Category: Big Book Personal Stories
THE ROLLING STONE, LONE ENDEAVOR, & APPENDIX
The final two stories from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939. The 28th and 29th stories were printed only in first edition of the Big Book and…
ON HIS WAY, AN ALCOHOLIC’S WIFE, & AN ARTIST’S CONCEPT
The 25th, 26th, & 27th stories from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939. These stories were printed only in first edition of the Big Book. Of special…
THE CAR SMASHER & HINDSIGHT
The 23rd and 24th stories appeared only in the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939. These lost gems, entitled “The Car Smasher” and “Hindsight”, highlight the cunning, baffling,…
THREE STORIES: A CLOSE SHAVE, EDUCATED AGNOSTIC, & ANOTHER PRODIGAL STORY
From the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939, these three stories, which appeared only in the first edition of the Big Book, reveal the universal experience of alcoholics…
SMILE WITH ME, AT ME
The 19th story from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939. This story, which appeared only in the first edition of the Big Book, provides a glimpse of…
THE FEARFUL ONE & TRUTH FREED ME
A double story episode: The 17th and 18th stories from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939. The 17th entitled “The Fearful One” and the 18th “Truth Freed…
THE SALESMAN
The 15th story from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939. Entitled “The Salesman”, it was printed only in the first edition of the Big Book. It’s one…
RIDING THE RODS
The 14th story from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous is entitled “Riding the Rods.” Because it was printed only in the first edition of the Big Book in 1939,…
A WARD OF THE PROBATE COURT
Available only in the First Edition of the Big Book, this relatively short story provides a glimpse of the formative years of AA when old-timers were those with 2 or 3 years sober, but whose…
MY WIFE AND I
The 12th story, printed only in the First Edition, gives a rare glimpse of how newly sober alcoholics perceived the spiritual aspects of AA demonstrated by early pioneers of the Program. The author of this…
THE SEVEN MONTH SLIP
This cautionary tale, printed only in the First Edition, describes how easily a year of sobriety can be dashed to pieces. “After a year of learning new ways of living, new attitudes and desires, I…
HOME BREWMEISTER
The tenth story from the Personal Stories section of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1939 was printed only in the first edition. It’s a fascinating story that reflects the time during the…
THE BACK-SLIDER
Printed only in the First Edition, this story conveys a powerful message about slipping, or back-sliding, that will touch every generation of AA members. After 2 years sober, he started neglecting meetings, fellowship, and daily…
A DIFFERENT SLANT and TRAVELER, EDITOR, SCHOLAR
Two stories are presented in this episode: A Different Slant and Traveler, Editor, Scholar. These appeared as the 7th and 8th stories in the Personal Stories section of the First Edition of “Alcoholics Anonymous” in…
A BUSINESS MAN’S RECOVERY
This story was published only in the First Edition of “Alcoholics Anonymous” in 1939. As the 6th story in the Personal Stories section, it never made it to the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th editions of the Big…
OUR SOUTHERN FRIEND
This story appears in all four editions of “Alcoholics Anonymous”, but the original version of Our Southern Friend printed in 1939 was considerably longer than subsequent editions. It contains at least 15 additional paragraphs and…
A FEMININE VICTORY
A Feminine Victory is another story most people have never seen. It was published only in the First Edition of “Alcoholics Anonymous” in 1939. It was the fourth story in the Personal Stories section and…
THE EUROPEAN DRINKER
The European Drinker was published in the First, Second, and Third Editions of “Alcoholics Anonymous” but does not appear in the Fourth Edition. It was the third story in the Personal Stories section of the…
THE UNBELIEVER
Published only in the First Edition of the Big Book The Unbeliever is a story you have likely not seen before. It was published only in the First Edition of “Alcoholics Anonymous” in 1939. It…
DOCTOR BOB’S NIGHTMARE
Orignally Titled “The Doctor’s Nightmare” in First Edition The Big Book comes alive with Howard L’s inspired reading of the first story in the Personal Stories section of the Big Book, DOCTOR BOB’S NIGHTMARE. Originally…