It is dedicated to those who want recovery from alcoholism, but have difficulty with the word god. Some may think that aa is just for alcoholics, but many who are addicted to. Chapter four is a history of the oxford group and the 12 steps. For a number of years i had a big book on a shelf that did a great job at collecting dust. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. The second narrative by dr silkworth was not a letter. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous the doctors opinion. Hank p, whose big book story is the unbeliever, started aa in new jersey. The big book is one of the bestselling books of all times 30 million copies sold.
I need the program alcoholics anonymous, the book alcoholics anonymous and the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous to do that. Alcoholics anonymous which we in aa affectionately call the big book. Steps by the big book free sbbb workbook for the 12 steps. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. These facts appear to be of extreme medical importance. Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery center. A draft fourth edition of the big book, alcoholics anonymous be developed and a progress report be brought to the 1998 conference literature committee, keeping in mind the 1995 advisory action that. Chapter two is the doctors opinion out of the big book. The first 164 pages of the big book, alcoholics anonymous, the preface, the forewords, the doctors opinion, dr. 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. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous.
The doctors appraisal of the program suggested in the book lends authority to what the authors have to say. My conception of what an alcoholic was before coming to aa, was based off my own opinion and what i took from others opinions. A wellknown doctor, chief physician at a nationally prominent hospital specializing in alcoholic and drug addiction, gave alcoholics anonymous this letter. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our. We can trust the opinion of a physician with qualifications such as these. An explanation of addictive illness found in the big book of alcoholics anonymous. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. This is a study guide to the book alcoholics anonymous. It was written in 1939 and the terminology was different then. 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. Steps by the big book free sbbb workbook for the 12. This is the audio version of the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. 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.
Going through the big book of alcoholics anonymous can sometimes be a struggle. William duncan silkworth henceforth be removed from all printings of the big book. In the lower righthand corner it reads, this is the third edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. 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. This program will describe a physicians view of alcoholism.
What with our ultramodern standards, our scientific approach to everything, we are perhaps not well equipped to apply the powers of good that lie outside our. Aug 05, 20 in my opinion, calling alcoholism an allergy is a good comparison, but it does break down if you push the analogy too far. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous the. The big book of alcoholics anonymous and twelve step programs across the world have helped millions of people recover from addictions. Jan 29, 2017 in this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter the doctors opinion. It explains many things for which we cannot otherwise account. Life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration. 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.
Eventually i decided that i should try working the steps, so i found a sponsor who suggested we read the big book and go through the steps together. Doctors in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. In this part of the alcoholics anonymous big book study, joe and charlie discuss the chapter the doctors opinion. How does the doctor describe the cycle of alcoholism.
Oct 22, 20 life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration. Alcoholism is a threefold malady that affects us mentally, physically, and spiritually. Towns hospital for drug and alcohol addictions in new york city, where he had treated, one of the founding members of aa, bill w. Chapter three breaks down the early history of doctor silkworth, doctor bob, and bill wilson.
To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. Silkworth begins his opinion in a letter to alcoholics anonymous in which he. 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. The only requirements are to show up, to study the big book and to practice the steps. Silkworth chronic alcoholics pg xxv, xxvi, xxviii, xxix, 27 the doctors opinion. Tiebout, a psychiatrist, was an early pioneer in coupling the principles and philosophy of alcoholics anonymous with psychiatric knowledge of alcoholism. The doctor s 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. When the study is completed, each member will have read through chapter seven of the book alcoholics anonymous including the preface and forewords to all editions. Some people get over allergies, but we learn later in the big book, that alcoholics never get over alcoholism. 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. Reading guide for the doctors opinion amethyst recovery.
The big book is alcoholics anonymouss primary text. Our acceptance of the doctors hypothesis is based on over 60 years of successful treatment founded on this model of alcoholism, coupled with the program of action outlined in this book. The doctors opinion on alcoholism november 2011 youtube. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. 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. 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. Nov 06, 2008 frequently asked questions abstinence afflicted aggregate alcohol alcoholic alcoholics anonymous alcoholism all addictions allergy amends anonymous atheist audio avocation big book big book meeting bills story bill w.
Alcoholic addiction xxv or xxvii 1st edition the doctors opinion dr. Jun 18, 2006 we doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its application presented difficulties beyond our conception. These cds are not endorsed by nor the product of, alcoholics anonymous, alanon, overeaters anonymous, narcotics anonymous or any other 12 step group. The doctors opinion is an important part of the big book, as it details a physicians view of alcoholism and recovery. The doctors opinion reprinted from pages xxv xxxii the book, alcoholics anonymous, 4th edition we of alcoholics anonymous believe that the reader will be interested in the medical estimate of the plan of recovery described in this book. William silkworth wrote the letters in the chapter titled the doctors opinion in the book alcoholics anonymous. The big book pioneer story he sold himself short p. There is also some brief writing by bill wilson, the founder of alcoholics anonymous. Step 1 the doctors opinion bills story there is a solution. Cofounder bill wilson began writing it in april 1938 at the business office of new york member hank p. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism.
We demand that the chapter the doctors opinion of the. In my opinion, calling alcoholism an allergy is a good comparison, but it does break down if you push the analogy too far. We doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its application presented difficulties beyond our conception. 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. This diagram is a handy reference for where the steps are located in the big book. I rode the wave of going to meetings and talking talk to. In a friendly, focused group of sponsors, sponsees, and others in recovery, we study and practice the 12 steps as they were originally described in the text, alcoholics anonymous. 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. Especially, as that word gets used by individuals who embrace traditional religious concepts of what it means to them. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. The doctors opinion on alcoholism was presented on november 15, 2011.
The doctors opinion is an important part of the big book, as it details a physicians. It originated the twelvestep program now used widely among addictions outside alcohol. Study guide that explores solutions for alcoholics and drug addicts c. Then ill suggest that you post a new thread in the big book study forum here and. Parkhurst at honors dealers, 17 william st, newark, new jersey. The exproblem drinker xiv, 18, 20 there is a solution. The doctors opinion an explanation of addictive illness found in. It also uses words that the meanings have changed, literally, and this changes the meanings of the underlying concept of the lessons the book is meant to deliver also, the big book is a text book, although written more like a novel, isnt meant to be. Aa speakers joe and charlie the doctors opinion the. Towns hospital for drug and alcohol addictions in new york city in the 1930s, during which time bill wilson, a future cofounder of the mutualhelp movement alcoholics anonymous a. The doctors opinion on alcoholism revisited november 2011. This series of talks came about from a friendship that started in alcoholics. But as exproblem drinkers, we can say that his explanation makes good sense.
If we practice the 12 steps, we are granted a daily reprieve. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you would expect to encounter a wide variety of viewpoints on the portions under consideration. Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health. It originated the twelvestep program now used widely among addictions outside. We the people demand one of the three following things of alcoholics anonymous world services, inc 1. 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. It appears in the big book based on a suggestion by dr esther l richardson of john hopkins hospital. Jun 22, 2015 the letter also served as a medical endorsement in the foundations fund raising efforts and later was included in its entirety in the big book introduction the doctors opinion. It also uses words that the meanings have changed, literally, and this changes the meanings of the underlying concept of the lessons the book is meant to deliver. 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. The letter by dr silkworth that opens the big book of alcoholics anonymous was written july 27, 1938 under the letterhead of the charles b towns hospital a medical facility with a national reputation in alcohol and drug addiction treatment. 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.
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