Big Book Contents Please select a Chapter Preface Forward To First Edition Forward To Second Edition The Doctor's Opinion Bill's Story There is a Solution More About Alcoholism We Agnostics How It Works Into Action Working with Others To Wives The Family Afterward To Employers A Vision for You The A.A. Tradition Spiritual Experience The Medical View on A.A. The Lasker Award The Religious View on A.A. How To Get In Touch With A.A. 1st Edition Stories 2nd Edition Stories

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Personal Stories Please select a Story The Doctor's Nightmare The Unbeliever The European Drinker A Feminine Victory Our Southern Friend A Business Man's Recovery A Different Slant Traveler, Editor, Scholar The Back-Slider Home Brewmeister The Seventh Month Slip My Wife and I A Ward of the Probate Court Riding the Rods The Salesman Fired Again The Fearful One Truth Freed Me! Smile with Me, At Me A Close Shave Educated Agnostic Another Prodigal Story The Car Smasher Hindsight On His Way An Alcoholic's Wife An Artist's Concept The Rolling Stone Now We Are Thousands *Lone Endeavor 2nd Edition Stories The Big Book

Foreward To First Edition
*Tenth Printing, August, 1946

      We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are many thousands of men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics PRECISELY HOW WE HAVE RECOVERED is the main purpose of this book. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no furthur aunthentication will be necessary. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the alcoholic. Many do not comprehend that the alcoholic is a very sick person. And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.
      It is important that we remain anonymous in order to more effectively handle the overwhelming number of personal appeals which may result from this publication. Being mostly business or professional folk some of us could not carry on our occupations if known. We would like it understood that our alcoholic work is an avocation.
      When writing or speaking publicly about alcoholism, we urge each of our Fellowship to omit his personal name, designating himself instead as "A Member of Alcoholics Anonymous."
      Very earnestly we ask the press also, to observe this request, for otherwise we shall be greatly handicapped.
      We are not an organization in the conventional sence

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sense of the word. There are no fees nor dues whatsoever. The only requirement for membership is an honest desire to stop drinking. We are not allied with any particular faith, sect or denomination, nor do we oppose anyone. We simply wish to be helpful to those who are afflicted.
      We shall be interested to hear from those who are getting results from this book, particularly from those who have commenced work with other alcoholics. We should like to be helpful to such cases.
      Inquiry by scientific, medical, and religious societies will be welcomed. (The Alcoholic Foundation, Grand Central Annex Post Box 459, New York City (17).)

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