Joe and Charlie Big Book Study Tapes/Transcript

Joe and Charlie
Big Book Study

Joe McQ. & Charlie P. met in 1973 when Joe introduced Charlie as the AA speaker at an Al-Anon Convention. Joe had wondered if Charlie might be the country-western singer Charlie Pride. “He wasn’t even the right color,” Joe laments. They instantly discovered their mutual fascination with AA’s basic text the ‘Big Book’. What interested them most was that the ‘Big Book’ was written in a particular sequence to convey certain ideas. They would frequently meet to discuss the book, often driving 225 miles to meet in each other’s homes.

Soon they were planning meetings in hotel rooms at AA conventions in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and within a few years, the meetings grew in popularity. In 1977, some members met in a Tulsa, OK hotel room for a discussion of the Big Book. One asked Joe & Charlie to come to his home group to present a program on the book. An AA taper made a four tape set of their presentation and called it “The Big Book Study”. The recordings were gradually circulated throughout the fellowship and invitations were received for Joe & Charlie to present the study at AA conventions, roundups and special events. By 1980, there had been about eight studies offered.

The Joe and Charlie tapes are public domain.

Simply click each track to download.

 01 AA History 1 (4.7 MiB)

 02 AA History 2 (4.3 MiB)

 03 AA History 3 (4.6 MiB) 04 AA History 4 (3.6 MiB) 05 Doctors Opinion 1 (5.3 MiB) 06 Doctors Opinion 2 (5.9 MiB) 07 Doctors Opinion 3 (2.4 MiB) 08 Bill's Story 1 (6.2 MiB) 09 Bill's Story 2 (6.0 MiB) 10 There Is A Solution (5.6 MiB) 11 Spiritual Experience (4.2 MiB) 12 There Is A Solution (3.2 MiB) 13 More About Alcoholism 1 (5.0 MiB) 14 More About Alcoholism 2 (3.1 MiB) 15 We Agnostics 1 (4.9 MiB) 16 We Agnostics 2 (4.2 MiB) 17 How It Works 1 (6.6 MiB) 18 How It Works 2 (7.6 MiB) 19 3rd Step (1.9 MiB) 20 4th Step 1 (4.8 MiB) 21 4th Step 2 (6.4 MiB) 22 4th Step 3 (3.7 MiB) 23 Freedom From Bondage (3.3 MiB) 24 4th Step 4 (7.4 MiB) 25 4th Step - List Of Fears (5.4 MiB) 26 4th Step - Sex List (6.1 MiB) 27 4th Step - Harm List (1.9 MiB) 28 5th Step (3.7 MiB) 29 6th & 7th Step (3.3 MiB) 30 8th Step (2.4 MiB) 31 8th & 9th Step (7.0 MiB) 32 10th Step (2.2 MiB) 33 11th Step (4.1 MiB) 34 12th Step (4.0 MiB)

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Related Posts:

How the Big Book Came AboutA Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous – 1940The Jack Alexander ArticleThe Big Book – Chapter 1 – Bill’s StoryThe Big Book – Chapter 11 – A Vision For YouOur Southern Friend

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JOE AND CHARLIE TRANSCRIPT

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The Big Book Comes Alive --

Charlie Big Book Study Transcript - Originally Taped in Mesa, Arizona, February 6-8, 1987

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(TAPE 1 SIDE A)

 1. Introduction 2. How Joe and Charlie started their study of the Big Book 3. Spread of the Big Book Study tapes 4. History of the Big Book 5. Bill and Dr. Bob realize that forty people are now sober 6. First groups decide on paid missionaries, chain of hospitals, and book; only the book is actually begun 7. Table of Contents is explained (p. v)The Doctor's Opinion & Bill's Story (the problem)Chapters Two through Four (the solution)Chapters Five through Seven (the program of action) 8. Preface--two points are emphasized (p. xi)Big Book a textbook 9.  Like a math textbook, begin at the beginning10. Problems with starting newcomer at Chapter Five11. Program in the Big Book is unchangedForward to the First Edition--two points are emphasized (p. xxii)One hundred people not just one author12. Big Book shows precisely how that one hundred recoveredBig Book deals with recovery, not with fellowshipBig Book is as precise as a cake recipe13. Forward to the Second Edition--Bill and Dr. Bob (p. xv)14. Dr. Bob and the Oxford Groups

(TAPE 1 SIDE B)

 1.Dr. Bob gets message from HenriettaDr. Bob prays with Oxford Group members but gets drunk 2. Bill brings Dr. Bob the problem as described by Dr. Silkworth (p. xvi ) 3. Dr. Bob sobers and with Bill they work on drunks (p. xvii)Akron, Ohio group formsThey decide to publish a bookProgram in the fellowship has gotten away from program in the Big Book 4. Original program in Big Book was 75% successful (p. xx)The Doctor's Opinion--Dr. Silkworth describes two-fold diseaseBody AND mind of an alcoholic are both abnormal (p. xxiv) 5. Baffling from Solomon's time until Dr. Silkworth 6. Dr. Silkworth's opinion that we have an allergy to alcohol (p. xxiv ) 7. "Allergy" is an abnormal reaction, in this case to alcohol 8. Charlie describes his dramatically abnormal reaction to alcohol 9. Most alcoholics don't know what is normal or abnormal10. Phenomenon of craving in allergic types only (p. xxvi)Joe describes normal drinkers on airplanes--no craving11. Classification of alcoholics into five types12. Only thing all types have in common is phenomenon of craving13. Joe and Charlie's Disease Concept of Alcoholism Not A.A. information14. Alcohol is broken down easily by the non-alcoholic

(TAPE 2 SIDE A)

 1. Alcohol broken down poorly or slowly by alcoholicCharlie describes a typical drinking escapade

A man is supposed to clean up the yard, but goes to a bar

 2. Drinking triggers the phenomenon of cravingPhenomenon of craving gets worse with age or more drinking 3. Mental obsession of the man allergic to fish but eats it anyway 4. Alcoholics like the effect produced by alcohol (p. xxvi)Not the taste but the effect 5. Charlie describes how his mental obsession developedAlcoholics can't differentiate the true from the false (p. xxvi) 6. We are restless, irritable and discontent (p. xxvi-xxvii)Joe's example of the emotional barometer 7. Can't drink safely because of the body 8. Can't keep from drinking because of the mind 9. Will power is useless unless you see there is something wrongWithout psychic change this is very little hope (p. xxvii)10. Obsessions of other kinds are discussed--food, gambling, etc.11. Bill was the first to know the problem, solution, and practical program of action12. CHAPTER ONE, "Bill's Story"
§§. Begin Saturday Sessions13. Bill's Story is the textbook case study of active alcoholism

(TAPE 2 SIDE B)

 1. Like a Twelfth Step call, it describes Bill's disease to the newcomer 2. Law school to Wall Street--Bill's early days (p. 2) 3. Bill investigates companies on a motorcycle trip with LoisFame and fortune come but drinking gets more serious.He becomes a lone wolf (p. 3) 4. Stock market crash, followed by financial decline (p. 4) 5. Liquor becomes a necessity, blows stock deal,"wakes up" (p. 5) 6. Bill tries to stop, steals from wife, fears suicide (p. 6)Uses sedative, goes to hospital, but gets drunk again (p. 7) 7. Pronounced hopeless, and admits alcohol his master (p. 8) 8. Bill talks to Ebby in his kitchen 9. Bill is "aghast" at Ebby's solution (p. 9)10. Ebby's connection to Rowland H. and the Oxford Groups discussed11. Bill balks at anything religious (p. 10-11)12. Ebby tells Bill to choose his own conception of God (p. 12)13. Bill tried to sober up with the Oxford Groups

fails Goes back to the hospital and finally accepts Ebby'sproposals

14. All Twelve Steps are found on one page (p. 13)

(TAPE 3 SIDE A)

 1. Bill's spiritual experience (p. 14)CHAPTER TWO, "There is a Solution"--shows exactly what happened 2. We are people who normally would not mix (p. 17) 3. Illustration of the passengers on an ocean linerGreat difference between steerage and Captain's table 4. Great power in the fellowship is one element that binds usThe common solution is the other essential element 5. Common solution is tremendous fact that binds usMany today just use the fellowship and not the solutionSolution should be pointed out to the newcomer 6. Charlie talks about this illustrationDifferent races at the Big Book StudyCharlie finally made it to the Captain's table 7. Three types of drinkers are moderate social, heavy, real alcoholic (p. 20-21) 8. Description of real alcoholic (p. 21-22) 9. Why does he start?--problem centers in his mind (p. 22-23)10. We are without defense against the first drink (p. 24)11. Failure of defense against the hot stoveCharlie recalls being burned by stoveMost alcoholics are beyond human aid, so fellowship isn't enough12. There is a solution--the effective spiritual experience13. Difficult to continue without an understanding of this termMost have a wrong conception of spiritual experienceCharlie tells about his Aunt Molly's experience14. Appendix II explains spiritual experience, spiritual awakeningPersonality change sufficient to recover (p. 569)Readers of first printing thought it had to be sudden

(TAPE 3 SIDE B)

 1. Most experiences are of the educational varietyOthers see it, then he realizesProfound alteration in his reaction to life

 - Not brought about by himself alone

 2. Tapped unsuspected inner resource (p. 570) 3. No middle-of-the-road solution, only two alternatives (p. 25)

» Go on to the bitter end (the problem of Step One)

» Accept spiritual help (the solution of Step Two)

 4. Rowland H. was treated by Dr. Carl Jung for a year (p. 26) 5. Pronounced hopeless without a vital spiritual experienceHuge emotional displacement and rearrangements 6. Three things come together in Bill's mind

» Problem from Dr. Silkworth

» Solution from Dr. Carl Jung

» Recovery program from Oxford Groups

 7. CHAPTER THREE, "More About Alcoholism"--the mental obsession is illustrated by four examplesInsanity is not what we do when drunk, it's believing a lie 8. We're like a pie with a piece missing, not all gone 9. Circle of recovery, the old member helps new see the truth10. Great obsession that we will control and enjoy drinking (p. 30)11. Methods we have tried, "ad infinitum" (p. 31)Might try controlled drinking (p. 31-32; first method of diagnosing yourself as alcoholic)12. Man of thirty stays dry for twenty-five years, drinks again and dies in four years (p. 32-33)Might try to stop drinking for a year (p. 34; second method of diagnosis)13. Might look at the mental states that precede drinking (p. 34-35; third method of diagnosis)Story of the car salesman, Jim--keeps getting drunk (p. 35)

(TAPE 4 SIDE A)

 1. Joe and Charlie look at Jim's story for sanity and insanity 2. Jim's insane decision to drink whiskey in milk (p. 36) 3. Insanity is the lack of proportion and the ability to think straight about alcohol (p. 37) 4. We are as insane as the jay-walker who can't stay out of traffic (p. 37-38) 5. Absolutely unable to stop on the basis of self-knowledge (p. 39)Story of the accountant, Fred--gets drunk on Washington trip (P. 39) 6. Decides to have cocktails with dinner (p. 41) 7. Alcoholic has no effective mental defence against the first drink (P. 43) 8. CHAPTER FOUR, We Agnostics--the spiritual kindergartenTwo questions to determine if you're alcoholic (p. 44)"When you honestly want to, you can't quit entirelyLittle control over amount you take 9. Three attitudes toward God are discussed: atheist, agnostic, or true believer10. Codes and philosophies didn't save us (p. 45)11. Lack of power, that was our dilemma (p. 45)Main object of book is to find that Power  -- The Power will solve your problemDo I believe or am I even willing to believe? (p. 47)Believing is the cornerstone12. Believing is just being suspicious, not faith as yet13. In the past men were fettered by fixed ideas (p. 51)14. Joe and Charlie discuss Bill's example of ColumbusFive hundred years ago you couldn't believe differently15. Columbus had courage to believe, "a good alcoholic trait"

(TAPE 4 SIDE B)

 1. We can't give a newcomer our faith which is based on Steps Three through Twelvewe can help newcomer come to believe. 2. First they believe, then decide, then take action 3. Deep down inside is the fundamental idea of God (p. 55)God isn't lost, He dwells within us 4. We need to peel away the garbage 5. We now have the diagnosis of Step One and the prescription of Step TwoCHAPTER FIVE, "How It Works"--the directions to Step Three and Step FourJoe talks about how Bill wrote the Steps one evening 6. Charlie reads from the original manuscript of "How It Works" 7. Designed to sell you three pertinent ideas 8. The original Twelfth Step calls are discussedIn two visits they took newcomer through Steps One and TwoThe book does this in The Doctor's Opinion and first four chaptersThe early A.A. members started the newcomer at Step Three when they sponsored them into the group 9. There was a big fight over the first of Chapter Five10. Bill intended and wanted "directions" not "suggestions"11. Bill gave in but used "directions" everywhere elseCharlie tells the drunken burglar jokeBeing convinced we were at Step Three (p. 60)12. Charlie discuss "decision" to take a trip13. Will is my thinking, life is my actions

