The Big Book is not exactly engaging reading, is it? The language is archaic, and sometimes it seems poorly organized. Mine is a 2nd edition, so the personal stories in the back are really old. That said, I think that if you sift through you will find some real gems about staying sober. I could not have done it alone or with just the book. I needed people in AA who shared ESH to help me to apply the BB's lessons. Some people know the BB inside & out. I was never one of those, but I've always appreciated people who could refer me to certain places for more clarification. As with all things, I find it best to take what I need and leave the rest.