The AA Programme: August 2017

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Text changes from first to further editions of the Big Book

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	Chapter 1
2	We gave up our positions and off we roared on a	12	We gave up our positions and off we roared on a motorcycle, the	"a" was added, perhaps it sounds better now?"
	motorcycle, the sidecar stuffed with tent, blankets, a		sidecar stuffed with tent, blankets, change of clothes, and three
	change of clothes, and three huge volumes of a finan-		huge volumes of a financial reference service. Our friends thought
	cial reference service. Our friends thought a lunacy		a lunacy commission should be appointed.
	commission should be appointed.
14	The good doctor now sees many men who	24	The good doctor now sees many men who have such experiences.	""that" was added, perhaps it sounds better now?"
	have such experiences. He knows that they are real.		He knows they are real.
15	I have seen	25	I have seen one hundred families set their feet in the path that	number was increased,
	hundreds of families set their feet in the path that		"really goes somewhere; have seen the most impossible domestic "	historical adjustment
	"really goes somewhere; have seen the most impossible"		"situations righted; feuds and bitterness of all sorts wiped out. "
	"domestic situations righted; feuds and bitterness of all"
	sorts wiped out.
15	In one western city and its environs there	25	In one western city and its environs there are eighty of us and	number was increased,
	are one thousand of us and our families.		our families.	historical adjustment
16	At these informal gatherings one may often	26	At these informal gatherings one may often see from 40 to 80	number was increased,
	see from 50 to 200 persons. We are growing in num-		persons. We are growing in numbers and power.	historical adjustment
	bers and power.*			footnote added
	*In 1984, A.A. is composed of approximately 58,500 groups.
16	Bill W., co-founder of A.A.,	26		info added
	died January 24, 1971.
	Chapter 2
17	WE, OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know	27	WE, OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know one hundred men	number was increased,
	thousands of men and women who were once		who were once just as hopeless as Bill. All have recovered.	efficiency decreased
	just as hopeless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered.		They have solved the drink problem.
	They have solved the drink problem.
18	But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solu-	28	But the ex-alcoholic who has found this solution, who is properly	Changed because
	tion, who is properly armed with facts about himself,		armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire	""ex-alcoholic" was not in line with the doctrin"
	can generally win the entire confidence of another al-		confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours.	""Once an alcoholic -- always an alcoholic" (pg33)"
	coholic in a few hours.
20	Our very lives, as ex-problem	30	Our very lives, as ex-alcoholics, depend upon our constant thought	""ex-alcoholic" was not in line with the doctrin"
	drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others		of others and how we may help meet their needs.
	and how we may help meet their needs.
25	The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we	36	The great fact is just this, and nothing less: that we have had deep
	have had deep and effective spiritual experiences*		and effective spiritual experiences, which have revolutionized our
	which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward		whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows, and toward God's
	life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe.		universe.
	*Fully explained--Appendix II.			footnote states, most members
26	Then he had gone	36	Then he had gone
	to Europe, placing himself in the care of the celebrated		to Europe, placing himself in the care of the celebrated	Full name added. Why? To impress the reader?
	physician (the psychiatrist, Dr. Jung) who prescribed		physician who prescribed for him.
	for him.
27	With many individuals the methods which I em-	38	With many individuals the methods which I em-
	ployed are successful, but I have never been successful		ployed are successful, but I have never been successful
	"with an alcoholic of your description."*"		"with an alcoholic of your description.""
	*For amplification--see Appendix II.
29	Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing	39	Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered.
	how we recovered. These are followed by forty-three		These are followed by more than a score of personal experiences.
	personal experiences.
	Chapter 3
30	The idea	41	The idea
	that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his		that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his
	drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal		liquor drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal
	drinker.		drinker.
31	Science may one day accomplish this,	42	Science may one day accomplish this,
	but it hasn't done so yet.		but it evidently hasn't done so yet.
31	We do not like to pronounce any individual as alco-	43	We do not like to brand any individual as an alcoholic,
	holic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself.		but you can quickly diagnose yourself.
33	Several of	44	Several of
	our crowd, men of thirty or less, had been drinking		our crowd, men of thirty-five or less, had been drinking
	only a few years, but they found themselves as help-		only a few years, but they found themselves as helpless as those
	less as those who had been drinking twenty years.		who had been drinking twenty years.
33	Potential female alcoholics often turn into the real	45	Potential feminine alcoholics often turn into the real thing and are
	thing and are gone beyond recall in a few years.		gone beyond recall in a few years.
34	But try and get them to see it!*	45	But try and get them to see it!	footnote added
	*True when this book was first published. But a 1989
	U.S./Canada membership survey showed about one-fifth of A.A.'s were
	30 and under.
