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From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
Click the page number or the book cover icon
to view that page in the literature.1.
2.
When writing or speaking
publicly about alcoholism, we urge each of our Fellowship to omit his personal name, designating himself instead as "a member of Alcoholics Anonymous."
3.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
4.
News of this got on the world wires; inquiries poured in again and many people went to the bookstores to get the book "Alcoholics Anonymous."
5.
The Twelve Steps that summarize the program may
be called los Doce Pasos in one country, les Douze Etapes in another, but they trace exactly the same path to recovery that was blazed by
the earliest members of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Some of them may sink and perhaps never get up, but if our experience is a criterion, more than half of those approached will become fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Isn't it true that in all matters touching upon alcohol, each of them has decided to turn his or her life over to the care, protection, and guidance
of Alcoholics Anonymous?
16.
17.
The wonderful energy it
releases and the eager action by which it carries our
message to the next suffering alcoholic and
which finally translates the Twelve Steps into action upon all our affairs is the payoff, the magnificent reality, of Alcoholics
Anonymous.
18.
They become the voice of the
group conscience; in fact, these are the true voice of Alcoholics Anonymous.
19.
20.
The association wanted
to use our member's full name in all its advertising; he was to be
described both as its director of publicity and as a member of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
21.
Approving editorials
here and abroad generated a wave of confidence in the integrity of Alcoholics
Anonymous.
22.
23.
24.
Therefore, a great responsibility fell upon us to develop the best possible public relations policy for Alcoholics Anonymous.
25.
26.
Today, we are able to say with assurance that Alcoholics Anonymous -- A.A. as a whole -- should never be organized at all.
27.
28.
29.
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
30.
... Anonymous are
no crusaders; not a temperance ...
BB
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A., p.570
Dr. W. W. Bauer, broadcasting under the auspices of The American Medical Association in 1946, over the NBC network, said, in part: "Alcoholics Anonymous are no crusaders; not a temperance society.
31.
The "12 Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous are, we
A.A.'s believe, the best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can
A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"
32.
Our earliest printing voiced the hope "that every alcoholic who journeys will find the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his
destination.
33.
Some day we hope that every alcoholic who journeys will find a Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his
destination.
34.
35.
36.
Moreover, it had performed a great service for Alcoholics
Anonymous, because it had
been humbly willing to apply the lessons it learned.
37.
It is important that we remain anonymous because we are too few, at present to handle the overwhelming number of personal appeals which may
result from this publication.
38.
Its foreword made this revealing statement: "It is important that we remain
anonymous because we are too
few, at present, to handle the overwhelming
number of personal appeals which may result from
this publication.
39.
40.
Alcoholics Anonymous began in 1935 at Akron, Ohio, as the outcome of a meeting between a well-known surgeon and a New York broker.
41.
12. And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle
of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance.
42.
Twelve -- And finally, we
of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle
of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance.
43.
We of Alcoholics Anonymous
believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book.
44.
... Anonymous, Box
459, Grand Central Station, New ...
BB
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A., p.573
If you cannot find A.A. in your locality, visit our Web site: www.aa.org; or a letter addressed to Alcoholics
Anonymous, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, USA, will receive a prompt reply from this world center, referring you to the nearest A.A. group.
45.
Dr. Foster Kennedy, neurologist:
"This organization of Alcoholics Anonymous calls on two of the greatest reservoirs of power known to man, religion and that instinct for association
with one's fellows ... the 'herd instinct.'
46.
This fourth edition of "Alcoholics Anonymous" came off press in November 2001, at the start of a new millennium.
47.
48.
Alcoholics Anonymous can
be likened to a group of physicians who might find a
cure for cancer, and upon whose concerted work would depend the answer for sufferers of this disease.
49.
We are sure that humility,
expressed by anonymity, is the greatest
safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
It is in this spirit of service that we elect the A.A. group's informal rotating committee, the intergroup association
for the area, and the General
Service Conferences of
Alcoholics Anonymous for
A.A. as a whole.
56.
In former days, the moment an A.A. hired out to such enterprises, he was immediately tempted to use the name Alcoholics Anonymous for publicity or money-raising purposes.
57.
