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Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
This 4th edition includes 24 new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in A.A. Sixteen stories are retained from the 3rd edition, which helps the reader remain linked to A.A.'s historic roots, and shows how early members applied this simple but profound program that helps alcoholics get sober today.
575 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 25, 2008
Think you're different? Think you can handle it? When's the last time you told yourself, "This week I'm only drinking on Friday", and then you drank three more times plus Friday? Ever had a family member, brilliant, bright, and loving who just couldn't "control" their drinking? Ever wondered how you drank that much - and lived?. Have you ever thought, "I still have a job, I have a family, I have my house, I pay my bills. Sure, I drink, but how could I be an alcoholic?". Ever wonder if there was a way out? There is. And the men and women of Alcoholics Anonymous have contributed to this book in its 4th edition to show you the solution.
March 30, 2008
I'm not an alcoholic. I've never even been drunk (or the least bit tipsy, for that matter.) However, I found some valuable suggestions for living in the first 164 pages of this book. The remainder of the book contains stories from recovering individuals. I love hearing about people and how they tackle life so I got a lot out of their testimonies. They were easy to relate to and many were not only inspirational but humorous as well. (Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict is my personal favorite chapter.)
January 23, 2015
I really struggled with how to rate the "Big Book." I've been sober for over 9 years now, and I stopped being a semi-regular AA probably 5 years ago. (And I was NEVER an "AA Nazi" at all. I never officially did all the Steps, and I'm pretty sure I've never even read the ENTIRE Big Book.) BUT, after I had been sober for 9 months on my own and went to my first meeting out of just a desperation to be around SOMEONE who might understand all the emotions I was going through, it meant so much to be able to share my sobriety and my struggles with other sober and struggling people. Having the Big Book and the "12 & 12" to pore over AT THAT TIME absolutely made a difference, and I will always treasure AA. However, I never could get totally comfortable with the god part of the program even then, and I have grown TOTALLY beyond all of that now. In fact, I know now that AA is no better at getting and keeping people sober than just quitting cold-turkey or any other recovery program. So, with my rating I tried to balance the importance of AA in my early recovery with the criticism of it that I eventually developed.
February 4, 2010
Not what you think it is. It's kind of like when you ask somebody how do to something and instead of handing you a list of instructions or a diagram, they just take you by the hand and say, "Let me show you." This book shows you what alcoholism is with real people's stories. Turns out Alcoholism isn't what you think it is, and the people around alcoholics aren't either.
December 16, 2024
Alcoholics Anonymous — aka "The Big Book" — is something more than a book, given its importance to those who have found a way out of alcoholism with its help. Two years ago I read William H. Schaberg's Writing the the Big Book: The Creation of A.A., which was ironically bigger than The Big Book itself. From that, I felt I had a pretty good understanding of the original work's contents and composition, but it was an interesting exercise to read through the personal recovery stories. I knew just how much work had gone into developing the original A.A. program, refining its talking points and 12 steps, and getting it to publication in 1939. I read the fourth and current edition, released in 2001, with multiple forewords and updated narratives.
The book is mostly structured around personal stories, starting with that of co-founder Bill W. (Wilson, he no longer requires anonymity). Most stories take the form the anonymous author sharing his or her upbringing, their first time encountering alcohol, and the horrible effects of their dependence: blackouts, social withdrawal, lost jobs, damaged relationships, physical abuse, car accidents, jail time, hospital stays, loss of home, and more. The story then shifts to the first time that person heard about Alcoholics Anonymous, the person who encouraged them to attend, how their various resistances were overcome, how long they've maintained sobriety, relapses if they have had them, and how life has measurably improved. The original stories are mostly about white men, with a nod to women facing the same struggles. In the newer editions, the diversity is rounded out with many more women's stories (I didn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was 50/50), as well as the accounts of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, gay, and lesbian alcoholics as well. Some are stories of lives almost completely destroyed, and others represent those who "stopped in time". Some were high-powered executives, and others are construction workers or store clerks. There's a little something for everyone, the hope being that a new or prospective member will find just the right anecdote or drop of wisdom to strike deep and resonate.
There are many themes that emerge. It's important that you be the one who realizes you're an alcoholic; nobody else can assign that label for you. The intervention of a non-alcoholic won't mean anything; it's only someone who understands what you've gone through who can speak to your plight. In the earlier literature especially, alcoholism is described as an "allergy" to alcohol that only affects the unlucky alcoholics. Allergy strikes me as completely the wrong term, but is apparently helpful framing for some. You need to admit that you are powerless on your own (this is the first of the famed 12 steps). Alcoholism never goes away; one drink, even years later, can nullify all the progress you've made. You need to keep meeting with A.A. members, as often as you would normally drink; many stories mentioned attending meetings daily (or more). You need to keep referring to yourself as an alcoholic, even after decades of sobriety. I remember finding it astounding that one of my dearly departed friends, Jerry (who led a local, secular AA chapter), called himself an alcoholic. He hadn't had a drink since before 1982, the year I was born. Part of your path to sobriety is bringing other alcoholics into the fold and looking out for them. Another famous step of the 12-step process (#9) is to make amends to people you've harmed in the past.