40	" Let him tell you about it: "I was much impressed"	51	"Let him tell you about it: "I was much impressed with what you "
	with what you fellows said about alcoholism, and I		fellows said about alcoholism, but I frankly did not believe it would
	frankly did not believe it would be possible for me to		be possible for me to drink again.
	drink again.
40	I rather appreciated your ideas about	51	I somewhat appreciated your ideas about the subtle insanity which
	the subtle insanity which precedes the first drink, but		precedes the first drink, but I was confident it could not happen to
	I was confident it could not happen to me after what I		me after what I had learned.
	had learned.
	Chapter 4
44	To be doomed to an alcoholic death	56	To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual
	or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy		basis--not always easy alternatives to face.
	alternatives to face.
44	About half our original	56	About half our fellowship were of exactly that type.
	fellowship were of exactly that type.
44	But cheer up, something like half of us thought we	56	But cheer up, something like fifty of us thought we were atheists
	were atheists or agnostics.		or agnostics.
47	At the start, this was all we	59	At the start, this is all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to
	needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our		effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him.
	first conscious relation with God as we understood
	Him.
47	That	59	That is growth, but if we wished to grow,
	was growth, but if we wished to grow we had to begin		we had to begin somewhere.
	somewhere.
47	It has been repeatedly proven among us that	59	It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple
	upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective		cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.
	spiritual structure can be built.*
	"*Please be sure to read Appendix II on "Spiritual Experience.""
50	In our personal stories you will find a wide variation	62	In our personal stories you will find wide variation in the way each
	in the way each teller approaches and conceives of		teller approaches and conceives of the Power which is greater
	the Power which is greater than himself.		than himself.
50	Experience has taught us	62	Experience has taught
	that these are matters about which, for our purpose,		that these are matters about which, for our purpose,
	we need not be worried.		we need not be worried.
50	Here are thousands of men and women, worldly in-	62	Here are one hundred men and women, worldly indeed.
	deed.
50	Once con-	63	Once confused and baffled by the seeming futility of existence, they
	fused and baffled by the seeming futility of existence,		will show the underlying reasons why they were making heavy
	they show the underlying reasons why they were		going of life.
	making heavy going of life.
51	They show how the change came over them.	63	They will show how the change came over them.
51	When	63	When one hundred people, are able to say that the consciousness
	many hundreds of people are able to say that the		of The Presence of God is today the most important fact of their
	consciousness of the Presence of God is today the most		lives, they present a powerful reason why one should have faith.
	important fact of their lives, they present a powerful
	reason why one should have faith.
51	Others came near putting Galileo	63	Others like them came near putting Galileo to death for his
	to death for his astronomical heresies.		astronomical heresies.
52	We had to ask ourselves why we shouldn't apply to	64	We had to ask ourselves why we shouldn't apply to our human
	our human problems this same readiness to change		problems this same readiness to change the point of view.
	our point of view.
52	When we saw others solve their problems by a	65	When we saw others solve their problems by simple reliance upon
	simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we		the Spirit of this universe, we had to stop
	had to stop doubting the power of God.		doubting the power of God.
56	That very night, years ago, it dis-	69	That very night three years ago it disappeared.
	appeared.
	Chapter 5
60	12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result	72	12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these* steps, we	*second printing March 1941 had "those", second edition 1955 reads again "these"
	of these steps, we tried to carry this message to		tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these
	alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all		principles in all our affairs.
	our affairs.
60	(c) That God could and would if He were sought.	72	(c) That God could and would if sought.
61	He begins to think life doesn't treat him	73	He begins to think life doesn't treat him right. He decides to exert
	right. He decides to exert himself more.		himself some more.
62	And there often	74	And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self
	seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without		without Him.
	His aid.
65	My wife Misunderstands and Pride--Personal	78	My wife Misunderstands and Pride--Personal and
	nags. Likes Brown. sex relations--		nags. Likes Brown. sex relations--Se-
	Wants house put in Security (fear)		Wants house put in curity (fear)
	her name.		her name.
	Chapter 6
76	If we still cling to something we will not let go, we	88	Should we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to
	ask God to help us be willing.		help us be willing.
80	This all happened years ago.	93	This all happened three years ago.
82	If we have no such complication, there is plenty we	94	Should we have no such complication, there is plenty we should do
	should do at home.		at home.
	Chapter 7
90	Sometimes it is wise to wait till he goes on a binge.	102	Usually it is wise to wait till he goes on a binge.
92	And be careful not to brand him as an	104	And be careful not to brand him an alcoholic.
	alcoholic.
92	Continue to speak of alcoholism as an illness, a fatal	104	Continue to speak of alcoholism as a sickness, a fatal malady.
	malady.
93	Let him ask you	105	Let him ask you that question, if he will. If he does not
	that question, if he will. Tell him exactly what hap-		ask, proceed with the rest of your story. Tell him exactly what
	pened to you.		happened to you.