(TAPE 5 SIDE A)

 1. We must decide between problem and the solution 2. Joe was afraid he would end up in the Salvation Army BandJoe discusses willIt's like a last will and testament 3. Animals don't have self-will but humans do, and we need itAdam and Eve in "serenity park" 4. Charlie discusses the three basic instincts of life 5. Social instinct is a strong desire to be part of the group 6. Security instinct, from earliest times was necessary for survivalSex instinct also gives only a temporary feeling 7. Self-will cannot overcome self-will 8. Joe says the instincts are like the utilities of a buildingThe root of our troubles (p. 62) 9. We had to quit playing God; God is the DirectorBuild an arch to freedom, we get positive results10. Third Step prayer (p. 63)11. Fourth Step housecleaning begins AT ONCE, or self-will stops us12. Not a list of dirty nasty thingsResentment is to judge incorrectly and is a wrong13. Fear is to believe incorrectly and is a wrongHarm to others is a wrong14. Charlie's first inventory wasn't very helpful

(TAPE 5 SIDE B)

 1. Inventory guides have confused people a lot 2. Bill used the parable of a business inventory (p. 64) Business inventory and personal inventory are compared It's always a written list of items Without it we "go broke," that is we get drunk 3."Moral" means truthful 4."Stock-in-trades means what is in our heads today 5. We searched out the flaws in our make-up that block us (p. 64) Three manifestations of self, resentments, fears, and harms to others. 6. RESENTMENT is the "number one" offender (p. 64) Joe says we replay it to excuse ourselves and accuse others 7. We must analyze these resentments (p. 70) 8. Joe and Charlie interpret the inventory on page sixty-five 9. List from top to bottom all the people, institutions, and principles we're mad at.10. List from top to bottom what they did to make us mad11. List from top to bottom what part of self is affected12. We went back through our lives (p. 66)13. Charlie tells how he squandered time through resentments14. Resentments cut us off from the sunlight of the Spirit (p. 66)

(TAPE 6 SIDE A)

 1. People, some long dead, dominate us through our resentments 2. Fourth Step prayer is seldom mentioned but very useful (p. 67) 3. "Freedom from Bondage"--example of prayer to remove resentment Some deep resentments will not "analyze out" (p. 551) Pray for the person for two weeks (p. 552) 4. Charlie did this on a partner that he had hated and it worked 5. In the fourth column we looked for our own mistakes (p. 67)Joe did this on his resentment toward his mother-in-law 6. We can now choose to be resentment free if we work at this 7. Charlie talks about resentments toward business partner and his wife 8. Charlie tells about a man who resents his neighbor painting the house next door 9. FEAR is useful when it gives us caution We reviewed our fears thoroughly (p. 68)11. List all our fears from top to bottom firstList why we had them, example IRS because we cheated them List what part of self is affected12. List exact nature of the wrong13. Most fears will look pretty double dumb, for others we use prayer

(TAPE 6 SIDE B)

 1. HARMS DONE TO OTHERS--especially through sex conduct The quickest way to hurt others is through sex Animals don't have our problems with sex 2. We think about it before, during, and after, and must make decisions about our actions Many need an overhauling, but we try to be sensible (p. 68) 3. Some want more and more sex, others think it's shameful (p. 69)Big Book wants to stay out of this controversyWe review our conduct of the pastThe inventory is done in the same way as resentments and fearsList the people we have hurt, for example: spouse, partners, childrenhurt by adultery (column one)List what we did (column two) 5. List what part of self caused this action (column three)Sex used to build our own egoSex used to buy emotional and material securitySex used for revenge, or to get our way 6. Most often the cause is not the sex instinct but the social and security instinctWe find the same character defects (column four) 7. We tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future (p. 69)The test--selfish or not?Ask God to mold our ideals and help us live up to them 8. Avoid hysterical thinking or advice (p. 70) 9. If we continue to hurt others we are quite sure to drinkIf sex is very troublesome we help others (but not by having sex with them!)10. There has already been a lot of personality changeAlso add anyone we have harmed that hasn't shown up so far and we have the names for the Eighth Step11. If we have listed and analyzed our "grosser handicaps" (resentments, fears, and harms to others) in a Fourth Step we have made a good beginning (p. 71)CHAPTER SIX, "Into Action"--directions for Steps Five through Eleven12. We start reaching out to others with Step Five Bill uses shortcomings, wrongs, and defects interchangeably13. Solitary self-appraisal insufficient (p. 72)If we skip Step Five we may drink14. We share all our life story in the three areas of our "grosser handicaps" We are very much the actor (p. 73)

(TAPE 7 SIDE A)

 1. Step Five helps me be honest with meOne purpose of Step Five is to improve Step Four inventory particularly as to the fourth column, what I did wrong 2. How to choose someone to hear the Fifth Step (p. 74) 3.Promises after the Fifth Step (p. 75)Returning home we are quiet for an hour and review what we have done and check the first five Steps (p. 75) 4.Step Six we are willing or ask God for help to become willing to remove things which are now objectionable 5. Step Seven prayer is discussed 6. Charlie says we try to practice the opposite of the character defect 7. Joe says that Steps Six and Seven are tools of change, the pick and shovel of recovery 8. Successful living means the daily dying of our old ways 8. Charlie says that we are now responsible for the way we feel10. Steps Eight and Nine--going to any lengths (p. 76) 11. The three dimensions of life are discussed: mental, physical, and spiritual12. We become willing to make amends, but usually not to everyone on the list at the beginningDirect amends means face to face wherever possible, and equal restitution (often in regular payments of money where owed)13. Steps give us a design for living14. Big Book deals with all kinds of amends questions

(TAPE 7 SIDE B)

 1. There is no need to work Step Nine "off the wall"Don't make amends if it will harm others, we don't beg them 2. Dr. Bob couldn't stay sober until he made amends 3. Charlie reads the promises after Step Nine (p. 83-84) 4. We have to work for them before we get themlike Charlie when he was a boy so he could get to go to the movies on Saturday 5. Charlie re-reads them adding "When I took a drink of alcohol"We get the same ease and comfort from the Steps as from alcohol 6. Greatest waste in A.A. is the people who are "just not drinking," they miss the fourth dimension of lifeLast three Steps are growth Steps not just maintenance Steps 7. Step Ten is really doing Steps Four through Nine on a daily basis (p. 84) 8. There is danger in working Step Ten "off the wall" We don't wait until night to do Step Ten 8. Tenth Step promises are read (p. 84-85)10. Somewhere between page forty-five and eighty-five the obsession is removedWe are not cured of alcoholism, we have a daily reprieve (p. 85)11. Vital sixth sense (p. 85) 12. Step Eleven suggest prayer and meditation (p. 85)13. At night we constructively review our day (p. 86)Have we been doing Step Ten today?Joe and Charlie have a helpful review sheet14. On awakening we consider our plans (p. 86)

(TAPE 8)

 1. We ask God to direct our thinking (p. 86)Joe asks is my life as good as my mind?Charlie tells the brain transplant joke 2. We may face indecision (p. 86)We are very limited in our informationGod has ten-thousand great answers for each questionWe ask God for inspiration; we don't struggle (p. 86) 3. More and more on the plane of inspiration (p. 87)Classic Western prayer and meditationPrayer is asking for direction,meditation is listening for the answerSometimes God speaks to us through other people 4. Charlie tells of a group that tried Eastern meditationCareful to make no requests for ourselves only (p. 87) 5. Joe examines the prayer life from his youth 6. When Joe was a boy, one man asked for everything in heaven 7. We pause when agitated or doubtful (p. 87)Promises or results of Step Eleven (p. 88)Step Twelve is discussed briefly 8. Charlie discuss spiritual awakening as THE result of these Steps 8. We carry a very simple message10. We are uniquely able to help alcoholics11. A.A. could fail unless we stick to what worksThe people who carried the message to Joe and Charlie didn't stay sober12. Joe discusses the failure of the Washingtonians of the 1840's13. Joe says that Big Book teaches him how to liveCharlie says that the hardest place to practice the principles is in his own home14. Our book is meant to be suggestive only (p. 164)

(END OF TAPES)

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