How the aa big book was written by

One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. First published in 2010 as a paperback, the ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was released as an ebook shortly afterward. Started writing the book in the late 1930s, and the first edition was published in 1939 by bill w. If it wasnt for hank parkhurst it never would have been published. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. Since 1939, the book alcoholics anonymous the big book collectively composed by the first 100 persons to recover through that program, has been said to have rescued millions of formerly hopeless addicts from the claws of their hellish addiction.

Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. Bill wilson was the primary author of the big book and 12 steps but others did make major contributions and that is the way bill wanted it to be. 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. Hes actually the one who ruined aa, by introducing the big book to aa. Box 459, grand central station new york, ny 10163 website. Our activities in behalf of women who drink are on the increase. Already, continues the early text twos and threes and fives of us have sprung up in other. Hank p, whose big book story is the unbeliever, started aa in new jersey. Ince the original foreword to this book was written in 1939, a wholesale miracle has taken place.

It was written to depend and broaden the understanding of the 12 steps. The big book includes an assertion first made in the second edition, which was published in 1955. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alcoholics anonymous. An excellent selfhelp book that stresses our recovery is based on reliance on our higher power, however we perceive it to be. This original 1939 edition outlines the famous 12 steps, and offers counsel for those who wish to join the program but doubt the existence of a higher. The big book of alcoholics anonymous verywell mind. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. The big book also contains stories of members of aa who share their experience getting sober. It is an incredible source of information from the early days of a. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous.

Alcoholics anonymous, from the title of its own book. Difference between big book and 12 steps and 12 traditions. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Literature a brief history of the big book f166 a brief history of the big book in may 1938, when bill w. The ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was written by a longtime aa member who has been a professional writer all her life. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aa s founders before the first edition was printed. To wives w ith few exceptions, our book thus far has spoken of men. We expect that this contribution to the recovering community worldwide will continue to grow, as our online big book is a great study tool. Alcoholics anonymousthe big bookhas served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Our earliest printing voiced the hope that every alcoholic who journeys will find the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous at his destination. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. 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. Cofounder bill wilson began writing it in april 1938 at the business office of new york member hank p. Shop all available double aa book covers for aa big book and 12 steps and 12 traditions together.

The big book was originally published in 1939 by bill w. Sep 30, 2008 alcoholics anonymous big book original edition perfect paperback september 30, 2008. Aa promises the aa big book 12step promises of recovery. Biographies of the authors of the stories in the big book.

There is every evidence that women regain their health as readily as men if they try our suggestions. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. Many thousands have benefited from the big book and its simple but profound explanation of the doctrines behind alcoholics anonymous, which was founded in 1935 by bill wilson and dr. Alcoholics anonymous is arguably the most significant selfhelp book published in the twentieth century. There has been a series of reprints and revisions, as well as. Also the book was written to show how aa functions through the twelve traditions. We hope we have made clear the distinction between the alcoholic and the nonalcoholic. Aas pass it on describes the big book chapters as being written in the order they appear. Works publishing edit wilson began work on the book, and as financial difficulties were encountered, the first two chapters, bills story and there is a solution. Started writing the book in the late 1930s, and the first edition was published in. One of the main reasons the book was written was to provide an inexpensive way to get the aa. The definitive history of writing and producing thebig book of alcoholics anonymous, told through extensive access to the groups archives. We agnostics i n the precedingchapters you have learned something of alcoholism. Alcoholics anonymous big book original edition perfect paperback september 30, 2008.

We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. The 12 steps and 12 steps was written 14 years after 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. Although no author is listed, it is common knowledge that the initial draft of the big book was written by a. Written in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. 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. Alcoholics anonymous which we in aa affectionately call the big book. Parkhurst at honors dealers, 17 william st, newark, new jersey. Humility in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous.

He also had a significant role in the development of the big book. 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. Together they founded the alcoholics anonymous aa fellowship. Oct 12, 2017 one of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Used book was in perfect condition with no marks or torn pages.

Its main objective is to help the alcoholic find a power greater than himself that will solve his problem, the problem being an inability to stay sober on his or her own. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. 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. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. George b was a practicing dentist for 47 years and is now a graduate student in a masters degree program for addiction counseling. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, written by the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa, bill w. It has been 40 years since ernie kurtz wrote notgod, the last truly professional treatment of the history of alcoholics anonymous. This is the official website of the general service office g.

Within 3 years, the ebook sold over 15,000 copies worldwide without any marketing. The big book of aa and why it was written is an interesting story. 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. Questions and answers from the alcoholics anonymous big book. 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. Detailspackage of 10 booklets to accompany the 75th anniversary big book.

But while alcoholisms horrors have remained unchanged, the demography of its victims has altered. The big book is well over 400 pages long and contains numerous chapters. 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. 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. Released in 1939, the big book, as its commonly known, has sold an estimated 37 million copies, been translated into seventy languages, and. With the appearance of the new book a great deal began to happen. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc.

Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. The title of the book wilson wrote is alcoholics anonymous, but it is referred to by aa members as the big book. Willson, who founded alcoholics anonymous and was the visionary behind the creation of the big book, was an inveterate drinker who. Although its not properly confirmed its said that bill wilsons secretary wrote the big book. A brief history of the big book alcoholics anonymous. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. All i can say is if you are in any way connected to a. He is said to be the founder of alcoholics anonymous when in fact hes not the founder at all. 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 book had. Ruth hock, aas first national secretary, wrote if it wasnt for bill wilson the big book would never have been written. Our online big book is used by thousands of people all over the world, and incurs substantial bandwidth expense. Oct 27, 2011 the big book of aa and why it was written is an interesting story. Choose leather or vinyl for hardcover, paperback and mini alcoholics anonymous big book in up to different 11 colors. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page.

Recovery book covers galore and more at recovery world. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services and is available through aa offices and meetings, as well as through booksellers. The book is a paragraphbyparagraph translation of the original 1930s version written by aa founders. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. This is a reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous. Working with others 93 tirely admitted his condition, he has become very curious to know how you got well. 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 big book serves as the basis of alcoholics anonymous aa. 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. But what we have said applies quite as much to women. The book they wrote, alcoholics anonymous the big book, is the basic text for aa on how to stay sober, and it is from the title of this book that the group got its name. Aa double covers also available customized with name and date.

If the man be agnostic or atheist, make it emphatic that he does not have to agree with your conception of god. There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. Free and lowcost alcoholism treatment is available. Bob, anne smith, and perhaps even bill wilson, with much of the fodder that caused them to focus on james and conclude that. The original version of the big book included bills story, a description of alcoholism, the 12 steps, a letter to agnostics and an outline for recovery.

A new history about the writing and publication of the big book shines a light on the work of bill w. Bills story w ar feverran high in the new england town to which we new, young of. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. Bob was sober a few months less than three years, and the other 100 early members who contributed in one way. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976.