My sobriety date is: 2016.08.23..

Every time I re-read this book, it gives me something magical. ✨️

Thank you A.A. for saving my life.

Confession: I am a Christian, but I'm not an alcoholic (even though it runs in my family). As someone who grew up around an alcoholic, watched the destruction and the duality of life that alcohol can cause, this book was incredibly enlightening. To see the hidden doubts and struggles behind the alcoholic lifestyle.

As a Christian, I think that this is the first book that I've ever read that really takes sin seriously. It is the first book that really "gets" Romans 7:15 - "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." That is the cry of every Christian about every sin. I would actually recommend this book to any Christian. Just make a few strategic replacements, "alcohol" for "sin" and "spiritual experience" for "Jesus".

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

Once in a while he may tell the truth. And the truth, strange to say, is usually that he has no more idea why he took that first drink than you have. Some drinkers have excuses with which they are satisfied part of the time. But in their hearts they really do not know why they do it. Once this malady has a real hold, they are a baffled lot. There is the obsession that somehow, someday, they will beat the game. But they often suspect they are down for the count.

At a certain point in the drinking of every alcoholic, he passes into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is of absolutely no avail. This tragic situation has already arrived in practically every case long before it is suspected. The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink.

The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.

Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it is just like that.

That the man who is making the approach has had the same difficulty, that he obviously knows what he is talking about, that his whole deportment shouts at the new prospect that he is a man with a real answer, that he has no attitude of Holier Than Thou, nothing whatever except the sincere desire to be helpful; that there are no fees to pay, no axes to grind, no people to please, no lectures to be endured–these are the conditions we have found most effective. After such an approach many take up their beds and walk again. None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did. We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs.

If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. We could wish to be moral, we could wish to be philosophically comforted, in fact, we could will these things with all our might, but the needed power wasn’t there. Our human resources, as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly. Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that’s exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem.

Even so has God restored us all to our right minds. To this man, the revelation was sudden. Some of us grow into it more slowly. But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!

I'm not a 12-stepper, but the Big Book is a very powerful spiritual read. Must read if you're dealing with alcoholism, either directly or with a loved one.

An incredible insight into people, addiction and those affected by alcoholism.

A good read for alcoholics or friends and family members of alcoholics.

Wonder if you have a drinking problem? This book will help you.
Know you have a drinking problem? Read this book.