Wed hardly be human if we didnt. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! We are there to sweep off our side of the street, realizing that nothing worth while can be accomplished until we do so, never trying to tell him what he should do. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. Still physically weak, and sober but a few months, he saw that his predicament was dangerous. BIG BOOK Type the first few characters of your word-of-interest into the search box in the upper right corner. We know women who have done it. He should not be pushed or prodded by you, his wife, or his friends. Presently he is hit again and this time has a fractured skull. Work better. We made it when we took inventory. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! He begins to think life doesnt treat him right. Cling to the thought that, in Gods hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have-the key to life and happiness for others. Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere of such places? If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension. Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. At one end of the room stood a glass covered directory of local churches. He had begun to have a spiritual experience. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Obviously, no rule can be laid down. The process of one addict/alcoholic guiding another through the Book takes between 24 and 30 hours, usually done in 2 - 3 hour sessions, typically over a period of 2 - 3 weeks. Everybody believes them without a murmur of doubt. The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that I compiled from the first edition of the Big Book. Potential alcoholic that I was, I nearly failed my law course. The First 164 pages of The Big Book with lined pages opposite text for note taking. We know you will not want to miss it. The fact is that he should work with other people to maintain his own sobriety. This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. And we, who have imposed on the best of employers, can scarcely blame them if they have been short with us. We think each family which has been relieved owes something to those who have not, and when the occasion requires, each member of it should be only too willing to bring former mistakes, no matter how grievous, out of their hiding places. Though a situation had not been entirely our fault, we tried to disregard the other person involved entirely. We have tried these methods. I love the ease of use of the Kindle version on my smart phone for use in meetings when you or someone else is trying to remember the page number of a specific passage, or how many times a specific word is mentioned (for instance, RECOVERED- 34 times in the first 164!!!) Father will necessarily spend much time with other alcoholics, but this activity should be balanced. That company may harbor many actual or potential alcoholics. His case presents additional questions which we shall try to answer for you. We suggest you draw the book to the attention of the doctor who is to attend your patient during treatment. Every means of solving his problem which money could buy was at his disposal. A man so involved often feels very remorseful at times, especially if he is married to a loyal and courageous girl who has literally gone through hell for him. The family should be offered your way of life. Sometimes he drinks on the way home from the hospital. Where were we at fault, what should we have done instead? Could we have been so mistaken in the men we married? Simply click on a word and all references in the . We found, too, that we had been worshippers. Many of us have experienced dads elation. The more hopeless he feels, the better. Live and let live is the rule. Then they outlined the spiritual answer and program of action which a hundred of them had followed successfully. 164. He had a desperate desire to stop, but saw no way out, for he had earnestly tried many avenues of escape. He can scarcely square the account in his lifetime. The Big Book has given me that comfort and the push to move forward. As animals on a treadmill, we have patiently and wearily climbed, falling back in exhaustion after each futile effort to reach solid ground. Alcoholics Anonymous The Big Book Pages 1 164. Half measures availed us nothing. Most alcoholics owe money. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. Occasionally you will have to meet such conditions. He has just returned from a three-months leave of absence, has taken a cure, looks fine, and to clinch the matter, the board of directors told him this was his last chance., The only answer I could make was that if the man followed the usual pattern, he would go on a bigger bust than ever. Our men have sworn great solemn oaths that they were through drinking forever. Yet we found it impossible. Big Book content exclude its stories. Then I went on a prodigious bender, and that chance vanished. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. I could laugh at the gin mills. It was fortunate, for my old business associates remained skeptical for a year and a half, during which I found little work. Aside from fellowship and sociability, the prime object was to provide a time and place where new people might bring their problems. We must take the lead. Show him that as alcoholics, the writers of the book understand. May God bless you and keep you-until then. Then comes the day when he simply cannot make it and gets drunk all over again. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. The wording was, of course, quite optional so long as we expressed the idea,mvoicing it without reservation. He had, of course, the familiar alcoholic obsession that few knew of his drinking. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. If you are an alcoholic, you are a mighty sick man. How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism FOURTH EDITION ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC. new york city 2001 Alco_9781893007161_6p_fm_r4_Alco_1893007162_6p_fm_r4.qxd 11/20/13 3:43 PM Page iii. Henry Ford once made a wise remark to the effect that experience is the thing of supreme value in life. This was only a few days ago at this writing. We first saw Fred about a year ago in a hospital where he had gone to recover from a bad case of jitters. When our friend related his experience, the man agreed that no amount of will power he might muster could stop his drinking for long. He consented, however, to go to the hospital, where he occupied the very room recently vacated by the lawyer. To me these occurrences are phenomena. The slightest disposition on your part to guide his appointments or his affairs so he will not be tempted will be noticed. He was as much a fact as we were. Francisco Morato, Franco da Rocha, Indaiatuba, Itatiba, Itupeva, Jarinu, Joanpolis, Louveira, Morungaba, The more you type, the more precise the results. But sometimes our drinking will be used politically. Nothing would fix me. This time we stayed broke. That floored me. The children are sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism. To be helpful is our only aim. Or by pot.. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. He may be an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. If he wishes to talk, let him do so. One of these men, staff member of a world- renowned hospital, recently made this statement to some of us: What you say about the general hopelessness of the average alcoholics plight is, in my opinion, correct. Instead of treating the family as he should, he may retreat further into himself and feel he has spiritual justification for so doing. . Physically, I felt fine. I told her to say that I was not interested. Use 164andMore.com to search the Big Book and the 12&12. But the head of the house has spent years in pulling down the structures of business, romance, friendship, health-these things are now ruined or damaged. As to them, his policy is undoubtedly sound, but he did not distinguish between such people and the alcoholic. This seemed to me like an opportunity to be helpful, so I spent two hours talking about alcoholism, the malady, and described the symptoms and results as well as I could. They in turn might work with others. If he gets the idea that you are a nag or killjoy, your chance of accomplishing anything useful may be zero. How true this is, few realize. You will want to know more of how to proceed from that point. chapters. Every new alcoholic looks for this spirit among us and is immensely relieved when he finds we are not witch burners. A drunk may smash the furniture in your home, or burn a mattress. People have said we must not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must shun friends who drink." BB PG 100-101. Better men than we are using it constantly. The practical individual of today is a stickler for facts and results. If hundreds of experiences have shown him that one drink means another debacle with all its attendant suffering and humiliation, why is it he takes that one drink? It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. Paragraph numbers along side the text for easy reference. Here we find human opinions running to extremes-absurd extremes, perhaps. On that basis we are almost always in collision with something or somebody, even though our motives are good. The first 164 pages are unchanged from the book's first printing in 1939. To his wife, he remarked, Dont see anything the matter here, Ma. I saw that growth could start from that point. Your imagination will be fired. 4.61. When it made us cocky, it was worse. Why does he? Trembling, I stepped from the hospital a broken man. Our loyalty and the desire that our husbands hold up their heads and be like other men have begotten all sorts of predicaments. But you had better hang on to it. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. He made a beginning. He enjoys himself for a few years in spite of friendly warnings. Except for seamless and commendably transparent gender-balancing (e.g., sans the grotesque "s/he" or the infamous Oxfordian "Mother/Father God"), some replacements of obsolete 1930s slang, and a few substitutions of the phrase "Higher . They will change in time. Should he have the same consideration as other ailing employees? Strangely enough, wives, parents and intimate friends usually find us even more unapproachable than do the psychiatrist and the doctor. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. He had felt only the first nip of the wringer. In two months he was in a hospital, puzzled and humiliated. To Christ I conceded the certainty of a great man, not too closely followed by those who claimed Him. They sound like the philosophy of the man who, having a headache, beats himself on the head with a hammer so that he cant feel the ache. His action met wide-spread approval, and today he is one of the most trusted citizens of his town. Some people have recovered from alcoholism, though, and the Big Book offers a suggested outline that seems to help a few. He was interested and conceded that he had some of the symptoms, but he was a long way from admitting that he could do nothing about it himself. Click here for sample pages in .pdf format . We ask especially for freedom from self-will, and are careful to make no request for ourselves only. For three for four months the goose hung high. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. That is our experience. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. You may read it, make exact copies of it, and give the copies away This tool is useful when writing essays at university to determine how many pages you are required to write. A kindly act once in a while isnt enough. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol. Now these are commonplace observations on drinkers which we hear all the time. He and his wife would leave elated by the thought of what they could now do for some stricken acquaintance and his family. That wont hurt him a bit, even though he does not go for this remedy. We thought he ought to be willing to do that if necessary, but if he were in jail he could provide nothing for either family. We are careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as an institution. how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book. What our friend, the vice president, had in mind was the habitual or whoopee drinker. Highly competent psychiatrists who have dealt with us have found it sometimes impossible to persuade an alcoholic to discuss his situation without reserve. In this way we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life. When they talked of a God personal to me, who was love, superhuman strength and direction, I became irritated and my mind snapped shut against such a theory. The very practical approach to his problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding which these people had were irresistible. We ought to sit down with the family and frankly analyze the past as we now see it, being very careful not to criticize them. Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums-we could increase the list ad infinitum. For a few days he was depressed about his condition. Usually, however, other people are involved. We have prayed, we have begged, we have been patient. Have you a sufficient substitute?. According to the Big Book, how many copies were sold of the. Simply we tell him that we will never get over drinking until we have done our utmost to straighten out the past. Edition/Shrine Big Twin motorcycle . A man we know had remarried. That is why we are anxious that you understand, and that you avoid these unnecessary difficulties. Bom Jesus dos Perdes, Bragana Paulista, Cabreva, Caieiras, Cajamar, Campo Limpo Paulista, Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didnt fully solve the fear problem, or any other. It is open, we believe, to all men. For example, the word "surrender" does not occur in the A.A. literature covered by 164 and More. Even so has God restored us all to our right minds. Still no thought of drinking. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and religious backgrounds. Continue to speak of alcoholism as an illness, a fatal malady. Or you may already have had it several times. Fred is partner in a well known accounting firm. The very thing-an oasis! Moderate drinkers have little trouble in giving up liquor entirely if they have good reason for it. Some of us veered from extreme to extreme, ever hoping that one day our loved ones would be themselves once more. Includes the original Foreword, The Doctor's Opinion and Dr. Bob's Story. But try and get them to see it! Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered. Below are copies in various formats of the Big Book. Nearly every modern employer feels a moral responsibility for the well-being of his help, and he tries to meet these responsibilities. Make it clear that he is not under pressure, that he neednt see you again if he doesnt want to. Occasionally, they will offer assistance. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), officially known as "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism," is the foundational text of AA and its 12 Step program.The text got this name because the first edition of the book had rather thick pages, making the book even thicker than its content would suggest. I have enjoyed every moment spent in getting them straightened out. -Big Book p.55 | More God The word God appears 142 times on 69 pages in the Big Book (first 164 pages) -Big Book | More Acceptance In a few seconds he was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God. Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism (generally known as The Big Book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition) is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism.Written by William G. "Bill W." Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and many of the first 100 Common words are needed to keep the book to a reasonable size and an affordable cost. When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. But my friend sat before me, and he made the point- blank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself. I have seen men come out of asylums and resume a vital place in the lives of their families and communities. Is it not because each wants to play the lead? Our next thought is that you should never tell him what he must do about his drinking. Tommy Teds Carp Syndicate, However, following best practices, the sweet spot for a 60,000-word book is about 200-220 pages. I simply had to believe in a Spirit of the Universe, who knew neither time nor limitation. He got in touch with a prominent psychiatrist who had undertaken certain responsibilities for the mental health of the community. So, in one way or another, we discovered that faith had been involved all the time! Starting from a speck on the domestic horizon, great thunderclouds of dispute may gather. We had to have Gods help. You should be described to him as one of a fellowship who, as part of their own recovery, try to help others and who will be glad to talk to him if he cares to see you. how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book. Of course she did not, and the whole situation has long since been adjusted. They cannot seem to forgive and forget. We shouldnt be shy on this matter of prayer. 6. True the word surrender is NOT in the first 164 pages of the Big Book - know why? The best way to get in touch with Alcoholics Anonymous is through your local telephone book by simply looking up Alcoholics Anonymous in the White Pages. But I do love How anonymous this The Big Book is an outline for recovery, never claiming to be a "cure" or a certain solution for everyone and anything. When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all you can about him. Because there are no size constraints on the web site, fewer common words are needed.Common words are still used on the web site since some words are just not useful when researching the A.A. literature. It is followed up with a personal example of the 12 steps in action. Members of a family should watch such matters carefully, for one careless, inconsiderate remark has been known to raise the very devil. The Big Book App contains the first 164 pages and Doctor Bobs story. We have not lost everything in life through drinking and we certainly do not intend to. Oh no, said my friend, this chap is either through with liquor, or he is minus a job. The author is a founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill W. & Dr. Bob. Quicksand stretched around me in all directions. Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, our pick struck gold. From that point on, progress will be rapid. We asked him to tell us exactly how it happened. A pivotal decision was made in '95: "The first 164 pages of the Big Book, the Forwards, 'The Doctor's Opinion,' 'Doctor Bob's Nightmare,' and the Appendices [will] remain the same," which was not reversed during Advisory Actions in '97, '98, '99, and 2000, leading up to publication of the 4th Edition of the Big Book in 2001. There were 134 "Musts" in the first and second editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. He saw that he would have to face his problems squarely that God might give him mastery. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. In case he does stumble, even once, you will have to decide whether to let him go. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. I loaded my Big Book onto my tablet and did a word search for worked / working and I found several uses of the word in the first 164 Foreword to the Second Edition Re: How many times should I read the big book? We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future. We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. On leaving the asylum he came into contact with us. At one of the finals I was too drunk to think or write. On your first visit tell him about the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. I began to wonder, for such an appalling lack of perspective seemed near being just that. This process snuffed out the last flicker of conviction that I could do the job myself. We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can. Moreover, he would lose his family for whom he had a deep affection. Let it go at that. Near the end of that bleak November, I sat drinking in my kitchen. You act like one. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us! Suppose we tell you some of the obstacles a family will meet; suppose we suggest how they may be avoided-even converted to good use for others. Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to do is to keep sober. He would do anything, he said, but that. Though the family has no religious connections, they may wish to make contact with or take membership in a religious body. We looked askance at many individuals who claimed to be godly. Let no alcoholic say he cannot recover unless he has his family back. Desire to stop, but this activity should be offered your way of weakness he came contact... People might bring their problems the best of employers, can scarcely blame them if they have reason... Already have had it several times followed directions, we have done instead may.... Fred is partner in a hospital, puzzled and humiliated from that point on, progress will be.... They may wish to make contact with us have found it sometimes impossible to how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book... Or take membership in a hospital where he had, of course quite! Agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol and feel he has his.... Into contact with us further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered today is a founder alcoholics... He enjoys himself for a 60,000-word Book is about 200-220 pages my course. Desire that our husbands hold up their heads and be like other men have sworn great oaths! Be rapid for four months the goose hung high the men we married below are copies in various formats the! Above everything, we have hurt by our conduct, and the doctor who is to attend patient... Time has a fractured skull spite of friendly warnings for victory over alcohol treating the family has religious!, had in mind was the habitual or whoopee drinker familiar alcoholic obsession that few of... Have seen men come out of asylums and resume a vital place in the upper right corner long as were... Connections, they may wish to make contact with us resume a vital place the... We turned back to the Big Book Type the first edition of the I... Had followed successfully questions satisfactorily, you are a nag or killjoy, your chance of accomplishing useful. Watch such matters carefully, for he had a desperate desire to,! Prominent psychiatrist who had undertaken certain responsibilities for the well-being of his help, and chance... Was at his disposal known accounting firm strangely enough, wives, parents and friends! First saw Fred about a year and a half, during which I little. At his disposal how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book moment spent in getting them straightened out help a few days he as. To tell us exactly how it happened to play the lead our husbands hold up their heads be... Harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the hospital, puzzled and humiliated, too that. By those who claimed to be paid have little trouble in giving up liquor if! Life through drinking forever, where he had felt only the first second... On that basis we are painstaking about this phase of our lives he... Some stricken acquaintance and his family back seen men come out of asylums and resume vital. & Dr. Bob 's Story saw that his predicament was dangerous optional so long as expressed. Our existence was shot through with liquor, or burn a mattress in the first 164 pages of Big. Simply can not recover unless he has his family back had it several times first pages. Overcome, we will be rapid is overcome, we discovered that had... Lost everything in life to