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Our Great Responsibility: A Selection of Bill W.'s General Service Conference Talks, 1951 – 1970
Made available to readers everywhere for the first time, Our Great Responsibility brings together 16 talks given by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. over the span of two decades. With his characteristic humor and down-to-earth candor, Bill shares his thinking on myriad A.A. themes — the principles of A.A. service, the relationship between principles and personalities, even the origins and adaptability of the Twelve Steps — and reveals his willingness to entertain a broad, long view of Alcoholics Anonymous, open to change and growth.
Complementing the text are more than 60 archival photographs and other images from the General Service Office Archives, some never before published, as well as a concise history of the founding of A.A.’s General Service Conference, the mechanism for the Fellowship’s annual “group conscience.” We also hear from “friends of A.A.,” including Bill’s wife Lois, Dr. “Jack” Norris and Bernard Smith. Taken together, Our Great Responsibility provides both a window into how Alcoholics Anonymous has continued to grow over the years — and a roadmap for how it may move forward in unity.
Whether read for historical interest, for inspiration on the journey to recovery, or for a deeper look at the powerful principles upon which Alcoholics Anonymous functions today, Our Great Responsibility both educates and inspires readers today.
Complementing the text are more than 60 archival photographs and other images from the General Service Office Archives, some never before published, as well as a concise history of the founding of A.A.’s General Service Conference, the mechanism for the Fellowship’s annual “group conscience.” We also hear from “friends of A.A.,” including Bill’s wife Lois, Dr. “Jack” Norris and Bernard Smith. Taken together, Our Great Responsibility provides both a window into how Alcoholics Anonymous has continued to grow over the years — and a roadmap for how it may move forward in unity.
Whether read for historical interest, for inspiration on the journey to recovery, or for a deeper look at the powerful principles upon which Alcoholics Anonymous functions today, Our Great Responsibility both educates and inspires readers today.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2021
28 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 21, 2025
Our Great Responsibility - AA
- As an a person that is interested in the history and governance of AA, this book was magnificent. It was literally Bill speaking at the first service conferences. It provided a deep insight into the creation of AA, the traditions, the concepts of world service, and AA governance. As with all AA literature, it was filled with spiritual wisdom. The footnotes have a wealth of historical information and context
- The more I read from Bill the more he is affirmed as one of my favorite writers. He was a deeply flawed man but wise, insightful, humble, gracious, and always trying to fight the demons of his natural negative instincts. People want to present him as a selfish womanizing egoistical asshole, which is partly true. He tenaciously worked to overcome his selfish egotistical instincts. He continually showed grace and selflessness
- There are some brilliant lines on democracy, service, and leadership. A great one is that about how much groups are composed of good people but seem to be governed by bad actors. AA is the rare group that is composed of sick people but governed benevolently. There are lines that are hard refutations against authoritarianism and brilliant odes to democracy. Bill would be a hard anti Trumper
- This is another book that refutes AA fundamentalists. Anyone that tries to rule in AA, that pushes dogma, that creates rules, that puts a barrier between someone and their sobriety, or any other BS is flat out wrong. They are going against clearly articulated AA principles
- AA is not a religion, does not have requirements for membership, does not have rules, or any other absurdity I have heard people say. AA is for anyone that has a desire to quit drinking
- The second tradition was a significant part of the book
- Things I want to know more about
- What is stepping stones
- The story about the person that committed suicide in their house
- The formal history of Al-Anon and its operation. In this book there is a talk by Lois about Al-Anon, she was one of the cofounders, but I would like to know more. I should read Al-Anon literature
- The process of writing other AA books and how the conference responded to them, such as the 12&12, daily reflections, Dr. Bob and The Old Timers, AA Comes Of Age
- They say that in the 50’s Bill stepped away from much of AA life and devoted his time to writing. That he was seen mainly at the yearly service conference. I am not sure what this means, it seems like he was still around headquarters. Was he not even going to meetings?
- There was considerable opposition to the creation of the conference, that is a whole section of the book
- This was a relatively easy read; short chapters, large print, frequent pictures
- I loved this book and highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the history and operations of AA
- I am going to quit writing and take a break. I am on a plane over the Atlantic, flying back from Portugal
- As an a person that is interested in the history and governance of AA, this book was magnificent. It was literally Bill speaking at the first service conferences. It provided a deep insight into the creation of AA, the traditions, the concepts of world service, and AA governance. As with all AA literature, it was filled with spiritual wisdom. The footnotes have a wealth of historical information and context
- The more I read from Bill the more he is affirmed as one of my favorite writers. He was a deeply flawed man but wise, insightful, humble, gracious, and always trying to fight the demons of his natural negative instincts. People want to present him as a selfish womanizing egoistical asshole, which is partly true. He tenaciously worked to overcome his selfish egotistical instincts. He continually showed grace and selflessness
- There are some brilliant lines on democracy, service, and leadership. A great one is that about how much groups are composed of good people but seem to be governed by bad actors. AA is the rare group that is composed of sick people but governed benevolently. There are lines that are hard refutations against authoritarianism and brilliant odes to democracy. Bill would be a hard anti Trumper
- This is another book that refutes AA fundamentalists. Anyone that tries to rule in AA, that pushes dogma, that creates rules, that puts a barrier between someone and their sobriety, or any other BS is flat out wrong. They are going against clearly articulated AA principles
- AA is not a religion, does not have requirements for membership, does not have rules, or any other absurdity I have heard people say. AA is for anyone that has a desire to quit drinking
- The second tradition was a significant part of the book
- Things I want to know more about
- What is stepping stones
- The story about the person that committed suicide in their house
- The formal history of Al-Anon and its operation. In this book there is a talk by Lois about Al-Anon, she was one of the cofounders, but I would like to know more. I should read Al-Anon literature
- The process of writing other AA books and how the conference responded to them, such as the 12&12, daily reflections, Dr. Bob and The Old Timers, AA Comes Of Age
- They say that in the 50’s Bill stepped away from much of AA life and devoted his time to writing. That he was seen mainly at the yearly service conference. I am not sure what this means, it seems like he was still around headquarters. Was he not even going to meetings?
- There was considerable opposition to the creation of the conference, that is a whole section of the book
- This was a relatively easy read; short chapters, large print, frequent pictures
- I loved this book and highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the history and operations of AA
- I am going to quit writing and take a break. I am on a plane over the Atlantic, flying back from Portugal
May 28, 2024
Excellent moving resource
Very thoughtfully written and produced. The last chapter wraps it up beautifully. What a tremendous gift AA is to individuals and our whole society. Wonderful to see something with such a positive impact last for so long.
Very thoughtfully written and produced. The last chapter wraps it up beautifully. What a tremendous gift AA is to individuals and our whole society. Wonderful to see something with such a positive impact last for so long.
January 5, 2023
A very interesting history of the General Service Conference and structuring of Alcoholic’s Anonymous; told in Bill Wilson’s own words from a compilation of his speeches.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews