Big Book Reflection
Big Book Reflection
History of AA The history of Alcoholics Anonymous is one that is sacred and has led to thousands of members finding their “spirituality” and strength to heal from their disease. Co-founder, Bill Wilson, was an alcoholic who lost a promising job on Wall Street by his drinking habits. The drinking led him to have problems academically and with his marriage, oftentimes sending him to the hospital between 1933 and 1934 under the care of Doctor William Silkworth. Dr. Silkworth’s theory that alcoholism is an illness rather than a failure of willpower and that it is an “allergy” that made compulsive drinking inevitable allowed Wilson to understand the disease and remain abstinent for a month before he relapsed. Ebby Thacher, Bill’s longtime friend, visited him and explained a group he was a part of, called the Oxford Group, helped him find a higher power and be alcohol free. Seeing that Wilson did not like the idea of religion, Thacher suggested that Bill, “choose your own conception of God” and Bill began to explore the idea. This group started the early tenants of Alcoholics Anonymous. Wilson wrote …show more content…
in 1955 “The early AA got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Group and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else.” This group alone claimed to help over 200,000 needy people. Wilson had his first spiritual awakening deemed a “delirium tremens” during his fourth and final trip to Dr. Silkworth’s hospital. After accepting a higher power, Wilson went on the road and discovered that bonding with other alcoholics could help both their recoveries and establish informal gatherings of “50 to 200 persons” that led to the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
What I learned: AA History
After four editions of the Big Book, the stories of Wilson and company continue to help alcoholics in need since 1939. The Big Book’s main objective is to help the alcoholic find a power greater than himself that will solve his inability to stay sober on his or her own. I learned that no matter what walk of life a person started from, they could be a target for the alcoholic disease. Doctors, lawyers, students, and others can be affected the same way and thrown into the cycle of addiction that could complicate their world. I found it interesting that the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous were problem drinkers themselves. Each one experienced a lot of what they wrote in the Big Book and could attest to their recommendations.
Contextual Changes in AA Changes were made from the first edition of the Big Book to the current, fourth, edition.
Personal stories was updated in the second and third editions in order to expand the “wider age range and different life experiences of alcoholics over the years since 1935.” Sixteen stories were brought from the third edition to the fourth edition, including “Pioneers of A.A,” allowing readers a glimpse into Alcoholics Anonymous history. The fourth edition made further changes, adding twenty-four new stories fitting the mold of a contemporary lifestyle. These stories seek to help those in the 21st century understand others struggling or who have struggled with their disease. The changes, past and present, have been purposeful in that the organization wanted to reach alcoholics anywhere with an accurate depiction of the current membership for the specific
time. The changes, big and small, made in each edition of the Big Book have strategic reasons for doing so. Just like an organization such as Walmart, a well-known organization that strives to meet the needs of its consumers must always be forward thinking and continue to improve and reach those individuals wanting services. A book dating back to 1939 would probably not be relevant in today’s society without the changes they have made over the past 76 years. As the book added and stripped away different pieces to fit the needs of the current generation, the groups surrounding the book carried on the history.
In Alcoholics Anonymous groups around the world, the meetings are laid out similarly. Anyone suffering or needing support can attend any group and still receive the benefits of being at the group whether you are in Terre Haute, Indiana or Orlando Florida. The groups are full of individuals young and old sharing their experiences. It is in these moments where the Big Book values are still expressed today and stories from older editions and the newer editions can be shared through the individuals in attendance.
Big Book
History of AA The history of Alcoholics Anonymous is one that is sacred and has led to thousands of members finding their “spirituality” and strength to heal from their disease. Co-founder, Bill Wilson, was an alcoholic who lost a promising job on Wall Street by his drinking habits. The drinking led him to have problems academically and with his marriage, oftentimes sending him to the hospital between 1933 and 1934 under the care of Doctor William Silkworth. Dr. Silkworth’s theory that alcoholism is an illness rather than a failure of willpower and that it is an “allergy” that made compulsive drinking inevitable allowed Wilson to understand the disease and remain abstinent for a month before he relapsed. Ebby Thacher, Bill’s longtime friend, visited him and explained a group he was a part of, called the Oxford Group, helped him find a higher power and be alcohol free. Seeing that Wilson did not like the idea of religion, Thacher suggested that Bill, “choose your own conception of God” and Bill began to explore the idea. This group started the early tenants of Alcoholics Anonymous. Wilson wrote …show more content…
in 1955 “The early AA got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Group and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else.” This group alone claimed to help over 200,000 needy people. Wilson had his first spiritual awakening deemed a “delirium tremens” during his fourth and final trip to Dr. Silkworth’s hospital. After accepting a higher power, Wilson went on the road and discovered that bonding with other alcoholics could help both their recoveries and establish informal gatherings of “50 to 200 persons” that led to the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
What I learned: AA History
After four editions of the Big Book, the stories of Wilson and company continue to help alcoholics in need since 1939. The Big Book’s main objective is to help the alcoholic find a power greater than himself that will solve his inability to stay sober on his or her own. I learned that no matter what walk of life a person started from, they could be a target for the alcoholic disease. Doctors, lawyers, students, and others can be affected the same way and thrown into the cycle of addiction that could complicate their world. I found it interesting that the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous were problem drinkers themselves. Each one experienced a lot of what they wrote in the Big Book and could attest to their recommendations.
Contextual Changes in AA Changes were made from the first edition of the Big Book to the current, fourth, edition.
Personal stories was updated in the second and third editions in order to expand the “wider age range and different life experiences of alcoholics over the years since 1935.” Sixteen stories were brought from the third edition to the fourth edition, including “Pioneers of A.A,” allowing readers a glimpse into Alcoholics Anonymous history. The fourth edition made further changes, adding twenty-four new stories fitting the mold of a contemporary lifestyle. These stories seek to help those in the 21st century understand others struggling or who have struggled with their disease. The changes, past and present, have been purposeful in that the organization wanted to reach alcoholics anywhere with an accurate depiction of the current membership for the specific
time. The changes, big and small, made in each edition of the Big Book have strategic reasons for doing so. Just like an organization such as Walmart, a well-known organization that strives to meet the needs of its consumers must always be forward thinking and continue to improve and reach those individuals wanting services. A book dating back to 1939 would probably not be relevant in today’s society without the changes they have made over the past 76 years. As the book added and stripped away different pieces to fit the needs of the current generation, the groups surrounding the book carried on the history.
In Alcoholics Anonymous groups around the world, the meetings are laid out similarly. Anyone suffering or needing support can attend any group and still receive the benefits of being at the group whether you are in Terre Haute, Indiana or Orlando Florida. The groups are full of individuals young and old sharing their experiences. It is in these moments where the Big Book values are still expressed today and stories from older editions and the newer editions can be shared through the individuals in attendance.
Big Book