93	But he will be curious to learn why his own convictions	105	But he will be curious to learn why his own convictions have not
	have not worked and why yours seem to work so well.		worked, and yours seem to work so well.
98	Argument and fault-finding are to	111	Argument and fault-finding are to be avoided like leprosy.
	be avoided like the plague.
	Chapter 8			footnote added
104	TO WIVES *	117	TO WIVES
	*Written in 1939, when there were few women in A.A., this
	chapter assumes that the alcoholic in the home is likely to
	be the husband.
	But many of the suggestions given here may be adapted to help the
	person who lives with a woman alcoholic--whether she is still drinking
	or is recovering in A.A. A further source of help is noted on page 121.
108	These are some of the questions which race through	121	These are some of the questions which race through the mind of
	the mind of every woman who has an alcoholic hus-		every girl who has an alcoholic husband.
	band.
111	He will	124	He will use that as an excuse to drink some more.
	use that as an excuse to drink more.
111	He may seek someone else to console him--	124	He may seek someone to console him--not always another man.
	not always another man.
113	He knows that thousands of	126	He knows that over a hundred men, much
	men, much like himself, have recovered.		like himself, have recovered.
114	We make this	127	We make this recommendation with some confidence. About a year
	recommendation with some confidence. For years we		ago a certain state institution released four chronic alcoholics. It was
	have been working with alcoholics committed to in-		fully expected they would all be back in a few weeks. Only one of
	stitutions. Since this book was first published, A.A.		them has returned. The others had no relapse at all. The power
	has released thousands of alcoholics from asylums and		of God goes deep!
	hospitals of every kind. The majority have never re-
	turned. The power of God goes deep!
114	The wives and children of such men suffer horribly, but	128	The wives and children of such men suffer horribly, but
	not more than the men themselves.		not less than the men themselves.
115	You will no longer be	128	You will no longer be self-conscious, nor feel that you must
	self-conscious or feel that you must apologize as		apologize as though your husband were a weak character.
	though your husband were a weak character.
121	That is why	134	That is why we are anxious that you understand, that you avoid
	we are anxious that you understand, and that you		these unnecessary difficulties.
	avoid these unnecessary difficulties.*
	The fellowship of Al-Anon Family Groups was
	formed about thirteen years after this chapter was
	written. Though it is entirely separate from Alcoholics
	Anonymous, it uses the general principles of the A.A.
	program as a guide for husbands, wives, relatives,
	friends, and others close to alcoholics. The foregoing
	pages (though addressed only to wives) indicate the
	problems such people may face. Alateen, for teen-aged
	children of alcoholics, is a part of Al-Anon.
	If there is no Al-Anon listing in your local tele-
	phone book, you may obtain further information on
	Al-Anon Family Groups by writing to its World Ser-
	vice Office: Box 182, Madison Square Station, New
	York, NY 10159.
	Chapter 9
124	We think	137	We think each family which has been relieved owes something to
	each family which has been relieved owes something		those which have not, and when the occasion requires, each
	to those who have not, and when the occasion re-		member of it, should be only too willing to bring former mistakes, no
	quires, each member of it should be only too willing		matter how grievous, out of their hiding places.
	to bring former mistakes, no matter how grievous, out
	of their hiding places.
125	A man may	138	A man may criticize or laugh at himself and it will affect others
	criticize or laugh at himself and it will affect others		favorably, but criticism or ridicule of him coming from another often
	favorably, but criticism or ridicule coming from an-		produces the contrary effect.
	other often produces the contrary effect.
126	With these we have had experi-	139	With these we have experience galore.
	ence galore.
130	We have come to believe He would like us to keep our	143	We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the
	heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought		clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted
	to be firmly planted on earth.		on earth, nevertheless.
131	Instead	144	Instead of developing new channels of activity for themselves,
	of developing new channels of activity for themselves,		mother and children may demand that he stay home and make up
	mother and children demand that he stay home and		the deficiency.
	make up the deficiency.
	Chapter 10
136	AMONG MANY employers nowadays, we think of	150	ONE of our friends, whose gripping story you will read, has spent
	one member who has spent much of his life in		much of his life in the world of big business.
	the world of big business
138	I felt this was inevitable and wondered	152	I felt this was inevitable and wondered if the bank were doing
	if the bank was doing the man an injustice.		the man an injustice.
139	Even when you understand the	154	Even when you understand the malady better, you may find
	malady better, you may feel this feeling rising.		this feeling rising.
142	At this point, it might be well to explain alcoholism, the illness.	156	At this point, it might be well to explain alcoholism, the sickness.
	Say that you believe he is a gravely ill per-		Say that you believe he is a gravely-ill person, with this
	son, with this qualification--being perhaps fatally ill,		qualification--being perhaps fatally ill, does he want to
	does he want to get well?		get well immediately?
144	That won't	158	That won't hurt him a bit, though he does not go for this remedy.
	hurt him a bit, even though he does not go for this
	remedy.
144	Your are betting, of course, that your changed atti-	158	You are betting, of course, that your changed attitude and the
	tude plus the contents of this book will turn the trick.		contents of this book will turn the trick.
144	As our work spreads and our	159	When our work spreads and our numbers increase, we hope your
	numbers increase, we hope your employees may be		employees may be put in personal contact with some of us.
	put in personal contact with some of us.
145	The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resent-	159	The greatest enemies of we alcoholics are resentment, jealousy,
	ment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear.		envy, frustration, and fear.
146	After your man has gone along without drinking
	for a few months, you may be able to make use of his	160	After your man has gone along without drinking a few months,
	services with other employees who are giving you the		you may be able to make use of his services with other employees
	alcoholic run-around--provided, of course, they are		who are giving you the alcoholic run-around-provided, of course,
	willing to have a third party in the picture.		they are willing to have a third party in the picture.
147	If you take it, your past will be forgotten	162	If you do, your past will be forgotten and the fact that you went
	and the fact that you went away for treatment will		away for treatment will not be mentioned.
	not be mentioned.
150	I have enjoyed every moment spent in getting them	164	I have enjoyed every moment spent in getting them
	straightened out.*		straightened out.*
	*See Appendix VI--We shall be happy to hear from you if we can		*See appendix--The Alcoholic Foundation. We may be able to
	be of help.		carry on a limited correspondence.
	Chapter 11
151	As ex-problem drink-	166	As ex-alcoholics, we smile at such a sally.
	ers, we smile at such a sally.
152	Years ago, in 1935, one of our number made a	168	Nearly four years ago, one of our number made a journey to a
	journey to a certain western city.		certain western city.
154	After all, had he not been sober six months now?	168	Then after all, had he not been sober six months now?
155	Painfully aware of being	169	Painfully aware of being somehow abnormal, the man did not fully
	somehow abnormal, the man did not fully realize		realize what it means to be alcoholic.
	what it meant to be alcoholic.*
	*This refers to Bill's first visit with Dr. Bob. These men later be-
	"came co-founders of A.A. Bill's story opens the text of this book;"
	Dr. Bob's heads the Story Section.
156	Goes off his head com-	170	Goes off his head completely when drinking.
	pletely when he's drinking.
156	Understand he was once a	170	Understand he was once a well-known lawyer
	well-known lawyer in town, but just now we've got		"in town, but just now we've got him strapped down tight.""
	"him strapped down tight."*"
	*This refers to Bill's and Dr. Bob's first visit to A.A. Number Three.
	See the Pioneer Section. This resulted in A.A.'s first group, at Akron,
	Ohio, in 1935.
160	He succumbed to that gay	174	He succumbed to that gay crowd inside, who laughed
	crowd inside, who laughed at their own misfortunes		at their misfortune and understood him.
	and understood his.
161	Being a large	175	Being a large place, we think that some day its Fellowship will
	place, we think that some day its Fellowship will		number many hundreds.
	number many hundreds.*
	*Written in 1939.
161	Under only slightly different conditions, the same	176	Under only slightly different conditions, the same thing is taking
	thing is taking place in many eastern cities.		place in several eastern cities.
162	We are greatly indebted to the	176	We are greatly indebted to the doctor in attendance there, for he,
	doctor in attendance there, for he, although it might		although it might prejudice his own work, has told us his
	prejudice his own work, has told us of his belief in ours.		belief in our work.
162	Then, in this	176	Then, in this eastern city, there are informal meetings such as we
	eastern city, there are informal meetings such as we		have described to you, where you may see thirty or forty, there
	have described to you, where you may now see scores		are the same fast friendships, there is the same helpfulness to
	of members. There are the same fast friendships,		one another as you find among our western friends.
	there is the same helpfulness to one another as you
	find among our western friends.
162	This practice enables us to lend a	177	This practice enables us to lend a hand, at the same time avoiding
	hand, at the same time avoiding certain alluring dis-		certain alluring distractions of the road, about which any traveling
	tractions of the road, about which any traveling man		man can inform you.
	can inform you.*
	*Written in 1939. In 1984, there are about 58,500 groups. There is A.A.
	activity in 114 countries, with an estimated membership of over 1,000,000.
163	You forget that you have just now tapped	177	You forget that you have just now tapped a source of power
	a source of power much greater than yourself.		so much greater than yourself.
163	We know of an A.A. member who was living in a	177	We know a former alcoholic who was living in a large community.
	large community.
163	This was only a few days ago at this writing. (1939)	177	This was only a few days ago at this writing.
164	He	178	He will show you how to create the fellowship you crave.
	will show you how to create the fellowship you
	crave.*
	*Alcoholics Anonymous will be glad to hear from you. Address
	P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163.

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