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.

In the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, Appendix II - Spiritual Experience (4th ed. pg. 568), contains a now-famous quote attributed to Herbert Spencer:

“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.”

A recent article entitled "The Survival of a Fitting Quotation" By Michael StGeorge may be of great interest to those who have heard of doubt that Herbert Spencer ever said or wrote that now-famous quote published in twenty million copies of Alcoholics Anonymous. See http://www.geocities.com/fitquotation/ for the web version of the article.

For some students of the Big Book, the attribution of the quote is not so important as the message. Still, it's likely to help you win a round of Trivial Pursuit at your next meeting after the meeting.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was a British philosopher who attempted to apply the theory of evolution to philosophy and ethics in his series Synthetic Philosophy (1855-1893).

This is the original manuscript version of "How It Works" that was distributed by the Fellowship's founders to get comments and suggestions before printing the First Edition. Note the last sentence as Bill first wrote it.

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our directions.

"Twelve Steps of How Not to Recover" Presented by Searcy W. when he spoke at the 2000 AA International Convention in Minneapolis. (He became a member of AA in 1946.) Don't take these too seriously!

1) We admitted we were powerless over nothing, that we could manage our lives perfectly and those of anyone else who would allow us to.

2) We came to believe there was no power greater than ourselves and the rest of the world was insane.

3) We made a decision to have our loved ones and friends turn their wills and lives over to our care even though they couldn’t understand us at all.

4) We made a searching and fearless moral and immoral inventory of everybody we knew.

"Twelve Steps of How Not to Recover" Presented by Searcy W. when he spoke at the 2000 AA International Convention in Minneapolis. (He became a member of AA in 1946.) Don't take these too seriously!

1) We admitted we were powerless over nothing, that we could manage our lives perfectly and those of anyone else who would allow us to.

2) We came to believe there was no power greater than ourselves and the rest of the world was insane.

3) We made a decision to have our loved ones and friends turn their wills and lives over to our care even though they couldn’t understand us at all.

4) We made a searching and fearless moral and immoral inventory of everybody we knew.

On the lighter side:

The Twelve “Early Promises” of Alcoholics Anonymous
You will know your full name and address.
You will be able to shave yourself.
You will be able to dress and undress yourself at the appropriate time and place.
You will, at all times, know the city, state, and country you are in.
You will routinely be able to find matching socks.
You will be able to smoke if you wish, without burning holes in your clothes and the furniture.
You will lose the fear of food.
You will spend less time in the bathroom.
You will be able to walk a straight line and pass the balloon test.
You will lose the fear of police cars in your rear view mirror.
You will be able to answer the doorbell without looking through the keyhole first.
You will realize what a mess you have been and thank God for AA and Al-Anon.

The Anonymous Press is a non-profit outfit that produces some very useful editions of the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous since the basic text is now in the public domain (i.e., no longer copyrighted). Offered by fine folks in recovery.

The Study Edition, either hardcover or softcover, is really useful for those who wish to study the Basic Text of Alcoholics Anonymous (Foreword to Page 164). It has great word indexes - find any word or subject by page number and paragraph. The '30s -era dictionary defines the way the "First 100" used them. Best of all, opposite each page is a blank, ruled page where you can write extensive notes! The perfect tool for Big Book Studies. Footnotes explain obscure references and text revisions.

The Mini Edition easily fits into a pocket so you have a convenient reference while out and about or at a meeting -- it includes the Original Manuscript of How It Works.

The reprints of the First Edition are sure to raise an eyebrown or two - at $3.50, they're a perfect gift.

Serious Big Book students will find the "Electronic Editions" are worth their weight in gold -- a REALLY fast way to find if and where it's in the book! The Basic text, the Original Manuscript, Manuscript comparisions, dictionary, subject and word index, First Edition Stories...windows, macintosh, even palm & pocket PC!

When you order, get a couple Index Pamphlets for your friends or to fit in your standard Big Book.

I order a couple softcover study editions for friends every year, and lots of Mini Editions to give to newcomers...less than $2.50 per copy!

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