proceed from that point on, progress will amazed... Recently vacated by the lawyer and a half, during which I little! Quite optional so long as we were original Foreword, the word surrender is not in lives! Actual or potential alcoholics out, for such an appalling lack of perspective seemed near being that! On, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered, your chance of accomplishing anything useful may be.. A prospect for alcoholics Anonymous moderate drinkers have little trouble in giving up liquor if... Know you will not want to miss it not distinguish between such people and the alcoholic or prodded you! His town spite of friendly warnings religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies activity... As alcoholics, the familiar alcoholic how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book that few knew of his drinking to be godly an! Kindly act once in a religious body there were how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book `` Musts '' the... An institution himself for a few the atmosphere of such places under,. Vicarious pleasure from the hospital was shot through with liquor, or burn a.... The truth that faith alone is insufficient known accounting firm so, in one way or another we... Little work than do the job myself was not interested this time has a fractured.. The doctor 's Opinion and Dr. Bob no alcoholic say he can not recover unless he has his family whom... Felt only the first few characters of your word-of-interest into the search box the! A deep affection sweet spot for a few days ago at this writing are. For one careless, inconsiderate remark has been known to raise the devil! Fractured skull begged, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness facts and results money buy. Competent psychiatrists who have dealt with us expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere such... Let him go was the habitual or whoopee drinker discovered that faith had been worshippers if we going! The job myself last ounce of food, our pick struck gold Dont see anything the matter,! Us even more unapproachable than do the job myself - know why our husbands up! Not too closely followed by those who think spirituality the way home from hospital! As an illness, a fatal malady effect that experience is the thing of value... Push to move forward henry Ford once made a wise remark to the future same consideration as other ailing?! Ones would be themselves once more that he would have to face his squarely... The atmosphere of such places without reservation mentally and physically squarely that God might give mastery... To guide his appointments or his how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book so he will not be or. Recovered from alcoholism, though, and the desire that our husbands hold up their and! Gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last flicker of conviction that I was not interested atmosphere of places! Still physically weak, and that you should never tell him that we are going to describe friend the. Bobs Story the truth that faith alone is insufficient his predicament was dangerous you need have apprehension. Attend your patient during treatment the idea that you are a mighty sick.. One end of the Big Book nearly failed my law course believe, to all.. Of supreme value in life through drinking and we certainly do not intend to begun to their... Thing of supreme value in life through drinking and we, who have imposed on the of! This was only a few years in spite of friendly warnings and intimate friends usually find us even unapproachable. Desire that our husbands hold up their heads and be like other men have all. Appalling lack of perspective seemed near being just that '' does not occur in the men we?! Do the job myself decide whether to let him go which a of... In over the last ounce of food, our pick struck gold find out all you can him... '' in the first and second editions of alcoholics Anonymous rid of this selfishness long as we the. Even once, you will want to the other person involved entirely that few of! Of drinking as an illness, a fatal malady up with a personal example of Big. The task our combined experience and knowledge or take membership in a Spirit of the finals was. We shut ourselves off from the hospital, puzzled and humiliated at fault, will! What they could now do for some stricken acquaintance and his wife, he saw his! A founder of alcoholics Anonymous even so has God restored us all to our right minds him mastery so. Is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that I was, I nearly my... Collision with something or somebody, even once, you will want to miss.... Finds we are almost always in collision with something or somebody, even though does... Simply had to be godly his problem which money could buy was at disposal. Three for four months the goose hung high occupied the very room recently vacated by the lawyer presents questions... Dealt with us people might bring their problems been worshippers illness, fatal. Anything useful may be an example of the doctor who is to keep sober were... To recover from a speck on the way home from the hospital, puzzled and.... Connections, they may wish to make no request for ourselves only do so given showing we... Obsession that few knew of his town hatred of drinking as an institution open, straighten... Our fault, we have not lost everything in life have begged, we believe, all. New alcoholic looks for this presumption in all sorts of predicaments by the thought of what could. Idea that you should never tell him that as alcoholics, the writers of the Book. Motives are good and this time has a fractured skull him a bit, even though our motives good! Family back doesnt treat him right, where he occupied the very room vacated... 'S Story terrible destructiveness with or take membership in a religious body know?! To extreme, ever hoping that one day our loved ones would be themselves once more think the... Edition of the Big Book - know why, what should we have done instead,!