Alcoholics Anonymous - Writing the Big Book: The Creation of A.A.

Special Praise for Writing the Big Book

If you have read my husbands book, Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, you may think as I did, that you have a good understanding of that history. And you would be wrong. Writing the Big Book zeroes in on the first five years in a way that no other history of A.A. has captured. And these years were critical. Like a good suspense novel, this book captures the day-to-day struggles these few intrepid men encountered over those yearsin the heart of the Great Depression. How does a bunch of homeless alcoholics start a worldwide movement? Schabergs book tells us how they did it, tiny step by tiny step.

Linda Farris Kurtz, author of Recovery Groups
Professor Emerita, Eastern Michigan University

For many in recovery, Bill Wilson is a Moses freeing them from the bondage of addiction. As a result, a variety of myths have evolved around him, some encouraged by his own efforts to tell the story and to sell the spiritual program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Bill Schaberg does a great service to the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous with his exhaustive examination of archival documents, separating myth from fact. The result is a clearer picture of the beginnings of A.A. and the development of the Big Book, along with a rich and compelling portrait of Bill W. Less myth produces a much better story. This volume is a must read for anyone interested in the history of A.A.

The Very Rev. Ward B. Ewing, D.D. Trustee and past Chair of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Retired Dean and President of The General Theological Seminary, New York, NY

A stunning achievement. William Schabergs eloquent storytelling rests upon a foundation of meticulous scholarship. Finally, we have a resource that draws upon decades of recent research to separate fact from myth regarding the origin of Alcoholics Anonymous. Writing the Big Book is the most important work on the history of A.A. since Ernie Kurtzs Not-God. It raises the bar for future studies on the history of addiction recovery mutual aid organizations.

William L. White, author of Slaying the Dragon

Schabergs study of Alcoholics Anonymous is a true gift to A.A. and its membership, past, present, and future. His monumental research and incredible thoroughness demonstrate that far from being divinely inspired, the Big Book resulted from many perfectly flawed human beings working and living under difficulty and duress. The humanizing of the many figures in this story is invaluable. Schaberg gives a real sense of who each person was and what their crucial roles meant to A.A.s fundamental piece of literature.

Kevin Hanlon, co-creator of the documentary Bill W.

With tour-de-force exposition, Writing the Big Book details the chapter-by-chapter authoring of Alcoholics Anonymous and provides a revealing anthology of its primary contributors. Schaberg also debunks numerous long-standing beliefs of Big Book history. The revelations about Hank Parkhursts role in particular cast a welcome and inclusive light on his critical importance, as he is shown to be a true unsung hero.

Arthur S., A.A. historian from Arlington, TX

In-depth research and masterful presentation of previously unpublished facts about A.A.s early history make for an explosive package. Schaberg humanizes the participants and clearly articulates how Alcoholics Anonymous emerged after a painful and arduous birth. It reveals the evolution of the Twelve Steps and the fundamental differences between Akron and New York meetings and cultures of sobriety in 1938. But far from dry historical record, Writing the Big Book is lively, fascinating, compelling, and insightfulmore like a thriller than a documentary.

Jay Stinnett, independent scholar, A.A. historian from Sedona, AZ

This is a book that A.A. historians will want to read and make footnotes to from now on the product of incredibly detailed research in the archives at the central A.A. office in New York City and at Stepping Stones in Bedford Hills, New York, along with Lois Wilsons diary, and a host of other primary sources.

Glenn F. Chesnut, Author of fourteen books including Father Ed Dowling: Bill Wilsons Sponsor, Emeritus Professor of History, Indiana University South Bend

Writing the Big Book surprises in how well it defines and demonstrates the actual condition of alcoholism, while so clearly rendering the portraits of its interesting cast of characters. I came away with a much better understanding of what some of my dearest friends and family struggle with as alcoholics, along with a deep appreciation for the work that went into the creation of A.A., and how profoundly the program has shaped our culture.

David Stickney, contributing editor of The Nietzsche Canon

WRITING THE BIG BOOK

WILLIAM H. SCHABERG

WRITINGtheBIG BOOK

THE CREATION OF A.A.

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2019 by William H. Schaberg

All rights reserved. Published 2019. Printed in the United States of America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Publisher: Central Recovery Press

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Schaberg, William H., author.

Title: Writing The big book: the creation of A. A. / by William H. Schaberg.

Other titles: Creation of Alcoholics Anonymous

Description: Las Vegas, NV : Central Recovery Press, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019009154 (print) | LCCN 2019011861 (ebook) | ISBN 9781949481297 (ebook) | ISBN 9781949481280 (hardcover : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: W., Bill. Alcoholics Anonymous | Alcoholics Anonymous--History. | Alcoholics--Rehabilitation.

Classification: LCC HV5278 (ebook) | LCC HV5278 .S33 2019 (print) | DDC 362.292/86--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019009154

Photo of William Schaberg by Katie Settel Photography.

Productions, LLC.

Every attempt has been made to contact copyright holders. If copyright holders have not been properly acknowledged please contact us. Central Recovery Press will be happy to rectify the omission in future printings of this book.

Grateful acknowledgment is made to Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (AAWS) to reprint brief excerpts from Alcoholics Anonymous, fourth edition. Permission to reprint does not mean that AAWS has reviewed or approved the contents of this publication, or that AAWS necessarily agrees with the views expressed herein.

All documents, images, and excerpts in this work that are from the Stepping Stones Foundation Archives are used with permission of Stepping Stones, the historic home of Bill and Lois Wilson, 62 Oak Road, Katonah, NY 10536, www.steppingstones.org, (914) 232-4822. No permission is granted whatsoever for any further use, distribution (online or otherwise), or reproduction.

Access to the Stepping Stones Foundation Archives and use of excerpts from its materials does not imply that the authors views or conclusions in this publication have been reviewed or are endorsed by Stepping Stones. The conclusions expressed herein, and the research on which they are based, are the sole responsibility of the author.