After such an approach many take up their beds and walk again. The insane idea won out. When others showed us that God-sufficiency worked with them, we began to feel like those who had insisted the Wrights would never fly. The door opened and he stood there, fresh-skinned and glowing. The first 164 pages, we are told, is what we need to know and do in order to become well adjusted, contributing members of society; to overcome spiritual bankruptcy and to be happy, joyous, and free. If the family persists in criticism, this fallacy may take a still greater hold on father. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. We often find such a person quick to see and understand our problem. We admit we have some of these symptoms, but we have not gone to the extremes you fellows did, nor are we likely to, for we understand ourselves so well after what you have told us that such things cannot happen again. If that is so we are sorry, for we ourselves dont always care for people who lecture us. I rightly imagined that they would some day have a great rise. A morning paper told me the market had gone to hell again. Then, like a thunderbolt, a great thought came. Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere of such places? If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension. The alcoholic may say to himself in the most casual way, It wont burn me this time, so heres how! Or perhaps he doesnt think at all. This is sometimes a mistake. Not always, we think. We admitted our wrongs honestly and were willing to set these matters straight. In this way he was slyly carrying tales. Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others, so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful. We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing. It does not exist for us. If God can solve the age-old riddle of alcoholism, He can solve your problems too. Yes, thats me, said the sick man, the very image. Such parts of our story we tell to someone who will understand, yet be unaffected. Two days later, a future fellow of Alcoholics Anonymous stared glassily at the strangers beside his bed. Then a mental fog settled down. Perhaps there are some cases where the utmost frankness is demanded. He may not share your enthusiasm, but he is practically sure to read the book and he may go for the program at once. There are, however, additional promises in the Big Book. The doctor said: You have the mind of a chronic alcoholic. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help. These are a complement to the 12 steps and outline the way AA fellowships maintain unity and relate to the world outside of AA. how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book. We thought he ought to be willing to do that if necessary, but if he were in jail he could provide nothing for either family. If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself. Thus you may succeed in interesting him in alcoholism. Paul Yaffe True 1 1/4 inch OEM Monkey Bars 12 inch Chrome for 2015-Present Road Glide Be the first to review this product $358. He had commenced our way of life, had secured a position, and was getting his head above water. We have enjoyed such evenings ourselves; we had a good time. Wait until repeated stumbling convinces him he must act, for the more you hurry him the longer his recovery may be delayed. Michele Dotrice Wiki, Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there. It is not the matter of giving that is in question, but when and how to give. We do not mean that you have to agree with your husband whenever there is an honest difference of opinion. If he says yes, does he really mean it, or down inside does he think he is fooling you, and that after rest and treatment he will be able to get away with a few drinks now and then? In the prize ring, this would be called leading with the chin. That statement hit me hard. Few people really are, for that means blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes nowhere. This book was written to carry the AA message to readers who find the first 164 pages of the original AA text hard to digest for any reason. And you may be tempted to let him do so. Perhaps we had been leaning too heavily on Reason that last mile and we did not like to lose our support. Now translated into over 70 languages, it is still considered A.A.'s basic text. You are saying to yourself: Im jittery and alone. The slightest disposition on your part to guide his appointments or his affairs so he will not be tempted will be noticed. I forgot the strong warnings and the prejudices of my people concerning drink. Bitterly discouraged, he found himself in a strange place, discredited and almost broke. This is a link to the complete 4th edition of the AA BigBook online. A remorseful mumbling that we are sorry wont fill the bill at all. This dream world has been replaced by a great sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. There are many. He and his wife would leave elated by the thought of what they could now do for some stricken acquaintance and his family. To give up resistance: He finally capitulated and agreed to do the job my way. Perhaps your husband will make a fair start on the new basis, but just as things are going beautifully he dismays you by coming home drunk. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand! Also, references to a Higher Power are often couched in Christian terms. With this attitude you cannot fail. The focus is the Big Book; Muckers use no other text. Just would he like to? Can you discard the feeling that you are dealing only with habit, with stubbornness, or a weak will? In the chapter Working With Others you gathered an idea of how we approach and aid others to health. His faults are not discussed. The inconsistency is made worse by the things he does on his sprees. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Even when he wanted to assert himself he could not, for his drinking placed him constantly in the wrong. There are two alcoholic employees, who produce as much as five normal salesmen. But there are many men who want to stop, and with them you can go far. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come. To this man, the revelation was sudden. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. Who wouldnt be, with such a fevered brain? Some chapters are devoted to specific audiences, and others are more general in nature. Id prove to the world I was important. Drinkers will not stand for it. If it is a happy occasion, try to increase the pleasure of those there; if a business occasion, go and attend to your business enthusiastically. And who could comprehend a Supreme Being anyhow? I couldnt do that. But you can. We are assuming, of course, that the reader desires to stop. The children are sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism. Whenever possible, let your husband explain. To us it is not far- fetched, for this kind of thinking has been characteristic of every single one of us. Dont start to withdraw again just because your friends drink liquor. If you do this thoroughly, few people will ask you to drink. Then comes a baker's dozen personal stories, and the apparent miraculous relief that certain problem drinkers have experienced, armed only with the hope that there just might be another way to live without having to fight constantly with . But we saw that it really worked in others, and we had come to believe in the hopelessness and futility of life as we had been living it. He begins to think life doesnt treat him right. To illustrate: The prosaic steel girder is a mass of electrons whirling around each other at incredible speed. The show doesnt come off very well. For the type of alcoholic who is able and willing to get well, little charity, in the ordinary sense of the word, is needed or wanted. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of But it is clear that we made our own misery. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. I felt like Napoleon returning from Elba. He should concentrate on his own spiritual demonstration. He soon indicated he was anxious to see us. Yes, we of agnostic temperament have had these thoughts and experiences. WE, OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill. He gets a thrill out of skipping in front of fast-moving vehicles. Edition/Shrine Big Twin motorcycle . There was much talk about the mental state preceding the first drink. Whatever the method, its object is to thoroughly clear mind and body of the effects of alcohol. Neither should the family hysterically plead with him to do anything, nor should they tell him much about you. It also has its own Facebook page and Len R is now in the process of creating audio versions of each of the chapters, available on YouTube. Lack of power, that was our dilemma. Treat him, when you can, as though he had pneumonia. But we could not. Most alcoholics have to be pretty badly mangled before they really commence to solve their problems. Do you want to stop drinking or not? In there he would find companionship and release. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, a design for living that really works. We know of an A.A. member who was living in a large community. Most alcoholics owe money. I had been obliged to discharge him for drinking, though he was brilliant, alert, and one of the best organizers I have ever known. We stayed on and on. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. So we clean house with the family, asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love. Usually, however, other people are involved. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. 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 Includes pages 1-164 and: The original Foreword. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people. Amen. We have then completed Step Seven. This experience may come to you. But this description should identify him roughly. This time he was quite shaky. At midnight he came home exhausted, but very happy. The wars which had been fought, the burnings and chicanery that religious dispute had facilitated, made me sick. But, as with most humans, he is more likely to have varied traits. Your man should be on his mettle to make good. As non-denominational people, we cannot make up others minds for them. You are sure to find someone desperate enough to accept with eagerness what you offer. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. His action met wide-spread approval, and today he is one of the most trusted citizens of his town. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. If we belong to a religious denomination which requires a definite morning devotion, we attend to that also. For the first time, he lived in conscious companionship with his Creator. We see that these expressions refer to people whose reactions are very different from ours. There is the obsession that somehow, someday, they will beat the game. His friends have slipped away, his home is a near-wreck and he cannot hold a position. Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make-believe have eventually seen the childishness of it. In the following chapter, there appears an explanation of alcoholism, as we understand it, then a chapter addressed to the agnostic. Those having religious affiliations will find here nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. One day they called up the head nurse of a local hospital. Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. Now I was to plunge into the dark, joining that endless procession of sots who had gone on before. They will always materialize if we work for them. You will be most successful with alcoholics if you do not exhibit any passion for crusade or reform. 1. When they become too dangerous, we think the kind thing is to lock them up, but of course a good doctor should always be consulted. If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. The BB uses words like "ABANDON, CONCEDE & CAPITULATE" is a stronger word than "surrender". A man so involved often feels very remorseful at times, especially if he is married to a loyal and courageous girl who has literally gone through hell for him. This is his story: I came to work on Tuesday morning. The first 164 pages of the Big Book is the outline for recovery, which constitute the "program" of recovery. Pg. After all, had he not been sober six months now? He is seldom mildly intoxicated. I won't quote it, but look at the subtitle on the title page in the big book. If we have no such complication, there is plenty we should do at home. On each of these occasions we worked with him, reviewing carefully what had happened. Sometimes he will be so interested that he becomes really neglectful. On leaving the asylum he came into contact with us. This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more. So we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined. Perhaps the best way of treating you to a glimpse of your future will be to describe the growth of the fellowship among us. This work is necessary to maintain his sobriety. If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. It may be worth a bad case of jitters if you get a full knowledge of your condition. This couple has since become so fascinated that they have dedicated their home to the work. In the realm of the material, mens minds were fettered by superstition, tradition, and all sorts of fixed ideas. You may spoil a later opportunity. What right had he to involve those dependent upon