The fledgling society,
which had been nameless, now
began to be called Alcoholics Anonymous, from
the title of its own book.
58.
5. Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose -- that of carrying its message to the alcoholic
who still suffers.
59.
Five -- Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but
one primary purpose -- that of carrying
its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
60.
61.
62.
They pointed out that the irresponsible had become
responsible, and that by making financial independence part of its tradition, Alcoholics Anonymous had revived an ideal that its era had almost forgotten.
63.
... Anonymous" has
been translated into forty-three(*) languages.
BB
Foreword to Fourth Edition, p.xxiii
64.
After the husband joins A.A., the wife may become discontented, even highly resentful that Alcoholics Anonymous has done the very thing that all her years of devotion had failed to do.
65.
To those now in its fold, Alcoholics Anonymous has made the difference between misery and sobriety, and often the difference between life and death.
66.
In that brief space, Alcoholics Anonymous has mushroomed into nearly 6,000 groups whose membership is far above 150,000 recovered alcoholics.
67.
Ten -- Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
68.
Tradition Ten -- "Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."
69.
"Alcoholics Anonymous has
no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."
70.
Thus was laid the cornerstone for Tradition Ten: "Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."
71.
Though he is now a most effective member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he still smokes and drinks coffee, but neither his wife nor anyone else stands in judgment.
72.
The news stories of Mr. Rockefeller's dinner for Alcoholics Anonymous helped double our total membership in a year's time.
73.
Bill W., who along with Dr. Bob S. founded Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, wrote the book to share 18 years of collective experience within the Fellowship on how A.A. members recover, and how our
society functions.
74.
With the publication of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" in 1939, the pioneering period ended and a prodigious chain reaction set in as the recovered alcoholics carried their
message to still others.
75.
"The American Public Health Association presents a Lasker Group Award for 1951 to Alcoholics Anonymous in recognition of its unique and highly successful approach to that age-old public health and social problem, alcoholism ... In
emphasizing alcoholism as an illness,
the social stigma associated with this condition is being blotted out ... Historians may one day recognize Alcoholics Anonymous to have
been a great venture in social pioneering which forged a new instrument for social action; a new therapy based on the kinship of common suffering; one having a vast potential for the myriad other ills of mankind."
76.
These so-called intergroup associations are found under the listing "A.A." or "Alcoholics Anonymous" in telephone directories.
77.
When her will was read, it was
discovered she had left Alcoholics Anonymous in trust with the Alcoholic Foundation a sum of ten thousand dollars.
78.
How can a set of traditional principles, having no legal force at all, hold the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in unity and effectiveness?
79.
(*) In 1954, the name of the Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
80.
(*) In 1954, the name of the Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
81.
(*) In 1954, the name of the Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
82.
(*) In 1954, the name of the Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
83.
(*) In 1954, the name of the Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
84.
(*) In 1954, the name of the Alcoholic Foundation,
Inc., was changed to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc., and the Foundation office is now the General Service Office.
85.
A.A. Preamble -- Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
86.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a
worldwide fellowship
of more than one hundred thousand(*) alcoholic men and women who are banded together to solve their common problems and to help fellow sufferers in recovery from
that age-old, baffling malady, alcoholism.
87.
88.
89.
90.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
91.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
92.
93.
94.
Edward Dowling, S.J.,(*) of the Queen's Work staff, says, "Alcoholics Anonymous is natural; it is natural at the point where nature comes closest to the supernatural, namely in
humiliations and in consequent humility.
95.
96.
97.
... Anonymous is
the truly Christian principle that ...
BB
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A., p.572
The Episcopal magazine,
The Living Church, observes editorially:
"The basis of the technique of Alcoholics
Anonymous is the truly Christian principle that
a man cannot help himself except by helping others.
98.
Every newcomer in Alcoholics Anonymous is told, and soon realizes for himself, that
his humble admission of
powerlessness over alcohol is his first step toward liberation from its paralyzing grip.
99.
(*) The fellowship of Al-Anon Family Groups was formed about thirteen years after this chapter was written. Though it is entirely separate from Alcoholics Anonymous, it uses the general principles of the A.A. program as a guide for husbands, wives, relatives, friends and others close to alcoholics. The foregoing pages (though addressed only to wives) indicate the problems such people may face. Alateen, for teen-aged children of alcoholics, is a part of Al-Anon.
