Experience, Strength and Hope: By member request: stories from the first three editions of the Big Book

by Alcoholics Anonymous

Co-founder Bill W. was keenly aware of the importance of personal stories, writing, “The story section of the Big Book … is our principal means of identifying with the reader outside of A.A., it is the written equivalent of hearing speakers at an A.A. meeting; it is our show window of the results.” Experience, Strength and Hope offers back to the A.A. Fellowship the candor, wisdom and wit of 56 members whose stories are no longer available in the fourth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. With each edition, new stories were added to reflect A.A.’s changing membership, while others had to be dropped. Numerous requests from A.A. members led to the publication of this book, where now can be found such classics as “A Feminine Victory,” written by one of A.A.’s very first female members, and “The Car Smasher,” by “A.A. Number 3” — third after the co-founders themselves. A.A. membership continues to grow and change, but the voices contained here will never be outdated. From poignant accounts of sorrow and loss to more raucous tales laced with deprecating humor, this collection of stories offer today’s A.A. members the timeless gift of experience, strength and hope. Experience, Strength and Hope has been approved by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.

431 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2015

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend and I were reading through this book three chapters at a time. Wanting to go ahead and finish, I read ahead. These are the stories from the first three editions of the book titled Alcoholics Anonymous. What fascinated me was the early concentration and dependence on the God of the Bible and his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, something I believe A.A. has moved away from. Thankfully I was able to get something, however minute, from each chapter, especially the last story titled "He Who Loses His Life". If you're a member of A.A., be sure to read this book.

[Travis English · Rating 3 out of 5]

some well written stories, some not so well written stories

These are all the “dropped” stories from three editions of the AA big book. I read this with a Friday morning meeting with a group of men. It took us a full year to read this beast. There were some fun moments; but, I’m glad to close the cover on it.

[Philip Rudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our stories are important.