More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. But the wives were just as involved in these early meetings as the men were. If we belong to a religious denomination which requires a definite morning devotion, we attend to that also. Dont push the subject too strongly, or your loved one may use this as an excuse to drink even more. It may mean sharing your money and your home, counseling frantic wives and relatives, innumerable trips to police courts, sanitariums, hospitals, jails and asylums. But what we have said applies quite as much to women. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism, suggesting that the big book was written by andor about an amalgamation of aa successes. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. All too often, the wisdom and nuggets of truth in the big book chapter to wives get missed or not focused on. Aas foundational text, the big book, dispenses some useful advice on how to help a member of your family if theyre struggling with an alcohol substance.
To wives is after all the big book outlier penned at the request of bill wilson by one of the wives of the first 100 aa pioneers, although the editing is consistent with the rest of the big book. If circumstances warrant, we ask our wives or friends to join us in morning meditation. This is the second video in the chapter to wives, one of the two chapters in the aa big book that served the groups before the wives created alanon. To wives aa big book chapter 8 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. With few exceptions, our book thus far has spoken of men. To the loved ones of alcoholics an aa perspective on dealing. A desire to stop drinking is the only requirement for aa membership. The travesty in this is that the big books official title is. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online. Here is the chapter to wives from the big book please read it for a better understanding of your partner.
Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. No, alcoholics anonymous is not illsuited to women. 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. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Chapter 7 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Wives in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Due to the covid19 pandemic, the experience the big book meetings will be accessible online as zoom video conferences, starting sunday, march 22, 2020 at 6pm central time. Certainly the 4 categories of alcoholics in the first. Experience the big book aa meetings available online. Meetings in mallorca alcoholics anonymous mallorca. Dont accuse your loved one of being an alcoholic, but rather suggest that they read up on the subject.
This is valid and i have presented similar thoughts before. How is to wives chapter 8 in the big book of alcoholics anonymous actually helpful to women with alcoholic husbands. I love the big book but sometimes it is a little male dominated and a simple program fixes that while staying true to the original text. How is to wives chapter 8 in the big book of alcoholics. The following links download chapters of the big book from, the official website of alcoholics anonymous. We realize some men are thoroughly badintentioned, that no amount of patience will make. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous to. A woman fights aa, alcoholics anonymous as narcissist. The wives of alcoholics would often need to deal with the most difficult situations. To wives chapter 8 in the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Dont accuse your loved one of being an alcoholic, but. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. I didnt connect with the big book of alcoholics anonymous until over a.
To wives w ith few exceptions, our book thus far has spoken of men. Book basic training is a 10 hour video series that carefully walks the viewer through the first 172 pages of. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12step program. 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. Recorded live during a big book study over 27 weeks during winterspring 201516 by tim b. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism, is a collection of texts used by members of the alcoholics anonymous fellowship the book has undergone four revisions since william wilson, also known as bill w.
The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. One of the chapters in that book is called, to the wives. There is comfort in knowing you arent alone, that what youre feeling isnt unusual, and that there is a solution. But if the subject comes up naturally, perhaps mention the aa big book and the chapter on alcoholism. I ranted and raved and got really mad for someone to. We want the wives of alcoholics anonymous to address the wives of men who drink too much. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. In addition, the chapter, to wives was not actually written by lois wilson, which further supports the claims of aa being antifeminist who wrote chapter 8 of the big book, to wives. Chris raymer, aa big book, ca speaker, talk about carrying the message to the addict that still suffers. Welcome back everyone for another amazing big book study filled with depth and weight. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. I have never understood why this section is not mentioned more in standard meeting formats, especially in meetings with lots of old timers who have had time to mend the broken relationships they have had, or the new ones they have started. This is the third video in the chapter to wives, one of the two chapters in the aa big book that served the groups before the wives created alanon. Our activities in behalf of women who drink are on the increase.
The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous. Hear renowned addiction speaker, mark houston from texas, a recovered alcoholicaddict, speak on 12 step spirituality living in the spirit. Wives in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12 traditions. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. The first time i read it i wanted to throw the book into the fire and never look at it again. His wife lois had wanted to write the chapter, and his refusal to allow her left her angry and hurt. Its really not terribly helpful these days, and it is somewhat doubtful whether it ever was. Of the many drinking types described in the big book by no means comprehensively, the big book suggests its 12 step spiritual program of action will work for only one. Sponsored ad this sponsor paid to have this advertisement placed in this section. This chapter was written when there were only men in the aa program. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Our loyalty and the desire that our husbands hold up their heads and be like other men have begotten all sorts of predicaments.
Thats seemingly where the preachy and shameful language comes from. Husband in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. I specifically think this person did a great job translating the chapter to the wives what it is called in the big book to to spouses and other partners what it is called in asp. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. To wives 105 driven to maudlin sympathy, to bitter resentment. Some of us veered from extreme to extreme, ever hoping that one day our loved ones would be them selves once more. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous to wives. Though it is entirely separate from alcoholics anonymous, it uses the general principles of the a. Reading guide for to wives amethyst recovery center.
On awakening let us think about the twentyfour hours ahead. Your telephone may jangle at any time of the day or night. As the only legitimate source of the big book online, aa. We suggest you follow along in your own 4th edition big book and take notes as you listen to the audio.
The foregoing pages though addressed only to wives indicate the problems such people may face. 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. Listen at this website, or subscribe or download the podcast free at apple podcasts or any of the podcast providers listed at the bottom of this page. Do you suspect that your husband wife is an alcoholic. Aa speaker turn our will and our lives over to the care of god new 20 duration. 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. What they say will apply to nearly everyone bound by ties of blood or affection to an. Despite being a man, one of my favorite sections of the big book is chapter 8. Todays reading below in red begins the section of the big book called to wives i have to admit to having difficulty with this chapter. Julie danenhauer on experience the big book aa meetings available online.
To wives alcoholics anonymous aa big book my last drunk. Friends and family of alcoholics chapter 8 in the big book i read the chapter to the wives from the big book yesterday afternoon for the second time. There is uncertainty about who wrote the big book chapter to wives. 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. If you find this helpful, do not hesitate to read the rest of the book come to one of our english speaking aa meetings in mallorca.
These meetings can be accessed go to thought and click on read more for how to accessfor free via computer, tablets and mobile devices, and also by telephone by calling the teleconference line. There is every evidence that women regain their health as readily as men if they try our suggestions. To the loved ones of alcoholics an aa perspective on. Among us are wives, relatives and friends whose problem has been solved, as well as some who have not yet found a happy solution. What they say will apply to nearly everyone bound by ties of. The 1939 publication alcoholics anonymous, commonly referred to as the big book masterfully details the problem of alcoholism and a way out that has worked for millions since.
There is a chapter in the 1st edition big book entitled an alcoholics wife, written by marie b. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. Bill wilson, who wrote this chapter, had quite a serious disagreement with lois, his wife, over it she had offered to write it and did not approve of h. Many of the chapters in the big book were written by wilson, including chapter 8, to wives.