The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program, the worlds largest alcoholism support group. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services. Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery center. The preface and foreword describe the history of the big book and its role in the alcoholics anonymous program. Silkworth chronic alcoholics pg xxv, xxvi, xxviii, xxix, 27 the doctors opinion. I would suggest that you crack open the big book youve said that you have an electronic copy of it, so thats good and start with the doctors. Outlining the steps and traditions that make aa famous, as well as numerous stories about recovering addicts who have been through the process, the big book has helped guide millions into a life of sobriety. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. A wellknown doctor, chief physician at a nationally prominent hospital specializing in alcoholic and drug addiction, gave alcoholics anonymous this letter.
Mar 23, 2010 a bunch of people contributed to it so collectively, the author can be cited as alcoholics anonymous. Aug 05, 20 some people get over allergies, but we learn later in the big book, that alcoholics never get over alcoholism. The doctors opinion this workshop starts by looking at the history of the treatment of alcoholism before alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous, the doctor s opinion the first and second edition book alcoholics anonymous is in public domain in the united states. The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. I like the movie called the snake pit with olivia dehavland. In this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter the doctors opinion. Aa s big book calls alcoholism an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer. This is not a discussion podcast, simply speaker meetings and workshops in a podcast format. The doctors opinion is an important part of the big book, as it details a physicians view of alcoholism and recovery.
At any rate, discounting someone else s truth can be a slippery slope as facts can be declared, but truth, especially spiritual in nature, is open to the interpretation of each individual, as the big book teaches. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists a sentiment. Sobercast is an unofficial alcoholics anonymous podcast featuring aa speaker meetings and workshops. An illness of this sortand we have come to believe. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye.
The doctors opinion started as page 1later in the second edition it was. The book they wrote, alcoholics anonymous the big book, is the basic text for aa. Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences. You will notice time and again that the spiritual language in the big. Hey everyone before you buy this particular book you must know the page numbers are not the same as the og book i had to rebuy the big book with the appropriate page numbers to correctly follow along my sponsor made me, but saw her point. Click on the attachment below to download an powerpoint presentation that covers the main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the doctors opinion, and pp. There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. These members realized a 72% success rate from 19341938 died sober using this spiritual program of action. Aa step one 20 questions test worksheet a 20question test that was used by many a. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Silkworth begins his opinion in a letter to alcoholics anonymous in. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the. The little doctor who loved drunks a letter from dr.
Ernest kurtz says this is the closest the book alcoholics anonymous comes to a definition of alcoholism. The book alcoholics anonymous, aka the big book, is the basic text for the aa program of sobriety. The doctors opinion on alcoholism november 2011 youtube. Mann got sober save for a few shortterm relapses over the years and was an. Preface to the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. Main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the doctors opinion, and pp. We the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc 1. Tearing down the ego in alcoholics anonymous stinkin thinkin. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. All of us simply need the proper tools to navigate back into life. This statement turned out to be the aa solution for alcoholism. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the big book of aa be revised or removed we the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc 1. Apr, 2019 mann would soon befriend the books author, aa cocreator wilson, and she began attending aa meetings in 1939.
The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic. The doctors opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan ofrecovery described in this book. Sep 30, 2011 my feeling is that the doctors opinion helped immesurably with doing away with the notion that alcoholism is a lack of exerting moral willpower. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Thereafter chronic cases which would typically be considered hopeless or incapable of anything might find an answer in aa and the spiritual experience. It is the first text written about the experiences of the founders of the a. Following the forewords, there appears a section called the doctors opinion. In the course of his third treatment he acquired certain ideas concerning a possible means of recovery.
More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. Nov 04, 2010 alcoholics anonymous, the doctors opinion the first and second edition book alcoholics anonymous is in public domain in the united states. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. In this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter the doctor s opinion. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the big. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. The only requirement for aa membership is a desire to stop drinking. Preface aa big book preface aa big book big book of aa alcoholics anonymous doctors opinion how it works aa preamble alcoholism recovery 4th edition 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the wellknown stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. The doctors opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book. The doctors opinion w e ofalcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical esti mate of the plan of recovery described in this book. How do i cite alcoholics anonymous big book apastyle in text. Its faithbased 12step program dominates treatment in the united states. The doctors opinion study questions alcoholics anonymous.
All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical esti mate of the plan of recovery described in this book. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan ofrecovery described in this book. Nov 06, 2008 frequently asked questions abstinence afflicted aggregate alcohol alcoholic alcoholics anonymous alcoholism all addictions allergy amends anonymous atheist audio avocation big book big book meeting bills story bill w. For a number of years i had a big book on a shelf that did a great job at collecting dust. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. The doctors opinion in late 1934 i attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of a type i had come to regard as hopeless. If we practice the 12 steps, we are granted a daily reprieve. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in. This series of talks came about from a friendship that started in alcoholics.
How alcoholics anonymous lied to the american people. Main points from alcoholics anonymous foreward, the. Jun 03, 2009 emmets mentor was thomas troward of the great einbourgh lectures. The original manuscript of emotional sobriety and food. The original manuscript of a l c o h o l i c s a n o n y m o u s this is an electronic reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and. Alcoholics anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help other to recover from alcoholism.
This program will describe a physicians view of alcoholism, as presented in the literature of alcoholics anonymous and updated with the. Alcoholic addiction xxv or xxvii 1st edition the doctors opinion dr. Silkworths paradigm shifting opinion about the nature of the disease which has helped shape aa and the aa 12 step program. The big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Jan 15, 2014 alcoholics anonymous is, by far, the largest and most venerable addiction recovery group in the world. But researchers have debunked central tenets of aa doctrine and found dozens of.
Original aa members documented their experience in the big book. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Those who enter recovery at a stepbased treatment center will often be handed a copy of alcoholics anonymous also known as the big book almost as soon. William duncan silkworth henceforth be removed from all printings of the big book.