The original 1938 multilith manuscript for the big book of alcoholics anonymous, sent out to the membership for editing and approval. 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. Show him that as alcoholics, the writers of the book understand. Aa big book myths tidbits and trivia september 25, 2014 october 4, 2014 by victoria b.
Who wrote the chapter in the aa big book to the wives was it. If you would like to become a member, please send a blank email to. Bob that nearly everyone in new york favored the title alcoholics anony mous. 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. Jun 01, 2010 the little big book of alcoholics anonymous is a wonderful book, easy to read, good flow, and it takes the 1935 writing and puts it into context with todays needs. Bobs wife, anne, was invited to write the chapter portraying the wife of an alcoholic but she declined.
First published in 2010 as a paperback, the ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was released as an ebook shortly afterward. But there is no doubt about the authorship of to wives. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Nov 20, 2014 this video explains why it is so important to know who wrote the aa big book. Mar 21, 2018 michael taylor on thoughts on recovery no. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alcoholics anonymous. Who wrote the chapter in the aa big book to the wives was. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world. The big book basic training video series walks you through the first 172 pages of. 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.
A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous to. But what we have said applies quite as much to women. Many of the chapters in the big book were written by wilson, including chapter 8, to wives. While chapter 8 primarily looked at addiction from a spouses point of view, the family afterward opens its discussion to. Read articles like the doctors opinion, letters by dr. To wives was written for wives trying to support their alcoholic husbands in.
But the whole thing didnt really have a name until 1939 when alcoholics anonymoustoday known to aa members as the big bookwas published. But bill was the original author of this chapter and every other chapter in the original text. To employers a mong many employers nowadays, we think of one member who has spent much of his life in the world of big business. Bill wrote at least ten of the opening chapters of the book. How is to wives chapter 8 in the big book of alcoholics. The language is genderneutral, and references to spirituality are more inclusive. While chapter 8 primarily looked at addiction from a spouses point of view, the family afterward opens its discussion to the rest of the family. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Original manuscript which went out to the fellowship a few months prior to the publication of the big book 1938. 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. Aa big book myths tidbits and trivia 800 recovery hub blog.
This is a gross inaccuracy as approximately 30 million total copies have been printed. There has been a series of reprints and revisions, as well as. Team work chapters 2 9 and 11 new york city, akron, cleveland. Show him your copy of this book and tell him what you have found out about alcoholism. The little big book of alcoholics anonymous is a wonderful book, easy to read, good flow, and it takes the 1935 writing and puts it into context with todays needs. For starters, discourse about sexual misadventures, humiliations, and resentments permeate the big book and the subsequent twelve steps and twelve traditionsa supplementary aa text authored by wilson in the 1950s. But the wives were just as involved in these early meetings as the men were. Wives in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Aa began in 1935 when its cofounders, bill wilson and dr. To those now in its fold, alcoholics anonymous has made the difference between misery and sobriety, and often the difference between life and death. One of the main reasons the book was written was to provide an inexpensive way to get the aa. Bill wilson, who wrote this chapter, had quite a serious disagreement with lois, his wife, over it she had offered to write it and did not approve of h.
Within 3 years, the ebook sold over 15,000 copies worldwide without any marketing. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymousread more. 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. An alcoholic reading through the big book of alcoholics anonymous for the first time might be tempted to skip over chapter 8 since it is titled to wives but on further examination, will find that it was actually written by bill w. Skipping this chapter for any reason would be a serious oversight and one that might hinder, rather than help, the soontoberecovering alcoholic. Jul 10, 2019 its really not terribly helpful these days, and it is somewhat doubtful whether it ever was. Bob smith, began holding gettogethers with fellow alcoholics. Howard l, sober since 1988, presents an inspired reading of this story and encourages listeners to revisit earlier podcast episodes that feature the main. At a big book meeting, they readdiscuss and hopefully study the big book. Outside enterprises are the main source of income to aa book pamphlet sales. Biographies of the authors of the stories in the big book. The family afterward is something of an addendum to chapter 8 to wives.
More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. The big book basic training video series walks you through the first 172 pages of the aa big book 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. In most cases, the alcoholic survived this ordeal without relapse, but not always. Hazelden is one of the largest of these outside businesses who purchase aa literature. Bobs wife to write the chapter to the wives, that anne smith declined, that lois wilson his wife was angry about the slight, and that he wrote the chapter. 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. 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. Its really not terribly helpful these days, and it is somewhat doubtful whether it ever was. Many books with wisdom can be read endlessly, and you find something new each time. There is every evidence that women regain their health as readily as men if they try our suggestions.
To wives w ith few exceptions, our book thus far has spoken of men. The text of this document, original manuscript, was left just as it originally appeared in 1938. Our activities in behalf of women who drink are on the increase. Acknowledgments and credits for all that followsfor story author biographies. Listen free to big book podcast on iheartradio podcasts. The ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was written by a longtime aa member who has been a professional writer all her life. 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.
There is a chapter in the 1st edition big book entitled an alcoholics wife, written by marie b. Of course there was plenty of input as the mimeographed version was sent out to aa members,their wives, ministers, and friends in the medical community. This chapter was written when there were only men in the aa program. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism also known as the big book describes how to recover from alcoholism. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Before then, i had written lots of sweet promises, but my wife happily. Here is another example of a common misconception spread by wordofmouth.
Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. The person behind the stories who they are and a brief biography. The ez big book of alcoholics anonymous is a pagebypage translation of the original alcoholics anonymous published by aa founder bill wilson in the 1930s. This is the official website of the general service office g. Questions have been raised about the authorship of the chapters to wives and to employers in the big book. To the loved ones the 1939 publication alcoholics anonymous, commonly referred to as the big book masterfully details the problem of alcoholism and a way out that has worked for millions since. Chapter 9 of alcoholics anonymous the family afterward deals primarily with this issue. Alcoholics anonymous big book original edition perfect paperback september 30, 2008. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Authors of the stories from the book, alcoholics anonymous. Lois w and her friends used the big book when they began alanon.
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 wives of alcoholics would often need to deal with the most difficult situations. There is uncertainty about who wrote the big book chapter to wives. Based on the readily available reference material, i would conclude that bill wilson wrote the chapter of the big book titled. The unbeliever was published in the 1 st edition of the big book alcoholics anonymous. Silkworth, reclamation of the alcoholic, psychological rehabilitation, rx for sobriety and other grapevine articles by dr. Page 4 the major changes to the big book editions have been in the selection of personal stories so that they represent a good crosssection of the aa membership. Marty mann 19041980 wrote the chapter women suffer too in the second through fourth editions of the big book. Who wrote the chapter in the aa big book to the wives was it lois wilson or bill wilson. If you think he will be shy of a spiritual remedy, ask him to look at the chapter on. As it turned out, the chapter to wives was written by bill. The author is a founder of alcoholics anonymous aa, bill w. Sep 25, 2014 aa big book myths tidbits and trivia september 25, 2014 october 4, 2014 by victoria b. The big book comes alive with howard ls inspired reading of chapter eleven, a vision for you, the last chapter in the main section of the first edition of alcoholics anonymous, originally published in 1939.
One of the chapters in that book is called, to the wives. The cases in the first 164 pages of the big book, the part that describes how aa works and how to work aa, refer only to men. It is intended to carry the aa message to modern readers who find the original big book hard to digest for any reason. Biographies of the authors of the stories in the big book last names are included only of deceased members the short biographies of the various authors of the stories in the back of the book alcoholics anonymous have been graciously supplied by nancy o. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous to wives. Oct 25, 2014 there is a chapter in the 1st edition big book entitled an alcoholics wife, written by marie b. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps. Sober since 1988, onedayatatime, howards smooth, yet heartfelt, delivery makes listening easy and enjoyable. The reason is, the bb is the basic textbook for recovery in aa. Hank is first mentioned in the doctors opinion on page xxix of the big book. Where does it say newcomers are the most important. Oct 01, 2014 the big book we all have sex problems.
The author of this story was initially visited by aa cofounder dr. The way to do the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous, which is used by alanon, is laid out very carefully for anyone who wishes to change hisher thinking. Wife in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12 traditions. Tell him some of the interesting stories you have read. Reading guide for to wives amethyst recovery center. The big book was originally published in 1939 by bill w. This video explains why it is so important to know who wrote the aa big book. Prisoner looking to correspond with a person in aa is advertising aa publicly ok.
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. So we think that unless some good and useful purpose is to be served. Based on the readily available reference material, bill wilson was the author of the chapter of the big book titled. 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. Reading guide for the family afterward amethyst recovery. The 1935 version is written from a male perspective, assuming that most alcoholics were white males with wives and families which was applicable at that time. Second is an uncomfortably outdated chapter in the big book titled to wives. I think that the big book can be a very valuable tool for alanonics. A history of alcoholics anonymous by ernest kurtz, bill w. May 12, 2017 a little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous to wives.
By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. Aa history the original 1938 multilith aa manuscript. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous.
Team work chapters 2 9 and 11 new york city, akron, cleveland joe worth chapter 1 bills story, probably chapter 8 to wives nyc dr. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. This is a list of the big book personal story authors, and either where they got sober or where they were from. He has lost everything worthwhile in life and was only living, one might say, to drink. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online.
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