It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic. These are aspects of the alcoholics life and personality that are usually in effect before the alcoholic comes into aa and will continue unless the alcoholic actively works the steps each day. Bob, the first two members of aa, it teaches by examples and stories of both what not to do and what works. This is a reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. The big book of alcoholics anonymous kindle edition by wilson, bill, smith, dr.
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to. The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. 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. Box 459, grand central station new york, ny 10163 website. Other groups read from the big book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along. The big book, alcoholics anonymous some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week.
This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented. Electronic searches involved all relevant databases e. The big book page xiii from page 63 to 84 in the big book, the first one hundred the authors of the big book show us exactly how we go from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body, to a state where we have been recover ed and become happy, joyous and free. That was a time when a handful of alcoholics discovered a solution to their seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Almost none of us liked the selfsearching, the leveling of our pride. The ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was written by a longtime aa member who has been a professional writer all her life. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. There were 4 musts in the first and second editions of alcoholics anonymous. Big book weekly reading schedule 21 weeks thru first 164 pages. The reason is, the bb is the basic textbook for recovery in aa. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives.
This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. Living sober is by far the best aa book the only one i could recommend. How it works from pages 5860 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. This created a thirst for an even greater knowledge of the vital information contained 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. Thus it ranks high on the list of bestselling books ever. Known as the big book of alcoholics anonymous, the publication not only changed the conversation about alcoholism, but also catapulted the. Alcoholics anonymous big books for sale, find first, second, third, fourth and international editions. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Here are those series of articles dated from, octoer 21, 1939 to november 4, 1939. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Davis of the cleveland plain dealer ran a series of articles on alcoholics anonymous.
More about alcoholism m ost of ushave been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. Acceptance i know some people get really tired of the big book quotes. Jan 22, 2016 the official name of the aa big book is alcoholics anonymous. Big book sponsorship 12 step recovery from any and all. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous hazelden betty ford. Call 419 5635905 or email abookman for more information, order a big book, or to sell your books. Big book is actually a nickname for the book that caught on so universally that the official name is almost never used. Table of contents 01001 new york times, june 25, 1939 01002 journallancet, vol. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa.
With over 400 pages, the big book is filled with personal anecdotes of alcoholics and the 12 steps that pave the path to recovery. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. 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. Mental, spiritual and physical disease readings from as bill sees it can inspire sharing on discussion topics. First published in 2010 as a paperback, the ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was released as an ebook shortly afterward. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Nov, 2003 there is a solution from page 25 in the big book if you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle of theroad solution. The official name of the aa big book is alcoholics anonymous. If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle of theroad solution. I remember when it was published, back in 1975, when i had been sober for seven years. My sponsor suggested i type it up and put it somewhere in the house where i see it all the time. Because some of us are so familiar with the contents of the big book and know that some in aa and ca revere.
This workshop is for newcomersbeginners who want the original, undiluted 12 step program of the 1940s when recovery rates were 5075 per cent. Peace in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. A personal story on page 407 called acceptance was the answer is also wellknown among aa membership. 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. There is a solution from page 25 in the big book if you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middleoftheroad solution.
Aa deluxe double book cover with serenity prayer and coin. So it was comforting to learn that we could commence at a simpler level. The free version features the full text of the big book, prayers, personal stories, podcasts, meeting finder, and more. Alcoholics anonymous saved my life, but now ive lost my faith. The 25 millionth copy of the big book was published in 2005, so currently over a 1 million copies of the book, alcoholics anonymous, are sold each year. Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. The big book is the original source of for step instructions in alcoholics anonymous. One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our.
Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, we agnostics 47 please be sure to read appendix ii on spiritual experience. Here they are, the 82 occurrences of the word must found in alcoholics anonymous 4th edition the doctors opinion 1 page xxiii. 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. Good news for those with a little red book or other guideindex to the big book.
The big book includes an assertion first made in the second edition, which was published in 1955. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. Many books with wisdom can be read endlessly, and you find something new each time. These members share how they found their place in aa, work the program, do service and sponsor others. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye. Before the night was over, i had started a fight with a number of collegeaged drunken fellows and returned. This is the official website of the general service office g. For those unfamiliar with the big book, its the instruction set for the aa program.
Monthly big book readings aa the original way group. Research on the effectiveness of alcoholics anonymous aa is controversial and is subject to widely divergent interpretations. The first secretary of alcoholics anonymous every word in the big book came under her fingers we the people the gabriel heatter broadcast of april 25, 1939 the first national exposure for alcoholics anonymous 1939 cleveland plain dealer articles the first extensive publicity of. Whether youre new to aa, or youre a seasoned veteran, this is the easiest and most useful app to aid in your recovery. This is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone better understand the alcoholic.
The 12 promises of aa begin on page 83 of the fourth edition of the big book. My favorite part of the big book has always been the part. The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. However, aa literature, the 12 steps and in particular the 12 traditions, contain many liberal principles and suggestions in terms of relating to the big book and the program of recovery. All other sources the little red book, the 12 and 12, group sponsored literature were written as accompaniments or guides to be used to assist and deepen the path laid out by the original members of alcoholics anonymous in the big book. Informally known as the big book with its first 164 pages virtually. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could. 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. Alcoholics anonymous big books for sale, first second. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is the guiding book for all 12 step programs.
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. On page 52 of the big book you can find a list of bedevilments. 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. Within 3 years, the ebook sold over 15,000 copies worldwide without any marketing. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. We were having trouble with personal relationships. Chapter five of the big book includes the 12 steps for the. This workshop is also for recovered members who want to work with others. While aas original main text alcoholics anonymous, 1939. One big tent is a collection of stories, originally published in grapevine, which represent the shared experience of secular aa members who have struggled with alcoholism, yet ultimately found a common solution in aa. So, to all the present and past members of this group goes thanks for their interest and participation.
The book was written primarily by aa cofounder bill w. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. P12 the jack alexander article about aa alcoholics anonymous. Harry emerson fosdick 01004 the christian science monitor, boston, august 17, 1939. But for the grace of god, there would have been thousands more convincing demonstrations. Three very important sentences for me in this respect are on p. Is alcoholics anonymous religious, spiritual, neither. We hailed living sober as conferenceapproved literature, which described what we knew as the true aa the aa that works the. This desire gave birth to the primary purpose group of alcoholics anonymous of dallas, texas, in january, 1988. The wording is a little dated, but it is the instruction set for the most widespread selfhelp program in the world. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous.