A.A. LITERATURE

No one person or group speaks for A.A. as a whole. Individual A.A. members share only their personal experience and opinions, which will vary widely. Nor is there any single "right" way to do things within A.A. or as an A.A. member. To ensure that you have a solid overview of what A.A. is and does, we suggest that you read our literature.

There are numerous pamphlets that might be of interest if you are new to A.A. A number of them can be read online at the A.A. World Services web site: http://www.aa.org.

"Alcoholics Anonymous," also called "the Big Book," is available to read online: http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/. It is our basic text, first published in 1939. The Fourth Edition was published in 2001. There are over 25 million copies in print. It is available in over 50 languages and various formats, including large print, Braille, and American Sign Language. It outlines "the suggested steps and principles that early members believed were responsible for their ability to overcome the compulsion to drink" (from the pamphlet "44 Questions"). The Big Book also includes many personal stories of those who found sobriety through A.A.

Additional books published by A.A. World Services:

* "Experience, Strength, and Hope." Fifty-six retired stories from the first three editions of the Big Book.

* "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions," also called the "12&12." Co-founder Bill W.'s 24 essays on the Steps and the Traditions discuss the principles of individual recovery and group unity.

* "Living Sober." Practical 88-page booklet demonstrates through simple example how A.A. members throughout the world live and stay sober one day at a time. As one A.A. member recalls: "I found 'Living Sober' to be a book more in tune with my initial few months than some of the other texts. It gave me practical, real-world suggestions on simply getting through the day without drinking. Along with the Big Book and 12&12, 'Living Sober' was my 'read it now, cover to cover book.'"

* "As Bill Sees It." This collection of Bill W.'s writings is intended as a daily source of comfort and inspiration.

* "Daily Reflections." A.A. members reflect on favorite quotations from A.A. literature. A reading for each day of the year.

* "Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age." Bill W. writes about how A.A. started, how the Steps and Traditions evolved, and how the A.A. Fellowship grew internationally.

* "Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers." The life story of the Fellowship's co-founder Dr. Bob S., interwoven with recollections of early A.A. in the Midwest.

* "Pass It On." Biography of Bill W. and the development of the Fellowship.

* "Came to Believe." A 120-page collection of stories by A.A. members who write about what the phrase "spiritual awakening" means to them.

* "A.A. in Prison: Inmate to Inmate." Thirty-two stories, previously printed in the A.A. Grapevine (see below), sharing the experience of men and women who found A.A. while in prison.


THE A.A.GRAPEVINE

The A.A. Grapevine is the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is also referred to as "a meeting in print." The Grapevine has been published continuously, every month, since 1944. The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. also publishes several books that are compilations of previous articles centering on a specific theme, as well as "Language of the Heart," all of Bill W.'s Grapevine writings. For more information, visit the Grapevine web site at http://www.aagrapevine.org.


WHERE TO FIND A.A. LITERATURE

A.A. groups and local offices usually have literature available, and the Dallas, Texas, A.A. office maintains an online A.A. bookstore here: http://www.aadallas.org.


QUESTIONS?

At any time, including right now, feel free to ask questions -- on anything related to A.A.

To "talk" during the meeting, simply address your email to aaintro@e-aa.org. Everyone in the meeting (on the mailing list) will receive it.

Note that when you send an email to the list, your email address will be available to everyone on the list. If, for any reason, you are uncomfortable with that, you may still participate anonymously. Send your questions or comments directly to me at [leader's email address] and I will remove your identifying information and forward them to the meeting list.

Any personal information shared here should remain confidential and should not be disclosed outside of this meeting.