Dec 28, 2011 content verified as being uptodate by twelvedrawings in 2018. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. The big book of alcoholics anonymous and 12step programs across the world have helped millions of people recover from addictions, in large part because of doctor silkworth. Silkworth was an alcoholism researcher and treatment provider at the towns hospital in new york city. To many recovered alcoholics, this section of the big book is considered to be the most important as it describes alcoholism in terms that make sense to the real alcoholic. The text of the first 164 pages of alcoholics anonymous, unchanged since they first came off press in 1939, evolved from a process of furious debate and wise compromise. Colorful video illustrations help breakdown and clarify hundreds of the aa. Silkworths original statement, there have been added, in the.
Nov 04, 2010 alcoholics anonymous, the doctors opinion the first and second edition book alcoholics anonymous is in public domain in the united states. 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. A small percentage is based on word of mouth information. Bobs story paragraph numbers along side the text for easy reference. 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. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. Study guide that explores solutions for alcoholics and drug addicts c. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. The big book step study bbss format, based upon an aa meeting format originated in hyannis, mass. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the doctors opinion. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
It explains many things for which we cannot otherwise account. To overcome and survive the disease and live happy, joyous and free, we must study and learn what the solution is and what we have to do to obtain it. We can trust the opinion of a physician with qualifications such as these. The doctors opinion began on page 1 in the first edition of the big book 4th edit. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. You can search the alcoholics anonymous big book for phrases, key words, etc. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous the doctors opinion. What is the doctors opinion from the alcoholics big 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.
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. As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little. The big book of alcoholics anonymous and twelve step programs across the world have helped millions of people recover from addictions, in large part because of doctor silkworth. This version includes only the first 164 pages without the personal stories of the book alcoholics anonymous, fourth edition. I have tried to identify all that i could find to identify for myself and other readers of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, here. In many bbss meetings, only members who have worked the 12 steps according to this structure are permitted to share. The first 164 pages of the aa big book study edition comes with lined pages opposite of the text for note taking.
Minerva studioshutterstock 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 as they are admitted and. These are intended for further study and should not be taken out of context. Nov 18, 2014 the doctors opinion an explanation of addictive illness found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous dawn farm lecture series november 18, 2014 herbert malinoff, md, facp, fasam specialist in chronic pain and addictive illness medical director, pain recovery solutions, pc attending physician, saint joseph mercy hospital, ypsilanti, mi. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the big book. This also has been kept intact, just as it was originally written in 1939 by the late dr.
Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery center. The doctor s opinion we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery describedi nt his book. Aa, alcoholics anonymous, has but one solution for the deadly disease of alcoholism. The doctor s opinion gives a brief description of the phenomenon of craving that alcoholics develop when they ingest alcohol that most other people dont. As part of his rehabilitation he commenced to present his conceptions to.
Doctor silkworth was the first in his field to look at alcoholism and drug addiction in a disease model that he called an allergy of the body, and an obsession of the mind. He also explains his theory of why alcoholics are unable to control their drinking. Videos or graphic images may not be downloaded, copied or duplicated without the express written permission of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Study guide that explores solutions for alcoholics and drug addicts kindle edition by c. 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 as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. Aa big book study edition alcoholics anonymous big book. The anonymous press study edition of alcoholics anonymous. Consider the viewpoint of any individual member as just that. The publication of this book has not been authorized or endorsed by, and does not imply affiliation with alcoholics anonymous world services, inc.
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 two is the doctor s opinion from the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Clearly, that is an opinion rather than an accurate census, but it is one that is put forward by someone who has done a tremendous amount of research in aa archives around the country over the years. First published in 1939, alcoholics anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011 1. The aa program of recovery is set forth in the twelve steps aa was founded in 1935 in akron, ohio. Towns hospital for drug and alcohol addictions in new york city, where he had treated, one of the founding members of aa, bill w.
This is the official website of the general service office g. An introduction to the big book gatehouse sober community. This aa big book study edition includes the original foreword, the doctors opinion and dr. Normal in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. The doctors opinion is an important part of the big book, as it details a physicians view of alcoholism and recovery. Alcoholics anonymous original manuscript signed by bill w. William duncan silkworth henceforth be removed from all printings of the big book. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in. Amid covid19, we are still open and offering online addiction treatment options. The doctors opinion gives a brief description of the phenomenon of craving that alcoholics develop when they ingest alcohol that most other people dont. Mar 22, 2015 the doctor s opinion from the big book of alcoholics anonymous being read aloud. Within 3 years, the e book sold over 15,000 copies worldwide without any marketing.
For years he had floundered from one sanitarium to another. Keefe april, 2009 abstract alcoholics anonymous aa and alanon groups have helped a lot of people become sober, and to deal with an alcoholic family member. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. Pocketsized convenience of the program of action, 4th edition. A certain american business man had ability, good sense, and high character. 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. The doctors opinion an explanation of addictive illness found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous dawn farm lecture series november 15, 2011 2. Can be used by for groups, for sponsors and as a stand alone. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. This is the only rule in the big book, though in the doctors opinion xxix dr. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book. Nov 26, 2009 the doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011 1.
