{"id":16130,"date":"2020-10-07T16:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T20:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=16130"},"modified":"2020-10-26T08:21:43","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T12:21:43","slug":"the-big-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-big-book\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big Book: Where Did the 12-Step Program Start?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is The Big Book<\/em>? How does the AA book set up the Alcoholics Anonymous program?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Big Book<\/em> is the primary text for the Alcoholics Anonymous program. This text, also known as the AA book, originated the well-known 12-Step Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about The Big Book<\/em>, it major principles, and the 12 Steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is The Big Book<\/em>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Big Book<\/em> is Alcoholics Anonymous\u2019s primary text. It originated the Twelve-Step program now used widely among addictions outside alcohol. It was one of the first to suggest that alcoholism was an illness, not a character defect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this 1-page summary of The Big Book<\/em>, we\u2019ll discuss the major ideas underlying Alcoholics Anonymous and give an overview of the Twelve Steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major Principles of Alcoholics Anonymous<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The AA book outlines three main principles that set the context for the program. These principles address cravings for alcohol, the need for absolute abstinence, and the faith-based aspect of AA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcoholics Feel An Uncontrollable Craving Others Don\u2019t Understand<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Think of alcoholism as an uncontrollable craving for alcohol. This craving is beyond the mental control of alcoholics. As a result, alcoholics can never safely use alcohol in any form at all<\/strong>. They cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving, and it becomes virtually impossible to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This craving is not a matter of willpower. Most alcoholics have lost the power of choice in drink.<\/strong> Willpower is basically nonexistent as it relates to alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This craving is hard to understand for people who don\u2019t feel it. Moderate drinkers often think of alcoholics, \u201cthese people are weak. I <\/em>can take or leave alcohol\u2014why can\u2019t he?\u201d Moderate drinkers don\u2019t have this problem of an uncontrollable craving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abstinence Must Be Absolute<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To recover, an alcoholic must be sober for the rest of his life. A single drink can kick off a vicious cycle of drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s tempting for an alcoholic who has been sober for some period of time to believe that he can drink in moderation. This is a delusion. The book cites an alcoholic who had stayed sober for 25 years, and that he might give alcohol another try. Within two months, he was in a hospital, puzzled and humiliated. Within 4 years, he was dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to The Big Book<\/em>, the only way to escape the clutches of alcohol is to never drink again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcoholics Anonymous Is Not Religious<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

AA is not a religious organization. It demands belief in a higher power<\/a>, but you can choose your own conception of what that means, whether that\u2019s a religious god or not. You need only believe in some power that is greater than yourself, because, as a mere individual, you have no effective mental defense against drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Twelve Steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve-Step program<\/a> as described in The Big Book<\/em> consists of these major actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n