AA Big Book - Summary
The AA Big Book, published in 1939, is a key resource for the Alcoholics Anonymous movement. Subtitled “The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism,” it shares the personal stories of Bill W., one of A.A.’s co-founders, and explains how the program operated during its early days. This essential book is filled with timeless insights and serves as the first and primary text for A.A. and many 12-step programs. The AA Big Book is truly a guiding light for those seeking to recover from addiction.
Understanding the 12 Steps in AA
In Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 steps play a vital role for recovering alcoholics to achieve and maintain sobriety. Although these steps mention God or a higher power, they can adapt to any divine figure or the universe itself, making them accessible for agnostics as well. Ideally followed in order, these steps are a continuous process, often taken with the help of a sponsor—an experienced person who guides newcomers on their recovery journey.
AA Big Book – 12 Steps
Each step is explained in detail within the Big Book, but here’s a brief overview of all 12 steps:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
You can easily download the AA Big Book PDF using the link below. This PDF will assist you on your journey towards sobriety.
