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The Big Book I keep Hearing About

Old 03-25-2010, 04:25 PM
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The Big Book I keep Hearing About

I went to my first and only so far AA meeting this past Tuesday. They mentioned the book often. And on here it's somewhat common. I have never looked at it. But it sounds like a tome, like something mystical. But a regular person(s) wrote it. Eliot the skeptic is away at the moment; Eliot the receptive is home. I'll admit it feels a little silly. But. Why and how does this book have something that other books/programs do not have?

Yours in a blue shirt,
Eliot
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Old 03-25-2010, 04:28 PM
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Ask the many recovered alcoholics in AA. They can tell you.

Why not get one and start reading it?
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Old 03-25-2010, 04:35 PM
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Here you go, and Eliot the tools that you need for recovery are not specific to AA. It involves a change from the inside out and it's something anyone can do. If you look around here, you will see that there are many roads to recovery:

Big Book On Line
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Old 03-25-2010, 05:11 PM
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Even if you don't ever go to another AA meeting you should still get a copy of the Big Book and read it...twice.

Lots of good, helpful information in there.
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Old 03-25-2010, 05:22 PM
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Eliot,

You can also check the BB out from any public library. That's what I did when I was still trying to figure it all out.

Love,

Lenina
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Old 03-25-2010, 05:28 PM
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Eliot, it's not that big, maybe a couple hundred pages. Aside from the link Anna provided, I think you can also get a copy of it from somebody at the meeting (and not be charged a million dollars for it).

I suppose it sounds mystical because there is a Good Book for Christianity, and I probably used to have a problem with it for that reason. I read a lot of it several years ago and I wasn't that receptive to it. I have read passages from it more recently and it speaks to me in a very different way now. I think I am going to get a copy of it again.

I think you would like parts of it. Just guessing.

I notice you talk about yourself in the 3rd person a lot. And also have different categories of yourself. you're not a perfectionist, are you? I do that sometimes too. I think it has to do with wanting to like myself more, not sure.
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Old 03-25-2010, 05:54 PM
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It might as well have been written in Chinese the first time I read it. It just didn't register. Of course I don't read very well so it could have been me.
The second or third time it was a "Hmmmmm" This thing kind of makes sense.
After that it was a "Woah" when I picked it up and looked at it.
There's some stuff in there that'll blow you away.
When I first got to AA I was handed a book and I was told that my story is in there somewhere. I was looking in the back for the story that was like mine.
Some were close and some weren't.
After I was actually able to grasp the concept I found my story was within the first 164 almost to the letter.
In fact, it's kind of spooky.
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Old 03-25-2010, 05:58 PM
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ER, as to the why:

it was written by drunks,

and the how:

it's an instruction book for, and to a way better life

if we follow the directions

good wishes ER

blessings out

rz
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Old 03-25-2010, 05:59 PM
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The group I got sober in - they gave you a book the first meeting.

Eliot -

The Big Book of ALcoholics Anonymous *is* fairly mysterious.

You will meet people who've memorized EVERY.SINGLE.PARAGRAPH.
There will be others who know pretty much where helpful information is.
There are yet others who relate to the personal stories in the back.

Thing is -

For many Alcoholics -
it's the first time in their lives -
that someone UNDERSTOOD.
To see in print-
some of the deepest darkest truths
we ran and drank so hard to hide about ourselves....
to find others who not only havwe the same problem
but who KNOW exactly what we're talking about ...

for some people it is a life changing thing.

You WILL find yourself in those first pages. I guarantee it.

For me -
hearing 'How It Works' will calm me within moments
no matter WHAT the trauma is at the time.

My body is programmed now
to calm down and think
when I'm in a meeting.
And think -about others.
Putting myself in the center of the universe
but as an instrument of the Highest Good.

It *is* what you make of it.

My first bb finally has bitten the big one...
the one given me at my very first meeting.
It now has a box of its own.
And rests beside the bed.
In early recovery -
it was with me at all times
There's notes and memories in that book
I can never replace
and never repeat.

I'm now on my second copy.
That in itself seems a signifigant statement.

Sort of a cosmic Teddy Bear.

If I had the $$$ I'd wire it to you
and buy you a copy myself.

Last edited by barb dwyer; 03-25-2010 at 06:04 PM. Reason: keyboard sticking again
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Old 03-25-2010, 06:00 PM
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After I was actually able to grasp the concept I found my story was within the first 164 almost to the letter.
In fact, it's kind of spooky.[/QUOTE]

--------------------------------

I'm just reading it for the first time and am just getting through the first 164 pages and have been getting the same spooky feeling.
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Old 03-25-2010, 06:07 PM
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You know,
When I was in early recovery
all the jargon
all the reference to the book
all the referring to 'the steps'

... reminded me of the old 'Amway' jargon.

You kmow the "you can mke a million dollars..."
but they don't really tell you anything until you pay the fees.

And it made me skeptical as well.

But now -
having come through to the Other Side....

it all makes sense.

BUT - this is important -

I had to GET THROUGH for it to be what it is to me now.

Put the effort
the time the energy
the devotion
into your recovery
that you put into your drinking
and I promise

you'll never have to drink again.
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Old 03-25-2010, 06:46 PM
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I used to pick up copies of the BB at Goodwill for a $ buck or two. I'd keep them in my car and give one to a newcomer.

Had a tendency to buy 'clean' [used] ones, but enjoyed looking at the hand-written notes in the others - felt kinda like I was reading someone's diary some of the thoughts/notes were very deep.

Hey, they were donated books in a public store.

It's not like I was prying...LOL.
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Old 03-25-2010, 06:56 PM
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As an aside the big book was named the big book because when it was first printed in 1939, they used particularly large, thick paper to print it on. This was because they got a real good deal on it, and self-publishing a book in 1939 was a big deal in an of itself. So the first edition was particularly large and someone dubbed it "the big book". The name stuck.
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Old 03-25-2010, 09:57 PM
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It's an instruction manual on how to get recovered from alcoholism written by recovered alcoholics...recovered meaning having had a spiritual awakening an alcoholic can recover and go anywhere and do anything...AA itself is a bridge to normal living, not a hiding place.

There are many different ways to get sober as my sponsor says and there are many different understanding of what sobriety is...i peronsally wanted complete freedom from alcoholism, e.g. being able to go into a bar for an event and not even think about alcohol being consumed around me, to be able to stay in a hotel room with a full mini bar and not walk 3 feet around it or have to ring reception to get it sticked with fruit juice...basically for the mental obsession to be removed as it has been...and to be restored to sanity.

Just my experience, i tried everything else and nothing worked but AA:-)
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