Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism (commonly known as The Big Book because of the paper thickness used in the edition first) is the basic text of 1939, describing how to recover from alcoholism, especially written by William G. "Bill W." Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It is the originator of the seminal "12 step" method that is widely used to treat many addictions, from alcoholism, heroin addiction and marijuana addiction to overeating, sex addiction and gambling addiction, with strong spiritual and social emphasis.
It is one of the best-selling books of all time, having sold 30 million copies. In 2011, Time magazine placed this book on a list of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923, the year in which the magazine was first published. In 2012, the Library of Congress designates it as one of 88 "Books Shaped America."
Video The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Histori
Bill W. had become a successful Wall Street businessman, but his career was a mess due to his chronic alcoholism. In 1934 he was invited by his friend and drank friend Ebby T. to join the Oxford Group, the spiritual movement based on the "Absolute Four" of honesty, purity, unselfishness and love. Bill W. meets Dr. Bob in May 1935, and people shared their stories with each other. The two begin to work on the best way to approach alcoholics and start trying to help men recover from alcoholism. The idea for this book was developed at least as early as 1937, when Bill W. and Dr. Bob realizes that their system has helped more than 40 people stay conscious for over 2 years. The book is meant to carry their message far and wide. Wilson began writing books in 1938 with the financial support of Charles B. Towns (1862-1947), an alcohol and drug addiction expert who was a supporter and creditor of Alcoholics Anonymous and lent Wilson $ 2500 ($ 41,870 in 2014 dollar values).
The Ledger was originally published in 1939 by founder AA Bill W. and Dr. Bob. This book serves as the basic text of AA. There are many reprints and revisions, in addition to the translation to dozens of languages. The second edition (1955) consists of 1,150,000 copies. This book is published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services and is available through AA offices and meetings, as well as through booksellers. The 4th edition (2001) is also available online for free. Marty Mann (1904-1980) wrote the chapter "Women Suffer Too Too" in the second to the fourth edition of the Big Book.
US President Richard Nixon received a copy of the millionth book, a copy of the 25 millionth Big Book presented to Jill Brown, Guardian of San Quentin State Prison, at the Anonymous Alcoholic International Convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to commemorate the first prison meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous which took place at San Quentin in 1941. A copy of 30 million of this book was presented to the American Medical Association in 2010, which declared alcoholism disease in 1956.
Maps The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Synopsis
This book consists of more than 400 pages. The Story of Bill and the Nightmare Dr. Bob and personal experiences from several alcoholics are detailed as well as a series of solutions that evolve into a twelve-step program. How to use twelve steps is explained using examples and anecdotes. Several chapters target specific audiences. One chapter is devoted to agnostic, while the other is named "To Wives" (most of the first AA members are male), and the other is for the employer. The second part of this book (whose content varies from edition to edition) is a collection of personal stories, where alcoholics tell their addiction and recovery stories.
The most frequently mentioned sections are:
- "Twelve Steps," at the beginning of Chapter 5, "How It Works"
- "Twelve Traditions", in Appendix
- "Ninth Step Promises", in Chapter 6, "Into Action" before the discussion on Step 10.
The main purpose of this book is to enable the reader to discover a greater power than himself to solve his problem. The authors point out that a "our type" alcoholic can be in a state of not being a moderate drinker: only abstinence and understanding of a community of alcoholics can lead to recovery. By means of anecdotal evidence, an example is given to a man who, after 25 years of calm, starts drinking sufficiently and within two months of landing at the hospital. The reason is that once an alcoholic, it is always an alcoholic.
This book argues that it is impossible for a person to stop drinking by himself. An attitude or a new set of values ​​will also not help. Anyone who is alcoholic must admit that they can not help themselves. Only "higher strength" and community can help. An example of a man named Fred was given, who had no control over his drinking, but ended up living a "more satisfying life" than ever before thanks to the unspecified principle of AA. In the introduction of the Great Book, William Duncan Silkworth, MD, a specialist in the treatment of alcoholism, supported the AA program after treating Bill W, the founder of AA, and other desperate alcoholics who later regained his health by joining AA friendships. "For most cases," Silkworth said, "there is no other solution" other than a spiritual solution. Today "many doctors and psychiatrists" confirm the effects of AA.
Reception
First edition
At the time of publication of the first edition, The Big Book is usually well received by most critics, referred to by one reviewer as "the greatest redeeming power of the twentieth century." A reviewer for New York Times states that the thesis of this book has more psychological sound bases than any other book on the subject and that the book is unlike any other book ever published. Other critics call the book extraordinary and state that it deserves the attention of anyone who is worried about the problem of alcoholism. This is recorded by the American Psychiatric Association of Social Workers who are associated with A.A. groups increase one's respect for their work. "For the layman, this book is very clear: for the professional at first it is somewhat misleading that the spiritual aspect gives the impression that this is another revival movement" and that "it is more impressive for professionals to watch techniques in action than reading a book. "However, not all reviewers, especially those in the medical field, find the benefits in this book. The review, which appeared in the October 1939 volume of the American Medical Association Journal, called the book "a strange combination of organizing propaganda and religious advice... not a scientific book at all." Similarly, the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease says The Big Book is "big in words... sort of meeting meeting camp... From the inner meaning of alcoholism almost no word. material surface. "This review goes on to" lower "alcoholics:" As far as alcoholics, speaking in general, undergo regression with regard to the wishes of the omnipotent imaginary state, perhaps he is best treated for now at least by the regressive mass psychological method, where, as conscious, religious enthusiasts belong, the religious tendencies of this book. "The views on books and on alcoholism embraced in these two journals are typical of how alcoholics and other addicts were seen by many in the psychiatric field during the mid-20th century.
Next edition
Albert Ellis calls the book "complicated and profound" and admits it may help millions of people with addiction. Ellis finds seven of the twelve steps that are useful for restoring alcohol: steps 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 12, noting "this encourages them to recognize their addictive and self-destructive way, making mistakes for them have been harmed, gaining philosophical awareness, and bringing their message to other alcoholics. "However, Ellis believes that measures 2, 3, 6, 7, and 11, which encourage alcoholics to rely on Higher Power, become a value the dubious. Some of the reasons for not trusting these steps include the assumption that millions of people have overcome alcohol while remaining agnostic or atheist and that the need to accept beliefs in a Higher Power is likely to push more people away from the program than it is withdrawn. Ellis's analysis of the Book has some very good views but that "AA is an organization too good to be subject to anyone's will - including hypothetical High Power."
G. Alan Marlatt also questioned the need for the Greater Power but concluded that he was "impressed by the remarkable AA success of the last 50 years of his existence.If alcoholism is really a disease of the spirit (for which alcohol) is not a real solution) , it makes sense that the AA religious community provides the fulfillment of an alcoholic desire for unity with a Higher Power, especially if it keeps its members quiet, which is often done by AA. "
Abraham Twerski is the most positive of the three experts, claiming that "the ongoing relevance of the current Big Book to alcohol precisely because of the fact that it does not seek to treat or teach with its contents." Instead, it is a description of an effective program, and testifies people who have been assisted by this program. "Twerski also praised the 12-step program's ability to treat other addictions as well" because 12-step is a protocol for personality, for growth, and for self-realization, the process of value even non-alcoholic or non -the alcohol of the infected individual. "Twerski's compliment is most easily summarized by the conclusion that" The Big Book and the AA remain effective today as their day is formed, and will likely remain unfettered by the passage of time. "
Legacy
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments