The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Encyclopedia
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism (generally known as The Big Book because of the relative size of the first edition) is a 1939
self-help
text on alcoholism
, written by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA), Bill W.
& Dr. Bob
. It is the originator of the seminal "twelve-step method
" widely used to attempt to treat many addictions, from alcoholism and heroin addiction
to marijuana addiction
, as well as overeating
, sex addiction
, gambling addiction
, and even family members of alcoholics
, with a strong spiritual
and social
emphasis, contrasted with and sometimes used in concert with psychological and pharmacological methods of addiction treatment
.
Having sold 30 million copies, it is in the list of best-selling books of all time. In 2011, the TIME
magazine placed the book in its list, 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923, the beginning of the magazine.
(William Griffith Wilson) and Dr. Bob
(Robert Holbrook Smith). Together they founded the Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA) fellowship. The book serves as the basic text of AA. There has been a series of reprints and revisions, as well as translations into dozens of languages. The second edition (1955) consisted of 1,150,000 copies. The book is published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. and is available through AA offices and meetings, as well as through booksellers. The 4th Edition (2001) is also freely available online. Marty Mann
(1904 – 1980) wrote the chapter "Women Suffer Too" in the second through fourth editions of the Big Book.
Bill W. started writing the book in the beginning on 1938. Charles B. Towns
(1862–1947), an expert on alcoholism
and drug addiction, who was a supporter and creditor of Alcoholics Anonymous
, lending Wilson $2500 ($38000 in 2008 dollar values) to enable him to write what became the "The Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous. The table on which the book was written is now in a house named, Stepping Stones
in Katonah, New York
, belonging to Alcoholics Anonymous
co-founder Bill W.
and his wife Lois Burnham Wilson
. The house is now part of National Register of Historic Places listings in Westchester County, New York and a museum. The desk on which Bill wrote "The Big Book", originally belonged to a friend who had lent him an office in Newark
for the project, it was eventually moved to Stepping Stones and now resides at "Wit's End," the office retreat he built on the property. President Richard Nixon
received the millionth copy of the book, while the 25-millionth copy of the Big Book was presented to Jill Brown, of San Quentin State Prison
, at the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to commemorate the fact that, in 1941 the first prison meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous
took place at San Quentin.
Frequently mentioned sections are:
The main goal of the book, according to many reports, is to make it possible for the reader to find a power greater than himself
to solve his problem. The writers indicate that an alcoholic "of our type" can under no circumstances become a moderate drinker: only abstinence can lead to recovery. By way of anecdotal evidence, the example is provided of a man who, after 25 years sobriety, began to drink moderately and within two months landed in hospital. The reasoning is: once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.
In the book it is written that it is impossible to quit drinking by oneself. A new attitude or set of values also would not help. Whosoever is an alcoholic must admit that they cannot help themselves alone. Only a "higher power" can help. An example of a man named Fred is given, who had no control over his drinking, but finally leads an "infinitely more satisfying life" than before thanks to the previously unexplained spiritual principles of AA. In the introduction to the Big Book, Dr. Silkworth, a specialist in the treatment of alcoholism, endorses the AA program after treating Bill W, the founder of AA, and other apparently hopeless alcoholics who then regained their health by joining the AA fellowship. "For most cases," Dr Silkworth claimed, "there is no other solution" than a spiritual solution. Today "many doctors and psychiatrists" confirm the effects of AA.
1939 in literature
The year 1939 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*December 25 - A Christmas Carol is read before a radio audience for the first time....
self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
text on alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, written by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
(AA), Bill W.
Bill W.
William Griffith Wilson , also known as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous , an international mutual aid fellowship with over two million members belonging to 100,800 groups of alcoholics helping other alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety...
& Dr. Bob
Bob Smith (doctor)
Robert Holbrook Smith was an American physician and surgeon who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson, more commonly known as Bill W. He was also known as Dr. Bob. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was raised, to Susan A. Holbrook and Walter Perrin Smith...
. It is the originator of the seminal "twelve-step method
Twelve-step program
A Twelve-Step Program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems...
" widely used to attempt to treat many addictions, from alcoholism and heroin addiction
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a twelve-step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous describing itself as a "fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem," and it is the second-largest 12-step organization...
to marijuana addiction
Marijuana Anonymous
Marijuana Anonymous is a Twelve-step program for people with common desire to maintain abstinence from marijuana.- History :Marijuana Anonymous formed in June 1989 to address compulsive use of cannabis. Since its inception, MA has followed the Twelve Traditions and suggests practicing the Twelve...
, as well as overeating
Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous is a twelve-step program for people with problems related to food including, but not limited to, compulsive overeaters, those with binge eating disorder, bulimics and anorexics...
, sex addiction
Sexaholics Anonymous
Sexaholics Anonymous is one of several twelve-step programs for hypersexuality based on the original Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. SA takes its place among various 12-step groups that seek recovery from sexual addiction: Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, Sexual...
, gambling addiction
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a twelve-step program for problem gamblers. GA began in Los Angeles on September 13, 1957. As of 2005 there were over 1000 GA meetings in the United States and meetings established in the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Kenya, Uganda, Korea and...
, and even family members of alcoholics
Al-Anon/Alateen
Al-Anon/Alateen, known as Al-Anon Family Groups, is an international "fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholicswho share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems." They "help families of alcoholics by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving...
, with a strong spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
and social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
emphasis, contrasted with and sometimes used in concert with psychological and pharmacological methods of addiction treatment
Addiction Medicine
Addiction medicine is a medical specialty that deals with the treatment of addiction. The specialty often crosses over into other areas, since various aspects of addiction fall within the fields of public health, psychology, social work, psychiatry, and internal medicine, among others...
.
Having sold 30 million copies, it is in the list of best-selling books of all time. In 2011, the TIME
Time
Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
magazine placed the book in its list, 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923, the beginning of the magazine.
History
The Big Book was originally published in 1939 by Bill W.Bill W.
William Griffith Wilson , also known as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous , an international mutual aid fellowship with over two million members belonging to 100,800 groups of alcoholics helping other alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety...
(William Griffith Wilson) and Dr. Bob
Bob Smith (doctor)
Robert Holbrook Smith was an American physician and surgeon who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson, more commonly known as Bill W. He was also known as Dr. Bob. He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was raised, to Susan A. Holbrook and Walter Perrin Smith...
(Robert Holbrook Smith). Together they founded the Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
(AA) fellowship. The book serves as the basic text of AA. There has been a series of reprints and revisions, as well as translations into dozens of languages. The second edition (1955) consisted of 1,150,000 copies. The book is published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. and is available through AA offices and meetings, as well as through booksellers. The 4th Edition (2001) is also freely available online. Marty Mann
Marty Mann
Marty Mann was any early female member of Alcoholics Anonymous and author of the chapter "Women Suffer Too" in the second through fourth editions of the Big Book of AA. In part because of her life's work, alcoholism became seen as less a moral issue and more a health issue.It is a common error...
(1904 – 1980) wrote the chapter "Women Suffer Too" in the second through fourth editions of the Big Book.
Bill W. started writing the book in the beginning on 1938. Charles B. Towns
Charles B. Towns
Charles B. Towns was an expert on alcoholism and drug addiction who helped draft drug control legislation in the United States during the early 20th century.- Biography :...
(1862–1947), an expert on alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and drug addiction, who was a supporter and creditor of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
, lending Wilson $2500 ($38000 in 2008 dollar values) to enable him to write what became the "The Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous. The table on which the book was written is now in a house named, Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones (home)
Stepping Stones is the historic home of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. and his wife Lois Burnham Wilson, founder of Al-Anon/Alateen, in Bedford Hills, New York. It is a Colonial Revival structure built in 1920....
in Katonah, New York
Katonah, New York
Katonah, New York is one of three unincorporated hamlets within the town of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, United States.-History:Katonah is named for Chief Katonah, an American Indian from whom the land of Bedford was purchased by a group of English colonists...
, belonging to Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
co-founder Bill W.
Bill W.
William Griffith Wilson , also known as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous , an international mutual aid fellowship with over two million members belonging to 100,800 groups of alcoholics helping other alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety...
and his wife Lois Burnham Wilson
Lois Wilson (activist)
Lois Wilson was the co-founder of Al-Anon, a support group for the friends and family of alcoholics. She was the wife of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W....
. The house is now part of National Register of Historic Places listings in Westchester County, New York and a museum. The desk on which Bill wrote "The Big Book", originally belonged to a friend who had lent him an office in Newark
Newark
-United Kingdom:* Newark-on-Trent, a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England and the oldest Newark** Newark * Newark, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire...
for the project, it was eventually moved to Stepping Stones and now resides at "Wit's End," the office retreat he built on the property. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
received the millionth copy of the book, while the 25-millionth copy of the Big Book was presented to Jill Brown, of San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
, at the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to commemorate the fact that, in 1941 the first prison meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
took place at San Quentin.
Synopsis
The book consists of over 400 pages. Bill's Story and Dr. Bob's Nightmare and the personal experiences of some alcoholics are detailed as well as the series of solutions which evolved to become the twelve step program. How to use the twelve steps is explained using examples and anecdotes. Some chapters target a specific audience. One chapter is devoted to agnostics, while another is named "To Wives" (the first AA members were only men), and still another is for employers. The second part of the book (whose content varies from edition to edition) is a collection of personal stories, in which alcoholics tell their stories of addiction and recovery.Frequently mentioned sections are:
- the "Twelve Steps" at the beginning of Chapter 5 "How It Works"
- the "Twelve TraditionsTwelve TraditionsThe Twelve Traditions of twelve-step programs provide guidelines for relationships between the twelve-step groups, members, other groups, the global fellowship, and society at large. Questions of finance, public relations, donations, and purpose are addressed in the Traditions...
" in the Appendix - the "Ninth Step Promises" in Chapter 6 "Into Action" preceding the 10th Step.
The main goal of the book, according to many reports, is to make it possible for the reader to find a power greater than himself
Higher Power
Higher Power is a term coined in the 1930s in Alcoholics Anonymous and is used in other twelve-step programs. It is also sometimes referred to as a power greater than ourselves and is frequently abbreviated to HP.-History:...
to solve his problem. The writers indicate that an alcoholic "of our type" can under no circumstances become a moderate drinker: only abstinence can lead to recovery. By way of anecdotal evidence, the example is provided of a man who, after 25 years sobriety, began to drink moderately and within two months landed in hospital. The reasoning is: once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.
In the book it is written that it is impossible to quit drinking by oneself. A new attitude or set of values also would not help. Whosoever is an alcoholic must admit that they cannot help themselves alone. Only a "higher power" can help. An example of a man named Fred is given, who had no control over his drinking, but finally leads an "infinitely more satisfying life" than before thanks to the previously unexplained spiritual principles of AA. In the introduction to the Big Book, Dr. Silkworth, a specialist in the treatment of alcoholism, endorses the AA program after treating Bill W, the founder of AA, and other apparently hopeless alcoholics who then regained their health by joining the AA fellowship. "For most cases," Dr Silkworth claimed, "there is no other solution" than a spiritual solution. Today "many doctors and psychiatrists" confirm the effects of AA.