much confusion. This is the basic text for their society and it is referred to as the book of experience. Nicknamed the big book by the early aa members for its thick paper and wide margins, the books history began in 1934 when bill wilson, an alcoholic stockbroker who had found sobriety. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aa s founders before the first edition was printed. Its one of the 20th centurys most significant books and early copies are treasured by numerous collectors.
Leave the book the way it is we must cease fighting everyone and everything. In fact, aa world services didnt realize they had the letter until it surfaced sometime in 2007. Aa is a spiritual program of recovery, and the effective use of aa requires that the contradictions in aa be ignored and denied as a matter of faith. Ive been doing this stuff for a long time now, and theres things very central things that i. Marty mann and the early medicalization of alcoholism. 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. How do i cite alcoholics anonymous big book apastyle in text. The problem arises when one of these books is used as a substitute for the big book in an aa group. Jan 04, 2015 far from being a text book of incontrovertible instructions or rules the big book is, in fact, a story book, it says so in its very title, alcoholics anonymous the story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. Just heard a glaring one at a firststep meeting last night.
The forward to printings of the aa big book, preceding the third edition, provide the reader with a sense of the changes that have occurred, since the beginning of aa. Oct, 2012 zube, that is an interesting question that is posed here. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book. The best part of the bb is the personal stories, but even these were tendentiously edited to make it seem as though all of the recovering alcoholics owed their sobriety to finding god or at least having a spiritual awakening. Its only membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of alcoholics anonymous. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. By wanting to discuss what seems like contempt for the book, you also comment on their process.
With over 400 pages, the big book is filled with personal anecdotes of alcoholics and the 12 steps that pave the path to recovery. The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. 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. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. Sep 29, 2019 i think about what life was like for the early alcoholics before aa came into being. So if youre single it really could be that you just havent met the right person yet. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. All i can say is if you are in any way connected to a. However, bitter experience for many has shown us that if it does go wrong in these areas before we have done the steps, it can go badly wrong. Within 3 years, the ebook sold over 15,000 copies worldwide without any marketing. Aa says in every meeting it is not governed by any organization or religion.
Drs opinion 4th edition p xxv bills story chapter 1 p 1 16 there is a solution chapter 2 p 16 30 more about alcoholism chapter 3 p 30 43 we agnostics chapter 4 p 44 57 how it works chapter 5 p 58 71 into action continue reading big book of alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous, and the myriad of other 12step programs, can be invaluable to the recovering alcoholic or addict. Alcoholics anonymous big books abookman, a book man, book. Treatment centers which do require clients to take the steps as part of their admission contract mire aa in controversy. T he alcoholics anonymous big book is not just the most influential self help book ever published.
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 big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. Alcoholics anonymous big books for sale, find first, second, third, fourth and international editions. Contradiction in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. Bob smith a proctologist about the accuracy of referring to alcoholism as disease or one of its synonyms. 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. Whether youre new to aa, or youre a seasoned veteran, this is the easiest and most useful app to aid in your recovery. In 1938, while preparing the manuscript of the aa big book, bill wilson asked dr. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Alcoholics anonymous calls their book of the same name, the big book.
Alcoholics anonymousthe big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. All things aa related big books, step working guides, meditations, medallions, posters and more. The issue with you challenging people into discussing contradictions in the big book is that it completely ignores the sincere experiences of others. Jun 22, 2019 i believe because they are trying to improve themselves and find contradictions they find or things they dont believe in to be unnecessary detours. As much as i find aa dogma unappealing, rife with contradiction, and. Rare books dealer schaberg the nietzsche canon provides an admirably exhaustive, albeit intimidatingly lengthy, look at the writing of alcoholic anonymouss foundational 1939 text. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. 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 free version features the full text of the big book, prayers, personal stories, podcasts, meeting finder, and more. Wrights book is particularly timely given texass status as the canary in the coal mine for what america would look like with divisive.
We dont worry about them if we can honestly say to ourselves that we would right them if we could. Alcoholics anonymousthe big bookhas served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Below are copies in various formats of the big book. In 77 years and four editions, the big books twelve steps and twelve. As we all know, aa grew and developed across the world. The big book does say that some alcoholics are perfectly well balanced apart from their attitude toward drink. Alcoholics anonymous big books abookman, a book man. Released in 1939, the big book, as its commonly known, has sold an estimated 37 million copies, been translated into seventy languages. Contradiction in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps. Alcoholics anonymous, 4th edition should be in italics hope this helps.
Alcoholics anonymous is arguably the most significant selfhelp book published in the twentieth century. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976. Tell him you have been worried, though perhaps needlessly. These family talks will be constructive if they can be carried on without heated argument, selfpity, selfjustification or resent ful criticism. 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. Alcoholics anonymous new books abookman, a book man, book. How do i cite alcoholics anonymous big book apastyle in. Aa is nonprofessional, selfsupporting, and apolitical. That was a time when a handful of alcoholics discovered a solution to their seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. You think he ought to know the subject better, as everyone should have a clear understanding of the risk he takes if he drinks.
The aa program of recovery is set forth in the twelve steps aa was founded in 1935 in akron, ohio. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. This is the official website of the general service office g. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. Pankhurst started drinking again after the big book was published and died in 1954. First published in 2010 as a paperback, the ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was released as an ebook shortly afterward. The definitive history of writing and producing thebig book of alcoholics anonymous, told through extensive access to the groups archives. The big book the main 164 pages, prayers, personal stories, and more. The ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was written by a longtime aa member who has been a professional writer all her life. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The big book vs the book gods word alcoholics anonymous big book exposed all scriptures taken from the preserved 1611 king james bible. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Here is a pdf version of the first 164 pages found in all aa books.
Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. Aa s big book calls alcoholism an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer. Alcoholics anonymous new books abookman, a book man. Jun 03, 2015 this was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. 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 is some psychological speak that infiltrates the into the aa meeting rooms. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. I also see contradictions, but aa saved me and continues to so i am. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. Aa ends lawsuit over big book manuscript aa beyond belief.
The dishonest program alcoholics anonymous aarmed with. Working context of the big book alcoholics anonymous. Why are people so unwilling to discuss the obvious contradictions in. Indeed, the big book makes clear to the reader that its main objective is to help you find a higher power which will solve your problem. Why are people so unwilling to discuss the obvious. 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 story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is the guiding book for all 12 step programs.
Aaa view on dealing with anger alcoholics anonymous. I found this, a reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous preface. Here is another example of a common misconception spread by wordofmouth. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. If you have never read the biographies on bill wilson. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation.
Aa was clearly a complicated program, designed to confuse and bewilder people, into staying around debating one aa phrase against another aa phrase. The big book of alcoholics anonymous kindle edition by wilson, bill, smith, dr. There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. The biggest contradictions in aa revolve around religion. It is an incredible source of information from the early days of a. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions.
958 950 1382 1257 1194 438 272 246 1303 681 1109 152 442 1486 1002 1202 1388 714 457 1171 922 1542 159 582 903 679 1322 228 1432 471 463 493 1201 442 1328 1258 374