This guide has been prepared not as a replacement for or interference to our basic texts the big book and 12 and 12 but as a companion for the ideas and directions presented there. Listen at this website, or subscribe or download the podcast free at apple podcasts or any of the podcast providers listed at the bottom of this page. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with god as. This workshop is for newcomersbeginners who want the original, undiluted 12 step program of the 1940s when recovery rates were 5075 per cent. Conference committee on literature before further action is taken on its.
Reading guide for bills story amethyst recovery center. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Reading guide for we agnostics amethyst recovery center. Give him an account of the struggles you made to stop. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous. As we read in the preface to the fourth edition of the big book. But what we have said applies quite as much to women. Other groups read from the big book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along.
Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. These 12 steps are outlined in chapter 5, how it works, of the big book. The big book, alcoholics anonymous some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week. This version of the prayer of st francis of assissi is taken from step 11 chapter 11, page 99 of the twelve steps and twelve traditions, a book published by alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Some people use the 24 hours a day book or some relevant spiritual material. Aa big book video chapter 11 a vision for you youtube. Mental, spiritual and physical disease readings from as bill sees it can inspire sharing on discussion topics. Read the book alcoholics anonymous from the frontispiece through the end of chapter 11 a vision for you pg 164. Alcoholics anonymous is often referred to as a 12step program, and aa is the basis for many other 12step programs that have been established. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. 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. But not so with us in those last days of heavy drinking.
One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Included is all material from inside the front cover through page 164, plus appendices i traditions and ii spiritual experience. We agnostics is the fourth chapter of alcoholics anonymous, or the fifth if you include the doctors opinion. Chapter 11, a vision for you is a summary of the big book, the. For the serious student of the aa big book, what follows are some recommendations from the author of this study guide in the approach to take when utilizing this supplemental material.
You may reproduce materials of the big book bunch, provided. 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. The big book of alcoholics anonymous kindle edition by. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. Reprinted from the book alcoholics anonymous the big book with permission of a. Aa big book with questions for discussion emotional. 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. That meeting between bill and bob was the start of the fellowship and program of alcoholics anonymous.
There is every evidence that women regain their health as readily as. Rightly and naturally, we think well before we choose the per son or persons with whom to take this intimate and con. Here they are, the 82 occurrences of the word must found in alcoholics anonymous 4th edition the doctors opinion 1 page xxiii. Our activities in behalf of women who drink are on the increase. We asked his protection and care with complete abandon. The big book of alcoholics anonymous kindle edition by wilson, bill, smith, dr. There were 4 musts in the first and second editions of alcoholics anonymous. Through this chapter, we come to realize that people have been living our stories since the 1930s. Alcoholics anonymous, from the title of its own book. Chapter 11 a vision for you f or mostnormal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination.
For most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination. T he alcoholics anonymous big book is not just the most influential self help book ever published. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. 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. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. 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.
Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Aa speaker turn our will and our lives over to the care of god new 20 duration. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers. This workshop is also for recovered members who want to work with others. 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. While it may not focus on direct lessons pertaining to our sobriety, it helps us to realize that we are not alone. Perhaps they created the impression that he is to be wrapped in cotton wool and placed on a pedestal. The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. Bob, cofounders of alcoholics anonymous, is described followed by the stories of how the third and fourth members were. Those of us belonging to a religious denomination which requires confession must, and of.
Big book sponsorship 12 step recovery from any and all. The central office and a number of aa meetings are temporarily closed until. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented. Chapter 11 of the alcoholics anonymous big book wraps up the main text with a. James work was know to bill wilson, primary author of the big book and cofounder of aa. Greater louisville intergroup of alcoholics anonymous as of 05112020 central office is planned to be open on monday, wednesday, friday from 8am to 4pm. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program, the worlds largest alcoholism support group. Awakening spiritually as the result of these steps, we find meaning and purpose in a way of life vastly superior to any we had ever dreamed possible. With the appearance of the new book a great deal began to happen. Zip file 534 k self extracting word document 584 k download ms word document 1. But i will not have the benefit of contact with you who write this book.
What message do you think they were delivering to potential new people around aa versus the message that is delivered today in aa. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. Alcohol addiction treatment and recovery information. Chapter 3 more about alcoholism m ost of ushave been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics.
The big book itself does not offer a defense of its own theological method, but one can be found easily enough in the work of aas third cofounder, william james. What two things has to happen for everyone in that town to have an opportunity to recover, if heshe can or will. We suggest you do this as we have done it in the chapter on alcoholism. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book of alcoholics anonymous. 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. 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. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. 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. The steps helped each of the cofounders of aa in their own recovery from alcoholism and have continued to help countless. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people.
Based on the readily available reference material, bill wilson was the author of the chapter of the big book titled. This makes bills story one of the most important chapters in the big book. I dont mean the big books version chapter iv we agnostics that. Its one of the 20th centurys most significant books and early copies are treasured by numerous collectors.
A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous a vision for. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. Alcoholics anonymous big book audio read aloud youtube.
1542 1459 35 474 1619 1068 1107 838 467 583 191 1064 357 1622 346 102 673 1687 255 205 326 211 319 1645 607 658 238 733 451 1017 680 620 180 1295 1605 918 763 1373 115 1148 48 1075 955 1108 1154 1156 1021