This next theme deserves its own paragraph. You have to believe in a higher power, specifically "God as we understood Him". Much ink is devoted to this central point, as the emphasis is that this must be a spiritual path. The phrasing is clever, as it gives leeway to redefine "God" to be whatever that term means to you — compatible with all religions as well as no religion — as long as that God is not you. One early chapter, "We Agnostics", has to be the most absurd section of the book, with the flimsiest of arguments in favor of belief. In a passage aptly annotated with a "WTF?" by the friend who lent me his copy, it says, "Everybody nowadays, believes in scores of assumptions for which there is good evidence, but no perfect visual proof. And does not science demonstrate that visual proof is the weakest proof? It is being constantly revealed, as mankind studies the material world, that outward appearances are not inward reality at all." WTF, indeed. In the chapter "Doctor Bob's Nightmare", one of the other founders says, "If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair." Only occasionally is there acknowledgment of related theological problems, such as why a God who cares enough to get you out of alcoholism would have created you as an alcoholic, and why he would allow all the pain and suffering to get you to this point. And yet, I can understand how the reliance on something greater can short-circuit a lot of excuses and rationalizations, and I won't deny it may be essential to the process for many — whether there is a god or not. I've seen various secular organizations (such as SMART Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety, aka Save Our Selves, aka SOS - I knew the founder, Jim Christopher) work to provide a path out of alcoholism without the "God" language, but there are secular AA groups as well.
My takeaway is that I can see why this program has been as successful as it has, even though I know its success rates aren't perfect (and are the topic of much speculation). I don't think "perfection" in this difficult pursuit is a reasonable standard. In this 2001 edition, Alcoholics Anonymous boasts 19.55 million copies of the previous editions circulated, and 100,800 active groups meeting in about 150 countries. There's a lot of good wisdom here, and life advice in general. I've always admired the simplicity of the "Serenity Prayer" by Lutheran theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (which is now associated with A.A., though not emphasized in the book to the extent I thought it would be): "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Individual contributors also drop insights that have resonated with them, such as "A.A. does not teach us how to handle our drinking. It teaches us how to handle sobriety." Elsewhere, Herbert Spencer's observation (which has broader applicability) is shared: "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
To anybody who happens to be reading book reviews in their own path to sobriety, check out aa.org for local meetings.
The book is mostly structured around personal stories, starting with that of co-founder Bill W. (Wilson, he no longer requires anonymity). Most stories take the form the anonymous author sharing his or her upbringing, their first time encountering alcohol, and the horrible effects of their dependence: blackouts, social withdrawal, lost jobs, damaged relationships, physical abuse, car accidents, jail time, hospital stays, loss of home, and more. The story then shifts to the first time that person heard about Alcoholics Anonymous, the person who encouraged them to attend, how their various resistances were overcome, how long they've maintained sobriety, relapses if they have had them, and how life has measurably improved. The original stories are mostly about white men, with a nod to women facing the same struggles. In the newer editions, the diversity is rounded out with many more women's stories (I didn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was 50/50), as well as the accounts of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, gay, and lesbian alcoholics as well. Some are stories of lives almost completely destroyed, and others represent those who "stopped in time". Some were high-powered executives, and others are construction workers or store clerks. There's a little something for everyone, the hope being that a new or prospective member will find just the right anecdote or drop of wisdom to strike deep and resonate.
There are many themes that emerge. It's important that you be the one who realizes you're an alcoholic; nobody else can assign that label for you. The intervention of a non-alcoholic won't mean anything; it's only someone who understands what you've gone through who can speak to your plight. In the earlier literature especially, alcoholism is described as an "allergy" to alcohol that only affects the unlucky alcoholics. Allergy strikes me as completely the wrong term, but is apparently helpful framing for some. You need to admit that you are powerless on your own (this is the first of the famed 12 steps). Alcoholism never goes away; one drink, even years later, can nullify all the progress you've made. You need to keep meeting with A.A. members, as often as you would normally drink; many stories mentioned attending meetings daily (or more). You need to keep referring to yourself as an alcoholic, even after decades of sobriety. I remember finding it astounding that one of my dearly departed friends, Jerry (who led a local, secular AA chapter), called himself an alcoholic. He hadn't had a drink since before 1982, the year I was born. Part of your path to sobriety is bringing other alcoholics into the fold and looking out for them. Another famous step of the 12-step process (#9) is to make amends to people you've harmed in the past.
