Original aa members documented their experience in the big book. 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. In the fourth edition the story is called acceptance was the answer. If nine out of ten people have one reaction and one out of ten people have a different reaction, then the reaction of the one out of ten is. Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. My friend, who was only 19 herself, took me to a meeting in san juan capistrano, california. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye.
He did not introduce himself as an alcoholic and addict, and was irritated by people who want to broaden a. What the big book really says by jay westbrook on december 29, 2014 in living in recovery, living with addiction alcoholics anonymous, and the myriad of other 12step programs, can be invaluable to the recovering alcoholic or addict. Choice in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. This is the third edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. The big book on page xxiv the doctor s opinion says that an alcoholic has an allergy to alcohol. Alcoholics anonymous is a worldwide, nonprofit organization for people suffering from alcoholism. The story is known by two names, doctor, alcoholic, addict or acceptance. Listen to chris raymer, a recovered alcoholic addict from texas, talk about the big book of a. The story was retitled, acceptance was the answer for the fourth edition, and is found at page 407. He is the author of acceptance is the answer in the big book. The second edi tion, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,000 copies. In the newest revision of the aa big book, the story that was most important to me in the book had its title change to remove the word addict. They stopped in time the physician wasnt hooked, he thought he just prescribed drugs medically indicated for his many ailments.
Alcoholic addiction xxv or xxvii 1st edition the doctors opinion dr. We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. 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. Bobs nightmare 171 171 window of opportunity 421 aa number three 182 182 he had to be shown 193 he thought he could drink like a gentlemen. It was from his chapter that i got a lot of the basic foundation for my codependency recovery.
Click here to download are you an addict in mp3 format. The big book also provides other information and methods of support for alcoholics and their families. Minerva studioshutterstock those who enter recovery at a stepbased treatment center will often be handed a copy of alcoholics anonymous also known as the big book almost as soon as they are admitted and. Please help spiritual recovery stay alive by donating at this link and well love you forever.
Its only membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking. When i am disturbed, it is because i find some person, place, thing, or situation some fact of my life unacceptable to me. In late 1934 i attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman of good earning ca. The aa program of recovery is set forth in the twelve steps aa was founded in 1935 in akron, ohio.
This chapter which used to be called doctor, alcoholic, addict was written by a man named dr. So alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous typically explain the spiritual malady as what an addict and alcoholic feel while sober, before ever using drugs or alcohol. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. Printer friendly i dont know what edition of the big book you all have. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. The 12 promises of aa begin on page 83 of the fourth edition of the big book. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. This is good news because im on the lookout for aa talks to help me sleep, especially because i used to drink to fall asleep. All i did is read a selection from doctor, alcoholic, addict, a chapter in aas big book famous for the phrase, and acceptance is the answer to.
Inspiration from the big book of alcoholic anonymous. Examples are in the chapter doctor, alcoholic, addict, written by member paul o, and also in chapter two, there is a solution p. And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. Apr 29, 2017 in the book alcoholics anonymous big book, drug use is mentioned as part of the alcoholics experience or illness. Formerly known as doctor, alcoholic, addict addiction treatment works. Big book sponsorship similarly contends that medical science has found that there is sound reasoning in the doctors opinion. In the book alcoholics anonymous big book, drug use is mentioned as part of the alcoholics experience or illness. The chapter doctor, alcoholic, addict from the third edition is now titled this. Miracles in progress 12 step recovery forums alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous doctor, alcoholic, addict. Many recovering alcoholics work the 12 steps with a sponsor. The big book provides background on the history of aa, including the founders, bill w. This excerpt above is from a share or a personal story at the back of the big book. Dr paul o aa author of big book story doctor, alcoholic, addict 1981 acceptance talk. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous.
Acceptance was the answer the alcoholics guide to alcoholism. The big book talks about feeling restless, irritable and discontent. The recent attempt at censorship of the big book by changing the title of the chapter doctor, addict, alcoholic does not change the truth. The book details stories of other recovering alcoholics who have found sobriety through the program as well.
Paul oligher, author of the doctor, alcoholic, addict containing the famous page 449 and a sample of his brilliance in interpreting the a. I didnt know when i walked into the meeting that it was led by dr. 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. Interview with the author of doctor, alcoholic, addict aa. Your story in the bigbook is not nearly as great as hearing you in person. And she would never, never take that morning drink. 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. An allergy is an abnormal reaction to any food, liquid or substance. This is the official website of the general service office g.
