Most Popular Books by Alcoholics Anonymous

Commonly referred to as the “Twelve and Twelve,” Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions comprises 24 foundational essays by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. that have helped millions of A.A. members worldwide both to get and stay sober “one day at a time,” and to ensure that their "Fellowship" — Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole — will be there for them tomorrow. First published by Grapevine in 1952, the 12 essays in the book’s opening expand upon each of A.A.’s landmark Twelve Steps — its program of recovery from alcoholism — with practical applications, helpful examples and personal insights, many of which enlarge upon themes raised in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The second 12 illuminate the Twelve Traditions and explain how spiritual principles such as anonymity, humility and self-support serve to safeguard the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous and shield it from internal and external challenges. Whether read aloud at meetings, referred to while working with a sponsor, or turned to in a quiet moment, The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions can serve as a vital resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Steps and Traditions. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Known as the "Big Book," the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people worldwide get and stay sober since the first edition appeared in 1939. Opening chapters articulate A.A.’s program of recovery from alcoholism — the original Twelve Steps — and recount the personal histories of A.A.''s co-founders, Bill W. and Dr. Bob. In the pages that follow, more than 40 A.A. members share how they stopped drinking and found a new healthier and more serene way of life through the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Whether reading passages at meetings, reading privately for personal reflection, or working with a sponsor, the Big Book can be a source of inspiration, guidance and comfort on the journey to recovery. This Fourth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous has been approved by the General Service Conference.

This collection of readings moves through the calendar year one day — and one page — at a time. For every day, a favorite quotation from the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous is followed by an A.A. member’s personal reflection, making for daily reading that is at once inspired and inspiring. While focusing broadly on the Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service, this volume offers experience, strength and hope on specific topics such as willingness, faith, making amends — themes that recovering alcoholics must address each day — and reminds us that we are never really alone in Alcoholics Anonymous. Whether using the day’s reading as a source for their morning meditation, discussing it with a sponsor or sharing it with their home group, many in Alcoholics Anonymous consider Daily Reflectionsto be a critical tool in their “spiritual toolkit.” Features a topical index to help guide discussion. Daily Reflections has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Written by and for incarcerated alcoholics, this slim, staple-less volume contains 26 stories by A.A. members who found their way to the Fellowship and got sober while behind bars. All of these individuals reveal how, through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, they transformed their lives and found serenity despite their surroundings. One after the other, these recovering alcoholics — of all ages and all types — share how they came to grasp that no prison is as formidable as active alcoholism. From one story: “It may sound crazy to feel freedom in jail or prison. But that’s exactly what I have. I’ve known more freedom in these past 15 months than in all my 32 years of life.” Full of clear-sighted honesty, personal revelations and, most of all, hope in the most challenging circumstances, A.A. in Prison: Inmate to Inmate is a must-have piece of literature for incarcerated alcoholics as well as for the A.A. member engaged in service in correctional facilities. A.A. in Prison: Inmate to Inmate has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. once wrote that this collection of excerpts from his writings was “meant to serve as an aid to individual meditation and a stimulant for group discussion,” and since its publication in 1967 it has done that and more for millions of A.A. members around the world. Hundreds of brief passages — excerpted from the Big Book and other A.A. literature — address the principles of gratitude, spirituality, acceptance and a host of other themes central to living a serene life free from alcohol. With a topical index to point readers to subjects of particular interest, As Bill Sees It is an easy-to-use resource of inspiration, comfort, and humor that provides a sense of belonging for those on the path of recovery. Whether seeking insight on a specific topic or opening the book at random, readers will find that there is always more to discover. The passages are perfect for discussion in group settings or for personal reflection. As Bill Sees It, formerly published asThe A.A. Way of Life, has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Gathered in this booklet are the heartfelt stories of more than 75 A.A. members from around the world who share what the phrases "Higher Power” and "God as we understood Him" mean to them. The title — the first three words in the second of A.A.’s Twelve Steps — hints at the book’s theme: that recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous is not a destination, but a spiritual journey that takes place over time, while living “life on life’s terms.” Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, but always honest, the stories in Came to Believe present a wide range of perspectives on what spirituality can look like in the context of Alcoholics Anonymous, demonstrating how the A.A. program is best described as “spiritual but not religious.” The rich diversity of voices we hear reflect the infinite number of paths available to those seeking freedom from alcohol. From newcomers just finding their way to longtimers seeking new perspectives, A.A. members of all kinds may find in Came To Believe added insight and inspiration to breathe enrich their recovery journey. Came to Believe has been approved by the General Service Conference.

