by Rev. Leo Booth

Rev. Leo Booth
Unity minister, published author and conference speaker

It is an understatement to say that the Big Book for many people in recovery is the most important book for their lives; it is ‘up there’ with the Bible. Occasionally, in life, there are books that are written that change the lives of people here on earth and the Big Book is no exception. In nearly every country in the world people are reading the Big Book in their language and it is bringing to millions hope and recovery.

So this month I would like to celebrate the Big Book and consider it’s role in the lives of recovering alcoholics. I’ve already mentioned the Bible and I think it is important for me to state that the Big Book does not claim to be ‘the word of God’ or ‘divinely inspired’ and nobody is suggesting that it is the literal word of God. Its claim to fame is being a collection of stories and insights about the alcoholic’s journey towards sobriety and recovery ; written for alcoholics by alcoholics. And this, most particularly, is it’s unique status in the world.

So, it is not the Bible. It is not written by a medieval doctor or addictionologist. It is not a religious book promising redemption; neither is its emphasis upon being a spiritual manuscript, although it has some beautiful spiritual insights. No, it closely follows the lives of any speaker at an AA meeting:

What it was like; what happened; and what it is like now.

It speaks to the suffering and recovering alcoholic more than any other book that has been written to date, because it is rooted in the alcoholic’s experience:

“We of Alcoholics Anonymous are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we recovered is the main purpose of this book. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the alcoholic. Many do not comprehend that the alcoholic is a very sick person. And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.”(Forward; page xiii)

Let’s take a look at some powerful sections of this book together:

The Doctor’s Opinion precedes Chapter One and it records a challenging insight:

“The doctor’s theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us. As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little. But as exproblem drinkers, we can say that his explanation makes good sense.” (Page xxiv) Wow. The alcoholic has a chemical, nay mental, reaction to alcohol and sets him off on his self-destructive journey. Remember this was seventy years ago…and a powerful medical insight that became a clarion call for Alcoholics Anonymous.

Then comes Bill’s story (Chapter One): the beginning of sharing what it was like, what happened and what it can be like. The birth of self-help.

An important chapter for me is We Agnostics (Chapter Four). Why? Because it affirms that the new fellowship is for everyone and is not connected with any religious affiliation. Also we read that many, who did not believe, because of their experience of sobriety, came to believe.

In Chapter Five we read How it Works and this delivers the powerful Twelve Step program. This section is so important it is read at most Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It reveals the steps to recovery.

And the wisdom does not stop there. In Chapter Six we are told to move Into Action; the spiritual insight that comes with the power of service. The spiritual Life is not a theory. We have to live it (Page 83). There are sections of working with others, To wives, The Family Afterwards, To Employers and then comes a Vision For You.

Nobody has ever suggested that the Big Book is Shakespeare or that Bill Wilson and those early contributors had the writing ability of Hemmingway or Kafka…but occasionally they hit pure poetry:

Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.

Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. (Page 164)

I started this article by saying that the Big Book is not the Bible and it may not be the inspired word of God…but I believe that it is inspired. The spirit of alcoholics suffering is captured and transformed into a healing message;

We have become the wounded healers.

That’s the role of the Big Book and it is noble.