Text changes from 1st -3rd editions

Text changes from first to further editions of the Big Book

Text changes from first to further editions of the Big Book We invite your participation -- improvements and/or comments. Please contact mail@aabbsg.de page  text in later Editions page text 1st Ed. comments   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.