It is based on a scientific paper written by dr william d silkworth in 1937. This excerpt of the alcoholics anonymous big book lets you get your hands on pages that could help you with alcohol addiction. This program will describe a physicians view of alcoholism, as presented in the literature of alcoholics anonymous and updated with the. The doctor s opinion from the big book of alcoholics anonymous being read aloud. Alcoholics anonymous aa is an international mutual aid fellowship with the stated purpose of enabling its members to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. Far from being a text book of incontrovertible instructions or rules the big book is, in fact, a story book, it says so in its very title, alcoholics anonymous the story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. The doctor s description of alcoholism shows clearly the dire physical condition of the alcoholic. Mar 22, 2009 that s where bill wilson first found out he was an alcoholic. The text of the first 164 pages of alcoholics anonymous, unchanged since they first came off press in 1939, evolved from a process of furious debate and wise compromise in may 1938, when cofounder bill w. We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye. 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. It takes a lot for a person to first admit to having a drinking problem, and.
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. This version is wonderful to hand out to my sponsees, and i keep a copy on my person at all times. Big book of alcoholics anonymous summary free essays. In april of 1939, alcoholics anonymous printed 4,730 copies of the big book and thousands of those copies still survive today. Alcoholics anonymous big book reference edition for.
Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous. The doctor s theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the doctors opinion. Preface to the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism is the official book for the alcoholics anonymous fellowship and available for those at gatehouse sober community. 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. He had consulted the best known american psychiatrists. Opinion in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Rely upon the twelve traditions the long form for clarification of what aa is and what aa is not. Its only membership requirement is a desire to stop drinking. You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves. Alcoholism through a doctors eyes the new york times.
Study guide that explores solutions for alcoholics and drug addicts. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. This specifically includes any comments by the author of this study guide of the. The explicit musts of the big book page 1 the explicit musts found in alcoholics anonymous 3rd. Medical in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery. Where in alcoholics anonymous big book are drugs mentioned. This video is part of the aa big book basic training. Following the forewords, there appears a section called the doctors opinion. Bob was sober a few months less than three years, and. Aa is nonprofessional, selfsupporting, and apolitical. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. The doctors opinion on alcoholism november 2011 youtube.
The preface and foreword describe the history of the big book and its role in the alcoholics anonymous program. Most of the information comes from aaws published or other recovery oriented literature. The dust cover of the fourth edition quotes a letter written by bill w. Thats where bill wilson first found out he was an alcoholic. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Many thousands have benefited from the big book and its simple but profound explanation of the doctrines behind alcoholics anonymous, which was founded in 1935 by bill wilson and dr. The explicit musts found in alcoholics anonymous 3rd. Doctor in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Reprinted from pages xxv xxxii the book, alcoholics anonymous, 4th edition. His view that the basis of alcoholism is a physical allergy was radical change to the prevailing views of the time. Alcoholism is a threefold malady that affects us mentally, physically, and spiritually. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. We the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc 1. Alcoholics anonymous big book audioread aloud duration.
It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. The big book of alcoholics anonymous and twelve step programs across the world have helped millions of people recover from addictions. The doctors opinion from the big book of alcoholics anonymous being read aloud. We of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan ofrecovery described in this book. These men may well have a remedy for thousands of such situations. Silkworth, who worked at towns hospital in new york city. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. Be advised that other ideas and interpretations, which are consistent with.
Silkworth helped many alcoholics in the early days of the fellowship of alocoholics anonymous. The doctors appraisal of the program suggested in the book lends authority to what the authors have to say. The doctors opinion the doctors opinion contains two letters written by william d. The ez big book of alcoholics anonymous was written by a longtime aa member who has been a professional writer all her life. The anonymous press is not affiliated with alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Alcoholics anonymous, from the title of its own book. The chapter the doctor s opinion was added after the rest of the aa book was written in 1938. The anonymous press study edition of alcoholics anonymous black gilded. The anonymous press study edition of alcoholics anonymous black gilded anonymous on. To show other alcoholics precisely how we recovered is the main purpose of this book. A rich resourse to learn and understand alcholism and also a study of the 12 steps.
With the appearance of the new book a great deal began to happen. 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. But as exproblem drinkers, we can say that his explanation makes good sense. The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011. A wellknown doctor, chief physician at a nationally prominent hospital specializing in alcoholic and drug addiction, gave alcoholics anonymous this letter.
Convincingt estimonym ustsu relyco me from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. Alcoholics anonymousthe big bookhas served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass. Big book alcoholics anonymous homepage healthyplace. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of. The doctors opinion, bills story, how it works, there is a solution, more about alcoholism, we agnostics, into action, working with others and a vision for you.