Como Lo Ve Bill

by Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous (Editor)

Publicado originalmente [en inglés] en 1967 con el título de The A.A. Way of Life [La manera de vivir de A.A.], este libro contiene materiales que reflejan la experiencia y el punto de vista personal del cofundador Bill W. Del texto de su prólogo: “En este volumen aparecen varios centenares de extractos de nuestra literatura que tratan de casi todo aspecto de nuestra manera de vivir de A.A. Se cree que este material puede ser de ayuda para la meditación individual y servir como estímulo para las discusiones de grupo, y además puede conducir a una lectura aun más amplia de nuestra literatura. Durante los pasados veinticinco años, he tenido el privilegio de escribir los siguientes libros acerca de A.A.: el texto de Alcohólicos Anónimos, Doce Pasos y Doce Tradiciones, Alcohólicos Anónimos llega a su mayoría de edad, y Los Doce Conceptos para el servicio mundial, este último como parte de nuestro ‘Manual del Tercer Legado’. [Ahora titulado El Manual de Servicio de A.A.] Muchos artículos han sido escritos para nuestra revista mensual, el A.A. Grapevine, y siempre he mantenido una nutrida correspondencia personal”.

Genres: Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Reference, Addiction, Philosophy, Religion

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1967

Reviews

[Jason Bickford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bill Wilson never got sober or even worked a program. He switched his drug of choice from booze to unfamiliar women in early recovery. He was a self centered 13th stepper. He also enjoyed a nice sobriety break while tripping on LSD so much his wife and Dr. Bob had to perform an intervention. That is why I take little stock in Bill's thoughts on the program he plagiarized outright from the Oxford Group. AA's grounding in Christianity and its dogmatic requirement to commune with a God also known in the Twelve Steps as Him with a capital H, while celebrating the end of thinking (they make this clear in the chapter to the agnostics before the meat and potatoes of the main text even begins), is why practical thinking non believers and Bill Wilson biographers alike can't stomach this stuff for very long. Though the idea that men actually talking about their problems could help said problems was probably revolutionary in the 30's when this was first published. Two stars for that and effort."Spontaneous recovery" or just plain growing up and not being drug dependent anymore happens statistically more often than folks getting even a one year coin. AA has the worst sucess rate in all of medicine at maybe 3-4%. This is denied or ignored by folks in AA, a program so obviously in denial about it's impotence and religiosity it's comical. I love how you folks tell me a higher power can be a door knob or a tree or whatever I want when your 12 steps plainly point out that God is a Him, and you need to ask him favors. I also like how your supposed to be ready to have your imperfections removed by God. How's that one coming along? Perfect yet? Wake up- it's the people who help keep other people sober, not a higher power. It's about people helping others . When Bill W. rushed into that church in Akron 80 years ago he wanted a priest not because he wanted communion with a higher power, he wanted privacy and discretion. So he was turned to a doctor, a man of science and practical thought. They talked, Bill didn't drink, and AA was born. It had nothing to do with God at that church in that phone booth, it was about people helping people. That's what works in AA, not watered down Christianity. People. Like Soilent Green, it's made from people. That's why even the devout religious cant pray away their alcoholism, they need to talk to real people too . Think about it.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it twice a week @ my AA meeting in Florence, MA!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of a daily reader for me. Bill, one of the founders of AA, was a very smart man & thought long & deeply about various aspects of the program & recovery. Each page deals with a separate subject; quickly & consisely, but with an in depth knowledge that makes me think long & hard about his points. If you're a member of AA, NA or most other 12 Step programs, it's worth reading, but I'd suggest as a page a day.

[Marisa Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As Bill Sees It" is a great book to put in another person's hand to keep by their reading table at all times!r If you are sponsoring, or encouraging another alcoholic/addict, there are small sections you can email, or even text, as a daily thought. I love this little book.

[Dori Sabourin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, deals with nearly every aspect of the A.A. way of life. From the humility, defined in A.A. as teachability, with the Twelve Steps especially admitting powerlessness over alcohol and even people, places and things to other aspects of how Bill viewed A.A. He expands on how a recovering alcoholic passes through a grieving process which often leads to depression and relates how he processed through and overcame this depression. Bill tells the story of Ebby, his A.A. sponsor, who worked closely with him and was the first to suggest that Bill choose his own concept of a Higher Power which paved the way for the Spiritual path in A.A. Drawing from many sources: letters and talks, the Grapevine,-A.A.'s monthly magazine-articles, the A.A. Service Manual, A.A. Comes of Age, Twelve Concepts for World Service, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book in A.A jargon), and A.A. Today; Bill covers a hundred concerns that an alcoholic seeking recovery from a life that has sent him to his destruction, or bottom as described in A.A.

[Chris Gager · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just picked this one up at my AA meeting. I try to be open about Bill's writing knowing that there's a lot of good stuff in there(mixed in with the dubious and outright crap). I especially dislike his pushing of soft-core religion. It's unnecessary and disrespectful but I suppose it was not so easy to understand that back in the day. True believers tend to have bad boundaries. We'll see...

