First printed on very thick paper in 1939, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS was such a large book that it became known as "The Big Book"]
The Foreword to the First Edition appears on Page XIII in the current 4th Edition. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Edition have additional "Forewords" that deserve thoughtful reading by all.
[Note: there are now about 200 fellowships using the AA 12-step program of recovery to deal with problems other than alcohol. AA remains focused on alcoholism.]
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. ["Anonymous" means to have an unknown or undisclosed name. The reason for being anonymous was because of the demands that might be imposed on member's time by those asking for help.] Being mostly business or professional folk, we could not well carry on our occupations in such an event. We would like it understood that our alcoholic work is an avocation. ["Avocation" means a sideline to our occupation or profession]. 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". Very earnestly we ask the press also, to observe this request, for otherwise we shall be greatly handicapped.
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.
We shall be interested to hear from those who are getting results from this book, particularly from those who have commenced [or begun] work with other alcoholics. We should like to be helpful to such cases. Inquiry by scientific, medical, and religious societies will be welcomed.
Alcoholics Anonymous."
In the First Editionof Alcoholics Anonymous, "THE DOCTOR'S OPINION" (1) began at Page 1. This changed in the Second Edition; there, it remained in front of Bill's Story, but the page numbers were changed to Roman Numerals. In the 4th Edition, it begins on Page XXV.
[Note: (1) An "Opinion" is 1. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not backed up by positive knowledge or proof. 2. A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert, for example, a medical opinion.]
"To Whom It May Concern:
"I have specialized in the treatment of alcoholism for many years. In late 1934 I attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of a type I had come to regard as hopeless. In the course of his third treatment he acquired certain ideas concerninga possible means of recovery. As part of his rehabilitation (2) he commenced to present his conceptions [his ideas] to other alcoholics, impressing upon them that they must do likewise with still others. This has become the basis of a rapidly growing fellowship (3) of these men and their families. This man and over one hundred others appear to have recovered.
I personally know scores of cases who were of the type with whom other methods had failed completely. [Note: A score is a group of 20 items. In 1938, two score had recovered – by early 1930, five score had recovered from alcoholism, which was at that time incurable.] These facts appear to be of extreme medical importance; because of the extraordinary possibilities of rapid growth inherent in this group they may mark a new epoch in the annals of alcoholism. [An epoch is a particular time in history. An annal is a record of events.] These men may well have a remedy for thousands of such situations [in fact, it became millions].
You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves. [This is pretty strong language for a doctor!]
Very truly yours,
William D. Silkworth, M.D."
[Notes: (2) re·ha·bil·i·tate: 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education. 2. To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity.
(3) fel·low·ship 1.a. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, because of profession, religion, or nationality. 1. b. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal
terms. 2. A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests. 3. Friendship; comradeship.]
In his second letter published in Alcoholics Anonymous, Doctor Silkworth writes:
"The subject presented in this book seems to me to be of paramount importance to those afflicted with alcoholic addiction.(4)
I say this after many years' experience as Medical Director of one of the oldest hospitals in the country treating alcoholic and drug addiction.
There was, therefore, a sense of real satisfaction when I was asked to contribute a few words on a subject which is covered in such masterly detail in these pages.
We doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral psychology (5) was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its application presented difficulties beyond our conception (6) What with our ultra-modern standards, our scientific approach to everything, we are perhaps not well equipped to apply the powers of good that lie outside our synthetic (7) knowledge."
[Notes: (4) "ad·dic·tion": A compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance.
(5) On "Moral Psychology": "mor·al" means 1. Of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character, such as moral scrutiny or a moral quandary. 2. Teaching or exhibiting goodness or correctness of character and behavior, as in a moral lesson. 3. Conforming to standards of what is right or just in behavior; virtuous: a moral life. 4. Arising from conscience or the sense of right and wrong: a moral obligation. 5. Having psychological rather than physical or tangible effects: a moral victory; moral support. 6. Based on strong likelihood or firm conviction, rather than on the actual evidence: a moral certainty.
(7) "psy·chol·o·gy" is the science that deals with mental processes and behavior.
(6) "con·cep·tion" is the ability to form or understand mental concepts - knowledge.
(7) syn·thet·ic 1. Relating to, involving, or of the nature of synthesis; not of natural origin. 2. a. Not natural; artificial.]
"Many years ago one of the leading contributors to this book [Alcoholics Anonymous] came under our care in this hospital and while here he acquired some ideas which he put into practical application at once.
Later, he requested the privilege of being allowed to tell his story to other patients here and with some misgiving [that is, apprehension or doubt], we consented. The cases we have followed through have been most interesting; in fact, many of them are amazing. The unselfishness of these men as we have come to know them, the entire absence of profit motive, and their community spirit, is indeed inspiring to one who has labored long and wearily in this alcoholic field. They believe in themselves, and still more in the Power which pulls chronic [long-term, irreversible] alcoholics back from the gates of death.
Of course an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving (8) for liquor, and this often requires a definite hospital procedure, before psychological measures can be of maximum benefit.
We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; (9) that the phenomenon 10 of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker. These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.
[Notes: (8) Craving - "Crave" means 1. To have an intense desire, a wish or longing for; a want. 2. To need urgently; to require.