There are two defining symptoms of alcoholism given in the book. Md, not all that many know that dr paul o wrote one of the stories in the book known as alcoholics anonymous. The doctors opinion is an important part of the big book, as it details a physicians view of alcoholism and recovery. Big book kindle edition by world services, alcoholics anonymous, wilson, bill. The big book on page xxiv the doctors opinion says that an alcoholic has an allergy to alcohol. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. If nine out of ten people have one reaction and one out of ten people have a different reaction, then the reaction of the one out of ten is abnormal. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. Substituting other drugs for alcohol is not sobriety and brings as many and really just the same problems as before. I have specialized in the treatment of alcoholism for many years. Apr 17, 20 on page 449 paul, thru the guidance of my higher power makes the statement which has saved many lives in our program from that fatal decision.
They bear witness that release from alcoholism can really be per manent. 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. They stopped in time the physician wasnt hooked, he thought he just prescribed drugs medically. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alcoholics anonymous big book. Ralph w aa from desert palm, ca tells his story in salt lake city 1996. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The process includes believing in a power greater than yourself, admitting past mistakes, making amends to people you have harmed through alcoholism and continuing to focus on spiritual growth.
There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. Paul is quotable, ironic, and makes you think twice with a smile on your face. A wellknown doctor, chief physician at a nationally prominent hospital specializing in alcoholic and drug addiction, gave alcoholics anonymous this letter. Because this book has become the basic text for our. It was retitled in part to recogize the concept of acceptance to the aa program. What are your thoughts about addicts in aa instead of na. Aa is nonprofessional, selfsupporting, and apolitical. Acceptance is the answer aa speakers 12step youtube.
The guide is presented as per the last paragraph on the back cover. 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. It was founded 75 years ago by bill wilson and dr bob smith in akron ohio. Big book author doctor, alcoholic, addict died after complications from heart surgery at 7. Original manuscript which went out to the fellowship a few months prior to the publication of the big book 1938. Pauls story doctor, alcoholic, addict was published in the third edition 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. Sep 17, 2015 doctor, alcoholic, addict as he puts it, dr.
Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery. When a group travels to share their experience, strength and hope. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program. I have read that the 3rd edition is the unchanged original text of the 1939 print but that part ii has more stories for those who are not sure they are alcoholics. Having lived in ca for number oof years i had the good fortune to know dr. My sponsor suggested i type it up and put it somewhere in the house where i see it all the time. Alcoholic addiction xxv or xxvii 1st edition the doctor s opinion dr. In the third edition of the alcoholics anonymous big book since 1976, paul o. His remarks on acceptance, which appear on pages 449 and 450, pages 417 418, fourth ed. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa.
It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Take this selfassessment test and determine what type of drinker, user, or obsessivecomplusive you might be. A personal story on page 407 called acceptance was the answer is also wellknown among aa membership. These members realized a 72% success rate from 19341938 died sober using this spiritual program of action. Click below to view overflow memorial postings since may 22, 2000. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. 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. Elder statesmen versus the bleeding bleating deacons. The story is known by two names, doctor, alcoholic, addict or acceptance was the answer depending on which edition you bought. Paul, writer of the big book story, acceptance was the answer, formerly titled doctor, alcoholic, addict. It is based on the big book, and a 12 step process. This is a list of the big book personal story authors, and either where they got sober or where they were from.
As it grew in size and popularity from over 100 members in 1939 to over 2 million members worldwide. Interview with the author of doctor, alcoholic, addict. 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 strong. How did you come to write the story thats in the big book. He wrote an article for the grapevine on why doctors shouldnt prescribe pills for alcoholics, and because he had a dual problem was asked to write his story for the big book. I attended my very first alcoholics anonymous meeting when i was just 19 years old.
The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. It is referred to so often in meetings that it is almost a supplement to the first 164 pages. These readings describe the nature of the alcoholic. Jan 03, 2017 the recent attempt at censorship of the big book by changing the title of the chapter doctor, addict, alcoholic does not change the truth. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. 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. The book has undergone four revisions since william wilson. Acceptance i know some people get really tired of the big book quotes. Paul o, doctor, alcoholic, addict, published in the 3rd edition was changed in the 4th edition to acceptance was the answer. His story appears in the big book of alcoholics anonymous, entitled, doctor, alcoholic, addict in the third edition, page 439.
Because increasingly since the 1970s, there has been considerably discussion in aa to limit membership and discussion to alcoholusing alcoholics only. The big book lays out the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous and includes personal stories of those who found recovery in the program. This is the edition of the big book currently being printed. Aa step one 20 questions test worksheet a 20question test that was used by many a. An aa member, customarily of the same gender, whom you would ask to help you work your aa program. Chris raymer, aa big book, ca speaker, talk about carrying the message to the addict that still suffers hear renowned addiction speaker, mark houston from texas, a recovered alcoholicaddict, speak on 12 step spirituality living in the spirit. Author of doctor, alcoholic, addict aa grapevine, july 1995 dr. Elder statesmen versus the bleeding bleating deacons big. Pauls story is one of the most frequently quoted in. I thought my problem was that i had been married to a drunk.