AA Book Club

What is "AA Literature?" This is what the GSO says: Not All “A.A. Literature” Is Conference-Approved Central offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces meet the needs of the local membership, they may be legitimately classified as “A.A. literature.” There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S. – publishers of Conference-approved literature), and central offices or intergroups – rather they complement each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such material. (Emphasis in the original) **************************** The full statement can be read or downloaded here:  SMF-29 Conference-Approved Literature

Saturday AA speaker/history post - Jim S, editor of many Big Book stories: Jim S, editor of Big Book stories  

  Throwback Thursday AA history post - Jim W. on Cleveland AA "Meanwhile Out in Cleveland": Jim W - Meanwhile Out in Cleveland

  Throwback Thursday Wednesday AA history link - Bill W. died on this day in 1971. Here is a recording of a memorial service held in Baton Rouge, La soon afterward: Baton Rouge, La memorial service for Bill W  

  A Big Book topic from our AA literature study guide at AABookClub.org: Dollar Honest and Sense Wise As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. (Page 46) Here are thousands of men and women, worldly indeed. They flatly declare that since they have come to believe in a Power greater than themselves, to take a certain attitude toward that Power, and to do certain simple things, there has been a revolutionary change in their way of living and thinking. In the face of collapse and despair, in the face of the total failure of their human resources, they found that a new powe

Throwback Thursday AA history post - A January 1941 article from Scribner's Commentator on Alcoholics Anonymous (You may have to scroll down past an ad): Scribner's Commentator article on AA  (via Silkworth.net)

Read or download a 1947 Grapevine article by Bill W. on the publication of the Big Book: Book-Publication-Proved-Discouraging-Venture.pdf (silkworth.net)

  Saturday AA speaker post - Julie M (This talk will bring you to tears):

Throwback Thursday AA history post - Mike F on Anne Smith, The Mother of AA: Mike F on Anne Smith: The Mother of AA

  Big Book Promises The Big Book contains promises in several of the Steps, and in the chapter A Vision For You. These are all promises or predictions of mental, emotional and spiritual changes that will occur in us as we progress through the program of recovery. These can be seen as the stages of a gradual " spiritual awakening as a result of these Steps." The 12 & 12 contains brief summaries of each Step that are similar in nature. Third Step Promises "When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, a

Saturday AA speaker post -  Funny speaker Jack G:

Saturday AA speaker/history link - 

Throwback Thursday AA history post - a 1971 Grapevine article by Bill W "Regarding the Hippy Problem" (Unconventional young people in AA): Bill Regarding Hippies

  1944 Grapevine article on Step One: A.A. Oldtimers…On the First Step A.A. Grapevine, November 1944, Vol. 1 No. 6 Editorial: On the First Step “We admitted we were powerless over alcoholism – that our lives had become unmanageable.” The first of the 12 steps in the creed or philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous is, “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol–that our lives had become unmanageable.” By such an admission any alcoholic, provided he is sincere, has achieved his first success on the road to well-being. Such an admission is usually very difficult for the alcoholic to make. The very nature of his disease makes him shun the knowledge of his inability to cope with the problems of everyday life. Hence his desire for something that will rapidly create whatever he thinks he lacks as an individual. With a few drinks under his belt he can fashion the most wonderful dreams about himself. These dreams can become his real characteristics–but only when he recognizes that he must domi