This next theme deserves its own paragraph. You have to believe in a higher power, specifically "God as we understood Him". Much ink is devoted to this central point, as the emphasis is that this must be a spiritual path. The phrasing is clever, as it gives leeway to redefine "God" to be whatever that term means to you — compatible with all religions as well as no religion — as long as that God is not you. One early chapter, "We Agnostics", has to be the most absurd section of the book, with the flimsiest of arguments in favor of belief. In a passage aptly annotated with a "WTF?" by the friend who lent me his copy, it says, "Everybody nowadays, believes in scores of assumptions for which there is good evidence, but no perfect visual proof. And does not science demonstrate that visual proof is the weakest proof? It is being constantly revealed, as mankind studies the material world, that outward appearances are not inward reality at all." WTF, indeed. In the chapter "Doctor Bob's Nightmare", one of the other founders says, "If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair." Only occasionally is there acknowledgment of related theological problems, such as why a God who cares enough to get you out of alcoholism would have created you as an alcoholic, and why he would allow all the pain and suffering to get you to this point. And yet, I can understand how the reliance on something greater can short-circuit a lot of excuses and rationalizations, and I won't deny it may be essential to the process for many — whether there is a god or not. I've seen various secular organizations (such as SMART Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety, aka Save Our Selves, aka SOS - I knew the founder, Jim Christopher) work to provide a path out of alcoholism without the "God" language, but there are secular AA groups as well.
My takeaway is that I can see why this program has been as successful as it has, even though I know its success rates aren't perfect (and are the topic of much speculation). I don't think "perfection" in this difficult pursuit is a reasonable standard. In this 2001 edition, Alcoholics Anonymous boasts 19.55 million copies of the previous editions circulated, and 100,800 active groups meeting in about 150 countries. There's a lot of good wisdom here, and life advice in general. I've always admired the simplicity of the "Serenity Prayer" by Lutheran theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (which is now associated with A.A., though not emphasized in the book to the extent I thought it would be): "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Individual contributors also drop insights that have resonated with them, such as "A.A. does not teach us how to handle our drinking. It teaches us how to handle sobriety." Elsewhere, Herbert Spencer's observation (which has broader applicability) is shared: "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
To anybody who happens to be reading book reviews in their own path to sobriety, check out aa.org for local meetings.
Read
June 10, 2012I am not rating this book, because I am not sure if it is the exact "Bible" that I read ~ belonged to an older brother. Do not know if I read every word of it. A son-in-law had the same AA book, which I also read parts of at various times.
I likely read, perhaps owned, the twelve steps and traditions book, from much earlier days when I attended Al-Anon meetings. A lot of the info was useful for everyone in everyday life affairs. I liked it.
I likely read, perhaps owned, the twelve steps and traditions book, from much earlier days when I attended Al-Anon meetings. A lot of the info was useful for everyone in everyday life affairs. I liked it.
January 1, 2011
It works if you work it. Half measures will avail you nothing.
April 11, 2012
this book is a must read for people unable to stop drinking, my first husband was an alcoholic and reading this book helped me understand his problem.
May 22, 2025
As I read this book, I thought about a book I finished several weeks ago titled "Parables and Perils from the Pen". I recall the first story about the alcoholic driver that killed Pastor John's wife but wasn't reprimanded by the court because of his affiliation as drinking buddies of the policemen and firemen. This book is a must read for anyone struggling with alcoholism.
December 10, 2015
I would give this book 2.5 stars. A friend who is an alcoholic recommended this to me as this book and the "program" have done so much for him (and others I know). This is a very Christian book - it could only have come out of a culture that was once very Christian and whose ideas of religion are primarily built upon a Christian and biblical tradition. And yet this is not a truly Christian book - repeatedly the reader is called by the contributors to find help and hope in God, however the individual envisions or perceives of him. Some places it is specifically the God of the Bible, or Christ, who is referenced as the only way to conquer alcohol, at other times it is a more nebulous force or creative power. One of the key concepts the writers of this book wish to convey is that an alcoholic cannot truly beat alcohol addiction on their own. An alcoholic needs help from God, from outside the self. A person can only have what they need to beat alcohol if God helps them with the power he supplies. A person needs to be in right orientation toward God in order for all else in life to be in right orientation. So far so good. However, the writers often say that the god one turns to doesn't matter, as long as you are disciplined and committed to reordering your life along spiritual lines. But what god you turn to does matter, because many "gods" are just as false and just as terrible idols as alcohol itself.
In its favour, I know many people whose journey to Christ began with AA and this book. I just hope that people don't stop here.
In its favour, I know many people whose journey to Christ began with AA and this book. I just hope that people don't stop here.
December 17, 2022
Reading these personal testimonials helped me realize that 1. I am powerless over alcohol 2. There is peace to be had and found in my lifelong journey in sobriety 3. My sobriety is attributed to my willingness to be humble and seek spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection 4. AA members are a fellowship of people who draw strength from each other and serve others in recovery unconditionally, without judgment, and with genuine acts of love and kindness. My sobriety date is 04/22/2020 I am greatful for this book which I continue to read daily. I am grateful to be a part of the AA fellowship.
Read
December 11, 2008RefYA2
November 28, 2015
Read this book cover to cover with a fellow. it put me firmly on the path of life
May 11, 2021
AA Bible. The first 165 pages is all about things any alcoholic can relate to the rest is hoow others did it. Not exactly Faulkner, but I like the simple style.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews