Interpretation of The Big Book on your own.

[Signal30]

If you wanted to get sober but there were no meetings, no one to ask, and no other reference but the Big Book would the "average" person be able to understand the first 164 pages?

I personally really understood how to do a 4th Step inventory by being shown by my sponsor. I don't think I would of done it well enough to be beneficial, unless I was shown. I didn't notice to do a 4th column in an inventory because the example didn't have it, I had to have it pointed out to me in the following text in How It Works. This is kind of a hard question to answer because most of us have the knowledge by experience, sponsors, and time in the program to understand the 12 Steps and other suggestions in the BB in the first 164 pages.

Would you able to understand the BB without any help? I think if I was given this book and told to figure it out, I think I would of ended up with more questions than answers.

I am not criticizing the BB by any means. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to figure it out without someone helping me interpret what the book says. When I first got sober I made the comment to my sponsor that the BB was vague. After time, I was able to understand the BB, but I don't think I would know what I now know if it wasn't for others helping me by showing what this or that part of the BB meant if I didn't ask questions, ALOT of questions.

Of course the BB is only part of the program. The fellowship of helping others and meetings are equally important when living the program.


I guess this is more of a "what if" question. "What if" meaning if you knew nothing about the program and could not get any assistance by reference sources, (Internet, books, other people etc.), would you be able to understand the BB? If you could understand the book, how many times would you have to read it?


Tom

[Tazman53]

Excellent question Tom, we are lucky to live in this day and age where most of us have the advantage a large fellowship and people with many years of ESH they have gained from the BB and other AA's who have worked the steps.

I think the key here is progress and not perfection, there were folks many years ago who did achieve sobriety without the aide of a sponsor or any other material other then the BB to guide them. There are some that are documented through letters written to New York AA HQ.

Do I think I could have done it without the guidance of a sponsor or the fellowship? I really do not know, if I had only the BB it would have been very difficult with the only ESH to draw upon being the written word within the personal stories that follow the first page thru page 164. I had a major problem with reading inbetween the lines of the BB, trying to over analyze a simple thing.

My sponsor shared with me that his first sponsor only had an 8th grade education and it appeared to give him an advantage in understanding what was being said in the BB, he had the same problems with the BB I had, reading inbetween the lines and trying to make something simple into something very complex.

To answer your question.......... I honestly do not know, alone I would not have had anyone telling me to stop reading inbetween the lines and stop taking the simple and making it complex.

[RufusACanal]

If one is determined, anything is possible! Good thread Tom!

[nandm]

Good post Tom. I know that the more I read and study the Big Book the more I learn and the more I find that I don't recall ever seeing before.

My experience is this. My first sponsor was one of those that believed in dragging out the steps. I was desperate to stop drinking and poured myself into the book. Although there is much I did not understand the one thing I did understand was that the Steps were key to stopping drinking and learning how to live without being insane while not drinking. So I did work through them on my own the first time through using the guidelines in the book. Did I do them perfectly, I am sure I did not, but did I get results, YES. I did not even do my first 5th Step with that sponsor rather I did it with a lady that has been like my spiritual guide in this program since I first got here. She had 40 years last year. Over the years I have learned how to live the Steps. Can I still do a better job? Is there more I can learn? So much so that I can never learn all there is or do them perfectly in one life time. So my thoughts are yes, one can work the Steps on their own if necessary. Personally I believe that it is essential to get started on the Steps promptly even if one has to start them on their own better that than drinking.

[sugErspun]

When the book was written - does anyone know what other kinds of literature were written specifically for recovering from alcoholism?

Say someone is worried about their drinking, can't stop- having the problems that alcoholics have. If they were to come to our newcomers board and say "Does anyone have any suggestions for books that I could read to help me with my drinking problem?"

How many different suggestions do you think they would get?

If someone was seeking in 1940 - how many suggestions do you think they would get?

I am of the opinion, that the book can be dangerous in the hand of a newcomer - this is from my own experience - I was absolutely incapable of approaching it without an agenda of fixing my drinking - rather than just doing what it said to do.

I think discussion of the big book is critical to my recovery.

[Astro]

Interesting question, Tom. A couple of old-timers from my group like to pass along some history to anyone who'll listen, your topic has been discussed quite a few times.

By what I've come to understand, before there were so many AA meetings and Fellowships that we've been blessed with, there were "loners" in the program. These were people who weren't able to attend AA meetings or communicate with another alcoholic on a frequent basis because of distance or lack of local meetings, but they stayed sober by reading the Big Book and practicing the Steps on a daily basis. Picture a rancher on a horse, tending his/her herd and reading the Big Book when he/she had some free time. That's one example of a loner.

I'm just grateful that nowadays we don't have to do it alone, and with so many resources that are freely available to anyone in recovery, I don't recommend self-sponsorship and trying to achieve sobriety without the help and support of another alcoholic. But at one time it was definitely possible. Why? Because those people had the desire to stay sober, no matter what it took.

[sugErspun]

There are still 'loners' out there, I have met them right here.

I have seen 'the lights turn on' via correspondence...the book still works.

[Barto]

When I first got sober, I couldn’t understand a children’s book. LOL. But what I did get out of the Big Book early on put me somewhat at ease and gave me hope. Now, I still go through it and find new things – as nandm stated above. I love it! I am rereading it now – the Fourth Edition, cover to cover. There are some great stories in it too – almost like mini-speaker meetings.

[sugErspun]

I agree with you Elias - we are of the same tree.

[best]

Where I am at in life and my needs of the moment would dictate how I would interpret what I am reading or hearing in that moment. Once I find a source that gives me answers, the smart think to do would be a return to that source as more questions come up. Read the BB or read the bible once and you only get what you get in that moment. Reading them again and again will give more answers over time.
By myself I can gleen out things. With the help of another, I could learn them faster. Why work hard when I can work smart.
If I have no one to help me but still need get things done...Well I either do it or I don't. I just need find a way around that 300lb rock or break it into smaller pieces that I can handle alone.

[Rob B]

Interesting thread Tom:

If you came up to me on the street dying of alcoholism and I knew I only had 30 seconds to spend with you, and never see you again here is what I would say.

Starting at the Dr's Opinions and going through up to page 164, turn every statement into a personal question and answer it with your experience. When you come to a direction in the book, stop and take the action described and then continue.

If you did this, your chances at recovering would be pretty good.

[Barto]

Originally Posted by Elias

Do you think a guy dying of alcoholism would get all that in 30 seconds? I've been sober since 82 and I had to read it 5 times LOL. How about a 30 second hug and the lunch out of my lunch box. Lets give him something he can use LOL.......

Well, if nothing else, that’ll get him coming back. LOL. Only five times? You must be much smarter than me. LOL.

[Barto]

Are you saying there is no chapter entitled “Into Understanding” in the book.

[Barto]

I thinks it is a phantom chapter many (like me) have spent much time reading. I’ve tried to show it to others, but I can never seem to find it at these times.

[GlassPrisoner]

Originally Posted by Elias

Into Understanding, is that a chapter did I miss that one? I just dont understand? Now we are back to Interpretation of The Big Book on my own

I thought it was Into Thinking

See Also,

The Chapter to the Intellectual

[Barto]

I wasn’t arguing with you, Elias. I liked what you had to say. I thought we were having a little fun is all. I hope you're not offended.

BTW Rob, I also liked what you had to say.

"If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it... We absolutely insist on enjoying life!”

[bballdad]

Tom,I think a lot depends on how much brain damage the prospect has,so I would say there may be some varibles on a correct answer to your questiion.

[Signal30]

Some of my personal shortcomings are making things harder than they really are, and no self-confidence, meaning if I don't understand something I get frustrated and am hard on myself for not being "good enough" to understand something like a "normal" personal does.

I have made dramatic progress since I started my recovery so I am grateful that it is progress rather than perfection.

The more I read the first 164 pages of the BB, the more I understood and identified with what the book was saying. Again, it was others that helped put many of the parts of the BB in perspective for me.


Tom

[sugErspun]

I'll give the guy a hug, and go to coffee.

More than likely I will end up opening that book.

It's a pretty solid guide - I don't take 'poetic' license with it.

That is everything from the title page through 164. In today's version if you say the first 164, that little chapter called the Doctor's Opinion gets missed (those Roman numerals tend to get skipped).

For what it's worth - I would just as soon spend time reading the book with someone before I tell them to go home and open it up by themselves.

In the 'practicalality' arena of AA - what I physically did through the steps was read it out loud with my sponsor. Turned the statements into questions (for me - does this apply to me? Can I relate to this?) and did what it said to do (pray, meditate, write an inventory, share that inventory with another human in the presence of God, take the book off the shelf - cover what I had done so far, reviewed my work to that point, considered one decision very carefully before doing it, prayed, made a list of those who I had harmed from my inventory, added names that didn't show up in my inventory, listed what harm I cause them, approached them, diregarding any part they may have played in the [resentment, fear, dishonesty] - acknowledged the harm I caused- asked what it would take to even things out, review my day, prepare myself before heading out the next day, pray, tell others my story)..very practical (by the way, the following was not in any particular order when I was writing this post).

Book has clear cut directions on how to recover - I am at peace with that today.

[CarolD]

My first home group in D.C.
had a visitor from Africa.

He shared with us that his village had 1 big book
for everyone interested in recovery...about 20 people.

We got the mailing info....donated 30 Big Books
and last I heard their meetings were growing.

...not sure if these were average people tho.

Not exactly what you asked Tom...but I wanted
to share a positive experience anyway.

[Rob B]

Originally Posted by Rob B

Interesting thread Tom:

If you came up to me on the street dying of alcoholism and I knew I only had 30 seconds to spend with you, and never see you again here is what I would say.

Starting at the Dr's Opinions and going through up to page 164, turn every statement into a personal question and answer it with your experience. When you come to a direction in the book, stop and take the action described and then continue.

If you did this, your chances at recovering would be pretty good.

This post was hypothetical, I do that from time to time. so here is me being literal, if someone was actually dying of alcoholism in front of me I would get them immediate medical attention. My thinking in the original post was more along the lines of what could I say to a guy who wanted to recover from alcoholism, what kind of direction could I pass on, my opinion? No. the message of the book.