Big Book Study Tools!

In my experience, happiness comes after taking the steps outlined in the basic text of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous -- whether or not one is an alcoholic as described on page 21 of Alcoholics Anonymous. The experience requires taking action after understanding of the program and the basic text of the "Big Book - everything from the Title Page and the Foreword to the First Edition through Page 164.

Unfortunately, the skill of reading seems less important now than it was when they wrote the Big Book in 1938-39. Radio was new then; families gathered around the radio to get information and entertainment on occasion, but the primary means of learning was to read.

The style and vocabulary of our language has changed so that it is difficult for many to understand the Big Book. An unfortunate result is that relatively few members of Alcoholics Anonymous really understand the contents of The Book, even after years of attending meetings of the AA Fellowship. AA meetings, especially "discussion meetings" have slowly drifted away from the substance of the 12-Step Program of Recovery toward contemporary "group therapy" or "process group" format and content. Psychological therapy has its place, but not in AA meetings where the underlying purpose is to bring hope and information to the newcomer so that s/he may have the spiritual experience or spirtual awakening produces recovery from the chronic and progressive disease involving a "seemingly hopeless state of mind and body" -- a state that, untreated, slowly leads to a sad, sad, end.

To study the principles presented in the Big Book, I downloaded an electronic version of the basic text - it's freely available from many Internet sources. Then, using my word processor, a computerized dictionary and thesaurus, I produced an "Annotated" version of the Big Book with inserts and footnotes that helped me understand the sometimes-difficult language. I learned from this. Others can learn by reading or hearing someone else read this annotated version allowed. This can lead to a discussion among those who want to understand the literature and the message.

Here are electronic files in "pdf format" you can download, print, and passed on to others. I retain all rights to my work, but I encourage you to share this with others who want to learn the lessons of Alcoholics Anonymous. You may give this to others provided you do so at no charge other than the cost to provide it.

Namaste

//Don K.

Anchorage, Alaska
August, 2005 updated March, 2007

Click below to download Don K's Annotated portions of the Big Book in pdf format