100.
101.
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill.
102.
... Anonymous maintains
its international service center.
BB
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A., p.573
103.
They will approach still other sick ones and fellowships of Alcoholics Anonymous may spring up in each city and hamlet, havens for those who must find a way out.
104.
... Anonymous, medical
societies and physicians throughout the ...
BB
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A., p.569
Since Dr. Silkworth's first endorsement of Alcoholics Anonymous, medical societies and physicians throughout
the world have set their approval upon us.
105.
Why, we thought, our Society of Alcoholics
Anonymous might prove to be the
spearhead of a new spiritual advance!
106.
All changes made over the years in the Big Book (A.A.
members' fond nickname for this volume)
have had the same purpose: to
represent the current membership of Alcoholics Anonymous more accurately, and thereby to reach more alcoholics.
107.
When Tradition Nine was first written, it said that "Alcoholics Anonymous needs the least possible organization."
108.
Nor does it mean that the members of Alcoholics
Anonymous, now restored as citizens of the
world, are going to back away from their individual responsibilities to act
as they see the right upon issues of our time.
109.
(A.A.'s General Service Office may be reached by writing: Alcoholics Anonymous, P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. U.S.A.)
110.
That is why the first edition of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous," published when our membership was small, dealt with low-bottom cases only.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
... Anonymous should
remain forever nonprofessional, but our ...
BB
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition, p.562
Eight -- Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
116.
... Anonymous should
remain forever nonprofessional, but our ...
12&12
Contents (Tradition Eight), p.11
Tradition Eight -- "Alcoholics Anonymous should
remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers."
117.
"Alcoholics Anonymous
should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers."
118.
Two days later, a future fellow of Alcoholics Anonymous stared glassily at the strangers
beside his bed.
119.
It resulted in more favorable publicity of Alcoholics Anonymous than
could possibly have been obtained through all the arts and abilities of A.A.'s best press agents.
120.
121.
A well-known doctor, chief physician at a nationally prominent hospital specializing
in alcoholic and drug addiction, gave Alcoholics Anonymous this letter:
122.
123.
The American Psychiatric Association requested,
in 1949, that a paper be prepared by one of the older members of Alcoholics Anonymous to be read at the Association's annual meeting of that year.
124.
We conceive the survival
and spread of Alcoholics
Anonymous to be something
of far greater importance than the weight
we could collectively throw back of any other cause.
125.
"The American Public Health Association presents a Lasker Group Award for 1951 to Alcoholics Anonymous in recognition of its unique and highly successful approach to that age-old public health and social problem, alcoholism ... In
emphasizing alcoholism as an illness,
the social stigma associated with this condition is being blotted out ... Historians may one day recognize Alcoholics Anonymous to have
been a great venture in social pioneering which forged a new instrument for social action; a new therapy based on the kinship of common suffering; one having a vast potential for the myriad other ills of mankind."
126.
Speaking at a dinner given by John D. Rockefeller Jr. to introduce Alcoholics
Anonymous to some of his friends, Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick remarked:
127.
But that wasn't the whole story, for in this case not only
was an A.A. member to break his anonymity at a public level, he was to link the name Alcoholics Anonymous to this
particular educational project in
the minds of millions.
128.
129.
130.
By March 1976, when this edition went to the printer, the total worldwide membership of
Alcoholics Anonymous was
conservatively estimated at more than 1,000,000, with almost 28,000 groups meeting in over 90 countries.
131.
After coming from our first meeting, or perhaps after we have finished reading the book "Alcoholics Anonymous," we usually want to sit down with some member of the family and readily admit the damage we have done by our drinking.
132.
133.
134.
It is hoped that this volume
will afford all who read it a close-up view of the principles and forces which
have made Alcoholics Anonymous what it is.
135.
They live today in the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, which
-- God willing -- shall sustain us in unity for so long as He may need us.
136.
Just as firmly bound by obligation are the
members of Alcoholics
Anonymous, who have demonstrated that they can help problem drinkers as others seldom can.
137.
(*) Alcoholics Anonymous
will be glad to hear from you. Address P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163.
138.
Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility.
139.
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