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. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. Marty mann 19041980 wrote the chapter women suffer too in the second through fourth editions of the big book. The big book of alcoholics anonymous verywell mind. These 12 steps are outlined in chapter 5, how it works, of the big book.
But life among alcoholics anonymous is more than attending gatherings and visiting hospitals. Detailsfourth edition 2001 of the big book, basic text of a. Reading guide for a vision for you amethyst recovery. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. The essential message of recovery from alcoholism is contained in the basic text for recovery which is provided in the first 11 chapters of the aa big book alcoholics anonymous. Home about aa newcomers the big book the big book you will be redirected to the us aa site. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. The only requirement for aa membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Rightly and naturally, we think well before we choose the per. Aa speaker powerless over alcohol and step 1 of alcoholism recovery part 1 of 5 duration. The fourth edition of the big book includes four major sections. The big book the main 164 pages, prayers, personal stories, and more. Chapter 4 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. The preface and foreword describe the history of the big book and its role in the alcoholics anonymous program. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. There was another part of bills story that impacted me. Download pamphlets and handouts to use in big book group sessions our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. A community thirty miles away has fifteen fellows of alcoholics anonymous. Being a large place, we think that some day its fellowship will number many hundreds. Its only membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking. Hank p, whose big book story is the unbeliever, started aa in new jersey.
How many thousands of men and women the anonymous press. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. In the lower righthand corner it reads, this is the third edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Starting with a brief prologue the doctors opinion, the book presented a story of addiction bills story before discussing the spiritual nature of the disease there is a solution. The first time i read it i wanted to throw the book into the fire and never look at it again. Sbbb refers to this steps by the big book workbook. The big book is well over 400 pages long and contains numerous chapters. Acceptance was an idea in a story in the 3rd edition and stories are not included here.
The unnamed preparer of this reworking of the first 11 chapters of the big book of alcoholics anonymous has responded to the discomfort many, especially women, are said to feel with that texts exclusively male pronouns. How it works 61 his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. The big book step study bbss format, based upon an aa meeting format. New stories have been added to the personal histories. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. Aa is nonprofessional, selfsupporting, and apolitical. Choice in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Alcoholics anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. The first few chapters of the big book provided an overview of the alcoholic condition. Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. As living sober book living sober chapters living sober history. It contains the 12 steps that are at the core of the alcoholics anonymous program, as well as stories about alcoholics who have been through the recovery process. Assume on the other hand that father has, at the outset, a stirring spiritual experience.
Giving, rather than getting, will become the guiding principle. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. 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. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc.
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. Nov 05, 2015 12 videos play all aa big book audio shelby walker bob d. The aa program of recovery is set forth in the twelve steps aa was founded in 1935 in akron, ohio. 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. I ranted and raved and got really mad for someone to. Chapter 4 we agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Friends and family of alcoholics chapter 8 in the big book i read the chapter to the wives from the big book yesterday afternoon for the second time. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aas 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa. Sponsor and sponsorship also do not appear in the main text of the book. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aa s 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa. Home about aa newcomers the big book the big book you will be redirected to.
The titled side also tells us what the book alcoholics anonymous is to members of the alcoholics anonymous fellowship. The following links download chapters of the big book from, the official website of alcoholics anonymous. 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 us aa site allows you to download individual chapters at a. Parkhurst at honors dealers, 17 william st, newark, new jersey. Sep 30, 2008 alcoholics anonymous big book original edition perfect paperback september 30, 2008. Aa chapter 5 how it works rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Pleasant hill aa meetings alcoholics anonymous online. The big book of alcoholics anonymous addeddate 201027 14. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics.
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. Whether youre new to aa, or youre a seasoned veteran, this is the easiest and most useful app to aid in your recovery. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition, chapter 1. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. For instance, the second part of the book includes personal stories of alcoholics and their recovery experiences. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Cofounder bill wilson began writing it in april 1938 at the business office of new york member hank p. Alcoholics anonymous big book original edition perfect paperback september 30, 2008. In the big book, as the text alcoholics anonymous is known, we read the written words of the first 100 men and women of aa as they were put in the way of a spiritual awakening. Alcoholics anonymous aa big book 12 step program welcome to the the doctors opinion 1. Box 459, grand central station new york, ny 10163 website. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous.
Alcoholics anonymous which we in aa affectionately call the big book. 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 fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. Aa step one 20 questions test worksheet a 20question test that was used by many a. A similar statement is made in the middle of the fourth edition dust cover. 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. 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.
I can relate to a time in my life when i had everything going well for me and my habit got the best of me and caused me to lose my employment. 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. There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. Aa s big book calls alcoholism an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer. 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. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. 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. Literature nonreligious spiritual recovery reflections, daily meditations books about the 12 steps books about alternatives to the 12 steps. Our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous.
The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. If you would like to become a member, please send a blank email to. The free version features the full text of the big book, prayers, personal stories, podcasts, meeting finder, and more. 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. Alcoholics anonymous has no opinion on outside issues. This is a gross inaccuracy as approximately 30 million total copies have been printed. These chapters contain the minimum essential requirements for recovery from a once seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. The us aa site allows you to download individual chapters at a time in pdf format. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. Ernest kurtz says this is the closest the book alcoholics anonymous comes to a definition of alcoholism. In trying to make these arrange ments our actor may sometimes be quite virtuous. See page 449 in the 3rd edition or page 417 in the 4th edition. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism m ost of ushave been unwilling to admit we. 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.