A.A. co-founder Bill W. tells the story of the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous from its make-or-break beginnings in New York and Akron in the early 1930s to its spread across the country and overseas in the years that followed. A wealth of personal accounts and anecdotes portray the dramatic power of the A.A. Twelve Step program of recovery — unique not only in its approach to treating alcoholism but also in its spiritual impact and social influence. Bill recounts the evolution of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts for World Service — those principles and practices that protect A.A.s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service — and how in 1955 the responsibility for these were passed on by the founding members to the Fellowship (A.A.’s membership at large). In closing chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, early "friends of A.A.," including the influential Dr. Silkworth and Father Ed Dowling, share their perspectives. Includes 16 pages of archival photographs. For those interested in the history of A.A. and how it has withstood the test of time, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age offers on the growth of this ground-breaking movement. Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age has been approved by the General Service Conference.

The Plain Language Big Book is a tool to help readers understand the book Alcoholics Anonymous, which was first published in 1939. This new book is designed so that the A.A. Twelve Step program of recovery from alcoholism may be easily understood by all people who have a desire to stop drinking. The Plain Language Big Book has been written to present the original ideas and same spiritual message of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous in simpler language. The Plain Language Big Book covers the core content of what is the “abridged version” (the edition without personal stories) of the original Big Book. This book is General Service Conference-approved literature. This book has been published in accordance with Advisory Actions passed by substantial unanimity of the General Service Conference (GSC) of Alcoholics Anonymous. The final draft of the Plain Language Big Book was reviewed and approved by substantial unanimity at the 74th GSC, in April 2024.

Personal stories of Alcoholics Anonymous members.

The Little Red Book: The Original 1946 Edition is a groundbreaking work that has helped countless individuals overcome alcoholism and find a path to recovery. This powerful book, written by the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W., offers profound insights, practical guidance, and hope for those struggling with addiction. With its straightforward approach and timeless wisdom, this edition serves as a testament to the enduring impact of the Alcoholics Anonymous program and its ability to transform lives.

Full of first-person accounts and primary source material, this portrait of Bill W. recounts his journey from Vermont youth to army officer to Wall Street success story to hopeless drunk — until a series of remarkable events leads him to stop drinking and to meet Dr. Bob, with whom he would found Alcoholics Anonymous. We follow Bill through his tireless work for Alcoholics Anonymous: the publishing of the Big Book, the development of the Twelve Traditions, the formation of the General Service Conference. Closing chapters walk us through Bill''s final years of challenge and change. With every word documented and every source checked, ‘Pass It On’ is the definitive biography of a fascinating yet enigmatic individual whom we get to know better in these pages. For the A.A. history buff as well as the member simply curious about Bill W., ‘Pass It On’ offers a wealth of information that sheds light on how the unique movement that is Alcoholics Anonymous came to be what it is today. With 39 archival photographs. ‘Pass It On’ is General Service Conference-approved.

A.A.’s how-to manual for staying sober in everyday situations, this widely read booklet demonstrates through simple examples how A.A. members throughout the world live their lives to the fullest while staying sober one day at a time. From the foreword: “Living sober turns out to be not at all grim, boring and uncomfortable, as we had feared, but rather something we begin to enjoy and find much more exciting than our drinking days.” Responding to commonly asked questions such as “Should I go into bars?” and “Should I seek professional help?” and covering popular topics such as romantic relationships in sobriety, Living Sober offers suggestions that can, over time, help alcoholics replace their old, destructive habits with new, healthier ones. An especially useful resource for the newcomer to Alcoholics Anonymous, Living Sober has helped countless A.A. members meet “life on life’s terms” while they move forward on their recovery path. Living Sober has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Co-founder Bill W. was keenly aware of the importance of personal stories, writing, “The story section of the Big Book ... is our principal means of identifying with the reader outside of A.A., it is the written equivalent of hearing speakers at an A.A. meeting; it is our show window of the results.” Experience, Strength and Hope offers back to the A.A. Fellowship the candor, wisdom and wit of 56 members whose stories are no longer available in the fourth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. With each edition, new stories were added to reflect A.A.’s changing membership, while others had to be dropped. Numerous requests from A.A. members led to the publication of this book, where now can be found such classics as “A Feminine Victory,” written by one of A.A.’s very first female members, and “The Car Smasher,” by “A.A. Number 3” — third after the co-founders themselves. A.A. membership continues to grow and change, but the voices contained here will never be outdated. From poignant accounts of sorrow and loss to more raucous tales laced with deprecating humor, this collection of stories offer today’s A.A. members the timeless gift of experience, strength and hope. Experience, Strength and Hope has been approved by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous, by its very nature, could not have been founded by one person: its essence is sharing. Bill W. and Dr. Bob are always referred to within A.A. as “co-founders.” Having died in 1950, when A.A. was only 15 years old, the Ohio surgeon may be less well-known than the New York stockbroker, his influence on the whole A.A. program is permanent and profound. Filled with interviews with friends and family, this deeply researched biography follows A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob S. from his New England childhood to his days as a surgeon and father who couldn''t stop drinking; to his transformative meeting with Bill W. and the birth of A.A. in Akron; and finally to his untimely death in 1950. Inextricably entwined with Bob’s life, the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Midwest is chronicled along the way. With 26 archival photographs. General Service Conference-approved. For A.A. history buffs as well as members curious to know more about the quieter co-founder, Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers offers an inside glimpse into the inspiring life of this complex, compelling character. With 39 archival photographs. Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers has been approved by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Reproduction issued by Literary Licensing.

Made available to readers everywhere for the first time, Our Great Responsibility brings together 16 talks given by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. over the span of two decades. With his characteristic humor and down-to-earth candor, Bill shares his thinking on myriad A.A. themes — the principles of A.A. service, the relationship between principles and personalities, even the origins and adaptability of the Twelve Steps — and reveals his willingness to entertain a broad, long view of Alcoholics Anonymous, open to change and growth. Complementing the text are more than 60 archival photographs and other images from the General Service Office Archives, some never before published, as well as a concise history of the founding of A.A.’s General Service Conference, the mechanism for the Fellowship’s annual “group conscience.” We also hear from “friends of A.A.,” including Bill’s wife Lois, Dr. “Jack” Norris and Bernard Smith. Taken together, Our Great Responsibility provides both a window into how Alcoholics Anonymous has continued to grow over the years — and a roadmap for how it may move forward in unity. Whether read for historical interest, for inspiration on the journey to recovery, or for a deeper look at the powerful principles upon which Alcoholics Anonymous functions today, Our Great Responsibility both educates and inspires readers today.

Le cofondateur Bill W. avait conscience de l’importance des histoires personnelles. Il écrit : « La section des histoires du Gros Livre... est le moyen principal par lequel le lecteur en dehors des AA peut s’identifier. C’est l’équivalent écrit d’entendre les partages des AA aux réunions ; c’est notre vitrine pour montrer les résultats. » Expérience, force et espoir offre à nouveau au Mouvement des AA la candeur, la sagesse et la présence d’esprit de 56 membres dont les histoires ne sont plus disponibles dans la quatrième édition du livre Les Alcooliques anonymes. À chaque édition, de nouvelles histoires ont été ajoutées pour refléter les changements au sein des membres du Mouvement, et d’autres ont été retirées. De nombreuses demandes de la part des membres des AA ont conduit à la publication de ce livre, où vous pouvez par exemple trouver des classiques comme « Une victoire féminine », écrite par une des premières membres femme des AA, et « Le démolisseur d’auto », écrit par « Le AA numéro 3 » — le troisième après nos cofondateurs eux-mêmes. Le Mouvement des AA continue de grandir et de changer, mais les voix qu’on entend dans cet ouvrage ne seront jamais démodées. De témoignages poignants de tristesse et de perte, aux histoires plus tapageuses pleines d’humour, cette collection d’histoires offre aux membres des AA d’aujourd’hui le cadeau intemporel de leur expérience, force et espoir. Expérience, force et espoir a été approuvé par la Conférence des Services généraux des Alcooliques anonymes.

The story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world/