him? We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. He added that occasionally in the night a vague craving arose which would be satisfied by candy. Let him tell you about it: I was much impressed with what you fellows said about alcoholism, and I frankly did not believe it would be possible for me to drink again. Then came the insidious insanity of that first drink, and on Armistice Day 1934, I was off again. But this is only a half-truth. There is comfort in knowing you arent alone, that what youre feeling isnt unusual, and that there is a solution. Actually, he may be helping you more than you are helping him. What they say will apply to nearly everyone bound by ties of blood or affection to an alcoholic. Sometimes we sensed dimly that we were dealing with sick men. Though there is no way of proving it, we believe that early in our drinking careers most of us could have stopped drinking. But the program of action, though entirely sensible, was pretty drastic. But those of us who have tried to shoulder the entire burden and trouble of others find we are soon overcome by them. According to the Big Book, how many copies were sold of the. He does not need a bodyguard nor is he confined. Logic is great stuff. But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life-or else. In competent hands, this seldom takes long nor is it very expensive. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. The truth is the number of words per page depends on a variety of factors such as the type of font, the font size, spacing elements, margin spacing, and paragraph length to name This is the key text that the Alcoholics Anonymous program is founded on, the first 164 pages of the Big Book. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach. I pointed out that I had had nothing to drink whatever for three years, and this in the face of difficulties that would have made nine out of ten men drink their heads off. It was the usual situation: home in jeopardy, wife ill, children distracted, bills in arrears and standing damaged. He may rebel at the thought of a drastic housecleaning which requires discussion with other people. Drinkers like to help other drinkers. Sub-sede: Rua Prudente de Moraes, 911 Then, in this eastern city, there are informal meetings such as we have described to you, where you may now see scores of members. The question of how to approach the man we hated will arise. When we were finished we considered it carefully. But above all, we tried to be sensible on this question. FUN FACT: God (by one name or another) is mentioned 281 times within the first 164 pages of the Big Book. 16; Had not all efforts at flight failed before? Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It works when other activities fail. And there may be a valid reason for postponement in some cases. I have a shadowy recollection of being in an airplane bound for New York and of finding a friendly taxicab driver at the landing field instead of my wife. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed. You ask, because many alcoholics, being warped and drugged, do not want to quit. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. She will want to know who the woman is and where she is. Exceptions to cases such as yours have been occurring since early times. You will learn the full meaning of Love thy neighbor as thyself.. We want to stay out of this controversy. Father knows he is to blame; it may take him many seasons of hard work to be restored financially, but he shouldnt be reproached. We missed the reality and the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees. Tomorrow was another day. They sound like the philosophy of the man who, having a headache, beats himself on the head with a hammer so that he cant feel the ache. Outline the program of action, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to him. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality- safe and protected. From that point on, progress will be rapid. If there is any indication that he wants to stop, have a good talk with the person most interested in him-usually his wife. Includes pages 1-164 and: - The original Foreword - The Doctor's Opinion - Dr. Bob's Story - If you can't find the passages cited in your Big Book, try the provided chapter/story name as an aid. 1 second ago. He seemed quite rational and well-balanced with respect to other problems. A better way of life will emerge when they are overcome. Mother may complain of inattention. If he does not want to see you, never force yourself upon him. We asked ourselves why we had them. You can easily find some by asking a few doctors, ministers, priests or hospitals. Try to have him bring up the subject himself. The family must realize that dad, though marvelously improved, is still convalescing. So we used our own conception, however limited it was. Therefore, you probably need fresh interests and a great cause to live for as much as your husband. Naruto: Shippuden Season 7 Episode 2, We told him what we knew of alcoholism and the answer we had found. This time I had not thought of the consequences at all. We find the more one member of the family demands that the others concede to him, the more resentful they become. Nevertheless, I still thought I could control the situation, and there were periods of sobriety which renewed my wifes hope. There had been no real infidelity, for loyalty to my wife, helped at times by extreme drunkenness, kept me out of those scrapes. He often says that if he had continued to work on them, he might have deprived many others, who have since recovered, of their chance. The official Big Book from Alcoholic Anonymous. The First 164 pages of The Big Book with lined pages opposite text for note taking. This had to be stopped. We reviewed our fears thoroughly. Then, there were less. Welcome to 164pages.com! His present views ought to prove exceptionally useful to business men everywhere. They in turn might work with others. Opinions vary considerably as to why the alcoholic reacts differently from normal people. It displays the text of the first 164 pages of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous." She is indignant about it, and has a warrant out for our arrest. He found a total of 401 changes to the first 164 pages. Unwilling to be honest with these sympathetic men, we were honest with no one else. Now, there are few. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness. Keep on the firing line of life with these motives and God will keep you unharmed. Massage Envy Membership Cancellation, Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Big Book Index Bookmark. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didnt deserve. 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