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Literature & Links:
Basic Texts of A.A., followed by further reading, pamphlets available, and links to historical information on Alcoholics Anonymous
The central text of A.A. is the book "Alcoholics Anonymous", (commonly called "the Big Book"), which was written by co-founder Bill Wilson, and a group of early AA's as a guide to how they found relief from alcoholism. The preface, forwards to previous editions and the Doctors Opinion, followed by the first 164 pages of the text describe their experience, and the program of recovery. The remainder of the book is a collection of personal stories. The Big Book has a dark blue cover, and is sold at Emerald Valley Intergroup for $6.00. It is also commonly for sale (or given to those who can't afford it) at A.A. meetings. The local Library and used bookstores also often have several copies available. Braille, large print, and a variety of language versions are available. It is very readable, and many alcoholics have found hope in its pages.
The next important text of A.A. is "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" by Bill Wilson.(commonly called the "twelve by twelve") It contains more detailed information, and Bill's opinion on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
The Twelve Steps
The Twelve Steps summarize the A.A. program that we have followed for recovery from alcoholism: More information on them is to be found in chapter 5 of the Big Book.
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our
lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us
to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact
with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will
for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we
tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles
in all our affairs.
The Twelve Traditions
The Twelve Traditions are the glue that binds a very "disorganized" organization. As a person continues in the A.A. program the wisdom and practical application of the Traditions becomes more apparent. More information about them can be found in the "Twelve by Twelve", "The A.A. Service Manual," and several of the books listed under further reading.
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon
A.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving
God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are
but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in manners affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise,
lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside
contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. A.A., as such, ought never be orgainzed; but we may create service
boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public
controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion;
we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio
and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever
reminding us to place principles before personalities.
How It Works - from Chapter 5 of the Big Book
A.A.Pamphets available at E.V.I. (Group Secretaries take note!)
list is available on our Books and Pamphlets page.
Further Reading: A.A. (A.A. World Services) and A.A. Grapevine publications
Books available at the EVI Office:
A.A. Comes of Age
As Bill Sees it
Came to Believe
Language of the Heart
Living Sober
Dr. Bob and the Good Old-timers
Pass it On
Daily Reflections
The A.A. Service Manual/12 Concepts
Selections from Above books:
Bill Wilson on Emotional Sobriety
Links to A.A.(Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office, Grapevine)
Alcoholics Anonymous General Services Office in New York: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/
The Grapevine, A.A.'s Magazine: http://www.aagrapevine.org
Links to sites not maintained by A.A., but that offer historical, or general information.
(note, E.V.I., or A.A. as a whole DO NOT endorse the following sites, or their content. They are offered purely as a convenience, and in the "nature of the internet", the hope that some of you may find some things that aid you on your path to sobriety.)
Big Book search engine
Big Book online, links to online and email A.A. meetings, history of A.A, etc:
http://www.recovery.org/aa
Online A.A. Intergroup: more online group info. http://aa-intergroup.org/
The Big Book Bunch, a group in California, on the steps: http://www.sober.org/
The Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper articles on A.A. from 1939: http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlrix.html
Dr Bobs Home: A.A. history: http://www.drbobs.com
Dick B.'s articles and books on the roots of A.A.: http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml
Dr. Harry Tiebouts papers http://www.thejaywalker.com/pages/tiebout/index.html
Dr. Bobs Last Talk, a transcription of Dr. Bobs last speaking appearance, in 1950
Bill W. at Guest House, a transcription of a talk Bill Wilson gave in the late 1960's
Nashville Intergroup Newsletter - a good Intergroup newsletter available online