[J. Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an alcoholic, (meaning, I never drink, not that I'm in denial about alcoholism) but I find great insights in this little book. I appreciate any writing that helps build up the spirit and destroy the ego.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been using this book to supplement for daily reflections for the past 8 months. It is a wonderful book with excerpts taken from The Big Book, Daily Reflections, the Grapevine, personal letters, and The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Each page has a short reflection which usually serves as a quick, though timely reminder. I even used some of the quotes on my own Facebook as they are able to benefit virtually everyone (not just those suffering from addictions).

[Donald Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Wilson's take on many topics associated with the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Wilson was a founder of the program which has improved the lives of many alcoholics and served as a model for helping folks, all over the world, with various compulsions.

[Ted Guglielmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of short spiritual essays and thoughts that I read almost daily. keeps me right sized and grounded.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good if you're in aa.

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a mainstay for my recovery with short readings to boost the spirit & guide me on the path.

[Erika Peterson]

If it wasn't for Bill, I wouldn't be sober today. He wasn't perfect, but no one is. I don't judge. People who do should take their own inventory.

[Michael Olear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of what life is about no matter what your inclinations and behaviors are.

[Tadeo Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

PENSAR RECTAMENTE Y LOGRAR ASÍ LA FELICIDAD.

¿COMO LO HACEMOS?

a) Resolvemos vivir nuestra vida un día a la vez; sólo por 24 horas.

b) Diariamente pedimos orientación para ese día.

c) Oramos o meditamos cada noche, dando gracias por ese día.

d) Resolvemos obrar con la cabeza y renunciar a la cólera, sea cual fuere la situación que se presente.

e) Somos pacientes.

f) Nos conservamos en calma, tranquilos.

g) Ahora bien, lo que es más importante, si surge cualquier situación PEQUEÑA ordinaria, o bien GRANDES situaciones, las abordamos con tranquilidad y justicia, con la mente abierta, estamos así en completa armonía. Con los sencillos y reales principios de que A.A. nos ha enseñado y nos continuará enseñando.

Es decir, nuestra SOBRIEDAD es solamente una corrección de nuestros peores y más sobresalientes defectos. Nuestro modo de vivir cada día, conforme a los principios de A. A., corregirá también todas nuestras demás faltas menores, y eliminará paulatinamente, uno por uno, todos nuestros defectos de carácter que ocasionan descontentos, fricciones y estado de ánimo de rebeldía que nos conducen a la infelicidad, y de nuevo, directamente a nuestra máxima fuente de destrucción: la bebida.

HAGA PREGUNTAS

Ninguna pregunta concerniente a beber o dejar de beber es necia o intrascendente. El asunto es demasiado GRAVE. En A.A. aprendemos mediante preguntas y respuestas. Aprendemos mediante el intercambio de pensamientos y experiencias. Toda pregunta que podamos hacer nos ayuda y puede ayudar a los demás.

Dios me conceda Serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo cambiar; Valor para cambiar las que sí puedo, y Sabiduria para distinguir la Diferencia.

[Patrick Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book almost every day for a year. I read two pages a day, advancing one page. Thus reading each page twice, not all of them but most.

This book is amazing. This strengthened my sobriety. It came out of a mushroom trip that showed me that I had been wanting to drink for a few months. I had to do something, doing daily readings was one of the answers.

Bill is a beautiful soul and a powerful writer. I am deeply grateful for what he and Dr. Bob gave to this world. This book shows Bill’s growth, his open mindedness, his patience, his commitment to the principles, his humility, and more. It’s not about him but dang he was great. The more I read from Bill the more I respect him. Gosh, this was a powerful book. Absolutely a reread

- PK, 2024-2025

[Kevin McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not really a daily reflection kind of person. However, here you’ll find many 1 page “reflections” that touch pretty much every category of AA related things and the associated day to day life. I’ll keep the book on the shelf but probably won’t read it again.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Bill Sees It: The A. A. Way of Life ...Selected Writings of the A. A.'s Co-Founder by Alcoholics Anonymous World Service (1967)

[Jo-jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to pray for guidance and see where it opens. It's usually what I need to read or meditate on.

[Mary-jeanne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We use this book at our meetings every week. Great little wisp-its of wisdom for daily living.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

[Chandra Slavonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read it before and I'll read it again. timeless.

[Margaret Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks

This is extremely helpful for mediation on a daily basis! I am grateful to have a program which helps me with daily struggles.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the daily reflections book better

[Ben Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A passage a day keeps the urges away 😁

[Michael Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short insights from one of the founders of AA. After 35 years of sobriety, what these men figured out to save us lost cases really works. This let's you see though his eyes simple wisdom that works.

[Momo Kenmare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what you need for what is ailing you that day. Bill w. Knew what he was doing. Good for us, good for aa

[Vivian Gatt]

a daily spiritual reading

[Joshua Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Helped me a lot to learn about Bill W and some of the letter he wrote and quotes from the grapevine.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little book. Every page has something fabulous on it.