AA Book Club

Parallel Passages in the Big Book and 12&12: If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that we have an answer for you. It never fails, if you go about it with one half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when you were getting another drink. Big Book Page 181 Dr. Bob's Nightmare Now we come to another kind of problem: the intellectually self-sufficient man or woman. To these, many A.A.'s can say, “Yes, we were like you—far too smart for our own good. We loved to have people call us precocious. We used our education to blow ourselves up into prideful balloons, though we were careful to hide this from oth...

Saturday AA speaker/history post - A short bio and several talks by Searcy W, Texas AA Pioneer and 'Ebby's Sponsor': Searcy W. - Short Bio and Several Talks

Throwback Thursday AA history post - Dawn Eden Goldstein on Father Ed, Bill W.'s Spiritual Sponsor: Dawn Eden Goldstein on Father Ed, Bill W.'s Spiritual Sponsor

Big Book topics for study, meditation or use with a sponsee (For more topics, see 153 Topics on our online literature study guide at  AA Book Club ): Who's Fault? Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. (Page 58) What usually happens? The show doesn't come off very well. He begins to think life doesn't treat him right. He decides to exert himself more. He becomes, on the next occasion, still more demanding or gracious, as the case may be. Still the play does not suit him. Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame. He becomes angry, indignant, self-pitying. What is his basic trouble? Is he not really a self-seeker even when trying to be kind? Is he not a victim of the delus...

Throwback Thursday AA history post - Mily T. on Florence R, author of A Feminine Victory in the First Edition:  Mily T. on Florence R.

  Thoughts on Tradition Five from the Shropshire (UK) Intergroup (more at the link below): Short form Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Long form Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose— that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Tradition Five Discussion Questions Am I willing to explain firmly to a newcomer the limitations of AA help, even if he gets mad at me for not giving him a loan? Am I willing to twelfth-step the next newcomer without regard to who or what is in it for me? Does our group carry the message effectively? Could we do anything to make it clearer? Do I know exactly what the message is? Do I help my group in every way I can to fulfil our primary purpose? Do I remember that AA old-timers, too, can be alcoholics who still suffer? Do I try both to help them and to learn from them? Do I understand how a group is defined? Thoug...

  Saturday AA speaker/history post - Sister Ignacia, Dr. Bob and Bill W: Sister Ignacia, Dr. Bob and Bill W.

  Spiritual Experience / Awakening (Definition) There are four definitions of a spiritual awakening in our major works. Two mention God or Higher Power and two do not. All four mention a major change in our attitude and perception. Therefore, the latter seems to be the defining element in this phenomenon. There are two firsthand accounts in the Big Book of sudden experiences leading directly to 'God consciousness'. An appendix The Spiritual Experience was added for the expressed purpose of explaining that this type of experience is not universal. Big Book: “The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God’s universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous.” Page 25, There is a solution “ 'H...