• Online Secular AA Meetings- Rebellion Dogs Publishing
  • Reading Room
    • client care
    • orders
    • Sample Book
  • Rebellious Radio
    • Speaking/Events/Workshops
  • Recovery Links
  • Contact Us
    • BeyondBelief
    • FAQ
    • Testimonial
  • Blog
Rebellion Dogs Publishing

Rebellion Dogs Publishing

  • Online Secular AA Meetings- Rebellion Dogs Publishing
  • Reading Room
    • client care
    • orders
    • Sample Book
  • Rebellious Radio
    • Speaking/Events/Workshops
  • Recovery Links
  • Contact Us
    • BeyondBelief
    • FAQ
    • Testimonial
  • Blog
Back to all posts

If you think you are different, AA Wants You (to be in the next Big Book)

Under other time-sensitive news, “This just in:” 

You may cherish the Big Book, AKA, our first text, Alcoholics Anonymous ...

Or you may set it aside as a conscientious objector on a variety of grounds ...

But now is the time for you—yes, you—to make a difference. No, they aren’t looking for your advice on changing the first 164 pages, that sacred cow will moo like it always has: cue The Who, “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” 

But the first 164 is merely 28% of the 575 pages of Alcoholics Anonymous - as I am sure you already know. The rest is mostly individual stories. Room will be made in the upcoming Fifth Edition, as it was in 1955 (2nd Edition), 1976 (3rd Edition) and 2001 (4th Edition) to show present-day AA members, with all our colors of the AA rainbow.

A call for stories from the General Service Office underscores a desire to represent the most diverse cross-section of AA that is possible. And the limit to that possibility comes from being able to choose from only what is submitted. From the Spring 2022 Box 4-5-9: News and Notes from GSO[i]... 

In response to this Advisory Action, the trustees’ Literature Committee is seeking a wide range of A.A. recovery experience of members in the Fellowship. 

Recognizing that all stories are of value, the Literature Committee is searching for recovery stories that are from a broad cross-section of our local communities. As Bill writes on page 29 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous: “Our hope is that many alcoholic men and women, desperately in need, will see these pages, and we believe that it is only by fully disclosing ourselves and our problems that they will be persuaded to say, ‘Yes, I am one of them too; I must have this thing.’” 

It is the Literature Committee’s shared hope that any new stories from our current membership will help future alcoholics to identify and find recovery in the pages of a Fifth Edition 

If you don’t hear/see your own story in this book, don’t let the next you to walk in the door or click on the Zoom link feel the same disappointment that you feel. Submit your story. 

The deadline: October 31, 2022. Most pages in the book are 250 words. Most stories are six or seven pages; some are ten or twelve. So, 1,600 words to 3,500 would be the sweet spot. Double spaced, 12-point font, or you can mail in a hand-written copy. 

If writing your story is outside your comfort zone, seek the companionship of your fellow sufferers; maybe start a writing club with some of your favorite members. You can each write and read your own stories to each other. Submit them all when you are happy with them. And wow—wouldn’t it be great if one of your group’s stories was selected? You could all feel you contributed, no matter which of your writing group’s stories makes the cut. Good luck.

Stories will be accepted in English, French or Spanish. If you have any questions, please email 5BBStory@aa.org 

READ, HEAR or WATCH (ASL) a few sample Personal Stories to give you an idea of the writing style: https://www.aa.org/the-big-book

[i] https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/newsletters/F-36_Box_4-5-9_Spring_2022.pdf

07/15/2022

  • 1 comment
  • Share

1 comment



Orders

Sample Book

Speaking/Events/Workshops

Beyond Belief

Galleries

Policy

 

 

  • Log out
Powered by Bandzoogle

notes
0:00/???
  1. 1
    Tracy Chabala Episode 37 Rebellion Dogs Radio 1:05:16
    0:00/1:05:16
  2. 2
    Joe C speaks in Berlin August 2021 18:17
    Info
    0:00/18:17
  3. 3
    Dr. Joe Nowinski, The Science of the 12 Step fellowship and program 52:02
    Free
    0:00/52:02
  4. 4
    WeAgnosticsPanel 1990 Seatle AA WorldCovention 1:21:25
    0:00/1:21:25
  5. 5
    Austin TX, WAAFTIAAC 58:26
    Free
    0:00/58:26
  6. 6
    Debate Over Special Purpose Groups 58:26
    0:00/58:26
  7. 7
    Women in Recovery with Trysh Travis 1:10:19
    Free
    0:00/1:10:19
  8. 8
    Higher Palooza V Joe C Oct 18 2020 23:05
    Free
    0:00/23:05
  9. 9
    Overhaul? by Joe C., Grapevine December 2009 5:25
    0:00/5:25
  10. 10
    A House is on Fire 3:33
    0:00/3:33
  11. 11
    Barry Leach on Tradition Three from World Conference 1985 25:15
    0:00/25:15
  12. 12
    3 Agnostic AAs on CBC Radio's Tapestry 16:34
    0:00/16:34
  13. 13
    rebelliondogs58.mp3 1:07:01
    0:00/1:07:01
  14. 14
    Erie PA, Saturday Night banquet Joe C (1996) 46:30
    0:00/46:30
  15. 15
    Rebellion Dogs Radio 24 with Jackie B and William Borchert 55:07
    0:00/55:07
  16. 16
    Recovery Capital Rebellion Dogs # 39 1:01:52
    0:00/1:01:52
  17. 17
    Mere Addiction Rebellion Dogs Radio 42 1:06:39
    0:00/1:06:39
  18. 18
    RebellionDogsRadio43 52:02
    0:00/52:02
  19. 19
    We Agnostics 1990 Seattle 1:21:25
    Free
    0:00/1:21:25
  20. 20
    Rebellion Dogs 28 Talking Service with John S 1:06:06
    0:00/1:06:06
0:00/???