What is A.A. and what is the “Big Book”? The following excerpts are from the Forward to the First Edition of the “Big Book”, Alcoholics Anonymous (Roman Numeral page xiii). The First Edition was published in 1939. “We, Of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the alcoholic. Many do not comprehend that the alcoholic is a very sick person. And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.” “We are not an organization in the conventional sense of the word. There are no fees or dues whatsoever. The only requirement for membership is an honest desire to stop drinking. We are not allied with any particular faith, sect or denomination, nor do we oppose anyone. We simply wish to be helpful to those who are afflicted.” What is the “Big Book” Of Alcoholics Anonymous? Excerpt from the Preface to the Big Book on page (Roman Numeral “xi”): “Because this book has become the basic text for our Society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists strong sentiment against any radical changes being made in it. Therefore, the first portion of this volume, describing the A.A. recovery program, has been left largely untouched in the course of revisions made for the second, third, and fourth editions.” Read The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous online http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/shapeimage_1_link_0

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