(9) "Al·ler·gy": An abnormal sensitivity to certain substances, such as pollens, foods, compounds, or microorganisms. Common signs of allergy include sneezing, itching, and skin rashes. A "side effect" of a prescribed drug is an allergic reaction; some people cannot take penicillin. Others react abnormally to alcohol.
(10) "phe·nom·e·non" pl. phe·nom·e·na: 1. An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses. 2.a. An unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact or occurrence; a marvel, a wonder. 2.b. Physics an observable event. Observable, but not understood.]
Frothy emotional appeal seldom suffices [that is, emotional appeals do not work.] The message which can interest and hold these alcoholic people must have depth and weight. In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves, if they are to re-create their lives.
If any feel that as psychiatrists directing a hospital for alcoholics we appear somewhat sentimental, let them stand with us a while on the firing line, see the tragedies, the despairing wives, the little children; let the solving of these problems become a part of their daily work, and even of their sleeping moments, and the most cynical will not wonder that we have accepted and encouraged this movement. We feel, after many years of experience, that we have found nothing which has contributed more to the rehabilitation of these men than the altruistic [unselfish] movement now growing up among them.
Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive [elusive: difficult to define or describe] that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after a time differentiate the true from the false. To them, their alcoholic life seems the only normal one. They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks-drinks which they see others taking with impunity. [Impunity means to do something without punishment, penalty, or harm.] After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change (11) there is very little hope of his recovery.
[Note: (11) "psy·chic" means of, or relating to, affecting, or influenced by the human mind or psyche; it's mental.]
On the other hand-and strange as this may seem to those who do not understand-once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules.
Men have cried out to me in sincere and despairing appeal: "Doctor, I cannot go on like this! I have everything to live for! I must stop, but I cannot! You must help me!"
Faced with this problem, if a doctor is honest with himself, he must sometimes feel his own inadequacy. Although he gives all that is in him, it often is not enough. One feels that something more than human power is needed to produce the essential psychic change. Though the aggregate of recoveries resulting from psychiatric effort is considerable, we physicians must admit we have made little impression upon the problem as a whole. Many types do not respond to the ordinary psychological approach.
I do not hold [that is, do not agree with] with those who believe that alcoholism is entirely a problem of mental control. I have had many men who had, for example, worked a period of months on some problem or business deal which was to be settled on a certain date, favorably to them. [They were on the verge of success.] They took a drink a day or so prior to the date, and then the phenomenon of craving at once became paramount to all other interests so that the important appointment was not met. These men were not drinking to escape; they were drinking to overcome a craving beyond their mental control. [By having a premature drink of celebration, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.]
There are many situations which arise out of the phenomenon of craving which cause men to make the supreme sacrifice rather than continue to fight. [Note: the "supreme sacrifice" is suicide.]
The classification of alcoholics seems most difficult, and in much detail is outside the scope of this book. There are, of course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable. We are all familiar with this type. They are always "going on the wagon for keeps". They are over-remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision.
There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink. He plans various ways of drinking. He changes his brand or his environment. There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from alcohol for a period of time he can take a drink without danger. There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written.
Then there are types entirely normal in every respect except in the effect alcohol has upon them. They are often able, intelligent, friendly people.
All these, and many others, have one symptom in common: they cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity [or group]. It has never been, by any treatment with which we are familiar, permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to suggest is entire abstinence. [Remember: a phenomenon is observable,
but it is not well understood by scientists.]
This immediately precipitates [or drops] us into a seething caldron of debate. Much has been written pro and con, but among physicians, the general opinion seems to be that most chronic alcoholics are doomed.
What is the solution? Perhaps I can best answer this by relating one of my experiences.
About one year prior to this experience a man was brought in to be treated for chronic alcoholism. He had but partially recovered from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a case of pathological mental deterioration. He had lost everything worthwhile in life and was only living, one might say, to drink. He frankly admitted and believed that for him there was no hope. Following the elimination of alcohol, there was found to be no permanent brain injury. He accepted the plan outlined in this book. One year later he called to see me, and I experienced a very strange sensation. I knew the man by name, and partly recognized his features, but there all resemblance ended. From a trembling, despairing, nervous wreck, had emerged a man brimming over with self-reliance and contentment. I talked with him for some time, but was not able to bring myself to feel that I had known him before. To me he was a stranger, and so he left me. A long time has passed with no return to alcohol.
When I need a mental uplift, I often think of another case brought in by a physician prominent in New York. The patient had made his own diagnosis, and deciding his situation hopeless, had hidden in a deserted barn determined to die. He was rescued by a searching party, and, in desperate condition, brought to me. Following his physical rehabilitation, he had a talk with me in which he frankly stated he thought the treatment a waste of effort, unless I could assure him, which no one ever had, that in the future he would have the "will power" to resist the impulse to drink.
His alcoholic problem was so complex, and his depression so great, that we felt his only hope would be through what we then called "moral psychology," and we doubted if even that would have any effect.
However, he did become "sold" on the ideas contained in this book. He has not had a drink for a great many years. I see him now and then and he is as fine a specimen of manhood as one could wish to meet.
I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff,he may remain to pray." (11)
William D. Silkworth, M.D.
[Note: (12) To scoff is to mock or ridicule. To pray is to make a sincere or earnest request.]