1ST PRINTINGS
1,5,10,11,12,13,14,15
PRINTING DATES
1 4/39 2 3/41 3 6/42 4 3/43 5 1/44 6 1/44 7 1/45 8 2/45
9 1/46 10 8/46 11 6/47 12 10/48 13 2/50 14 6/51 15 1 /54 16
(note: 1,5p 7-5-2 means 1st and 5th printing, page 7, paragraph 5, line 2)
1,5,p size 9 3/16X6
10,11,12,13,14,15p size 8 1/2X5 5/8
1p iv POST BOX 657
5p iv POST BOX 658
10,11,12,13,14,15p iv POST BOX 459
1p iv YORK CITY
5p iv YORK CITY (7)
10,11,12,13,14,15p iv YORK CITY (17)
1p vi Lone Endeavor………………………391
Appendix…………………………..399
5p vi Now We Are Ten Thousand (March 1944) .. 391
Appendix…………………………..397
10,11,12,13,14,15p vi Now We Are Thousands……… .. 391
Appendix…………………………..397
1p vii-1-1,2 Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and
5p vii-1-1,2 Anonymous, are more than ten thousand men and
10,11,12,13,14,15p vii-1-1,2 Anonymous, are many thousands of men and
1p vii-2-1,2 remain anonymous because we are to few, at present, to handle the
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p vii-2-1,2 remain anonymous in order to more effectively handle the
1p vii-2-5,6 professional folk we could not well carry on our
occupations in such an event.
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p vii-2-4,5 professional folk some of us could not carry on our occupations if known.
1p viii-2-2,3 Alcoholic Foundation, Church Street Annex Post Box 658, New York City.)
5p viii-2-2,3 Alcoholic Foundation, Church Street Annex Post Box 658, New York City. (7).)
10,11,12,13,14,15p viii-2-2,3 Alcoholic Foundation, Grand Central Annex Post Box 459, New York City. (17).)
1p 1-4-1 About four years ago I attended
5p 1-4-1 About six years ago I attended
10,11,12,13,14,15p 1-4-1 In late 1934 I attended
1,5,10p 2-4-3,4 But as ex-alcoholics, we can
11,12,13,14p 2-4-3,4 But as ex-problem drinkers, we can
1,5p 7-5-2 by relating an experience of two years ago.
10,11,12,13,14,15p 7-5-2 by relating one of my experiences.
1,5p 7-6-18,19 left me. left me. More than three years have now passed with
10,11,12,13,14,15p 7-6-18,19 left me. left me. A long time has passed with
1,5p 9-1-2,3 drink for more than three years. I see
10,11,12,13,14,15p 9-1-2,3 drink for a great many years. I see
1p 25-1-13,14 there are eighty of us
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 25-1-13,14 there are one thousand of us
1p 25-1-14,15 meet frequently at our different homes, so that
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 25-1-14,15 meet frequently so that
1p 25-1-17 see from 40 to 80 persons. We
5p 25-1-17 see from 40 to 200 persons. We
10,11,12,13,14,15p 25-1-17 see from 50 to 200 persons. We
1p 25-1-18 and power.
5,10,11,12,13,14p 25-1-18 and power.*
1p 25 no footnote
5p 25 footnote *A.A.’s can now be found in more than 270 locations (1944).
10,11,12p 25 footnote *A.A.’s can now be found in more than 385 locations (1945).
13,14p 25 footnote *A.A. is now composed of 3500 groups (1950).
15p footnote *A.A. is now composed of 5000 groups (1954).
1p 27-1-2 ANONYMOUS, know one hundred men and
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 27-1-2 ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and
1,5,10p 28-4-1 But the ex-alcoholic who has
11,12,13,14,15p 28-4-1 But the ex-problem drinker who has
1,5,10p 29-4-10 lives, as ex-alcoholics, depend upon
11,12,13,14,15p 29-4-10 lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon
1p 35-3-2,3 spiritual experiences, which have
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 35-3-2,3 spiritual experiences,* which have
1p 35 no footnote
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 35 footnote *Fully explained-appendix II.
1p 37-6-13,14 your description.”
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 37-6-13,14 your description.”*
1p 38 no footnote
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 38 footnote *For Amplification–see appendix II.
1,5p 44-2-7 men of thirty-five or less
10,11,12,13,14,15p 44-2-7 men of thirty or less
1p 56-3-7 something like fifty of us
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 56-3-7 something like half of us
1p 59-2-8 be built.
5,10,11,12,13,14p 59-2-8 be built.*
1p 59 no footnote
5,10 59 footnote *Please be sure to read Appendix II–“Spiritual Awakening.”
11,12,13,14,15p 59 footnote *Please be sure to read Appendix II on “Spiritual Awakening.”
1p 62-4-1 Here are one hundred men and
5p 62-4-1 Here are hundreds of men and
10,11,12,13,14,15p 62-4-1 Here are thousands of men and
1p 62-4-16 them. When one hundred people, are
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 62-4-16 them. When many hundreds of people, are
1p 72-12. a spiritual experience as the
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 72-12. a spiritual awakening as the
1p 72-12.-1,2 result of these steps, we
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 72-12.-1,2 result of those steps, we
1p 72-12.-3,4 our affairs.
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 72-12.-3.4 our affairs.*
1p 72 no footnote
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 72 footnote *Re “spiritual awakening:”- see appendix II.
1,5p 102-3-1 Usually it is
10,11,12,13,14,15p 102-3-1 Sometimes it is
1,5,10,11,12p 111-1-11 avoided like leprosy. In many
13,14,15p 111-1-11 avoided like the plague. In many
1p 127-2-12,13,14,15,16 some confidence. About a year ago a certain state institution released four chronic alcoholics. It was fully expected they would all be back in a few weeks. Only one of them has returned. The others had no relapse at all. The power
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 127-2-11,12,13,14,15,16 some confidence. For several years we have been working with alcoholics committed to institutions. During 1939 two state hospitals in New Jersey released 17 alcoholics. Eleven have had no relapse whatever–none of them have returned to the asylum. The power
1p 164 footnote Alcoholic Foundation. We may be able to carry on a limited correspondence.
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 164 footnote Alcoholic Foundation. We invite your correspondence.
1,5,10p 165-3-3,4 time.” As ex-alcoholics, we smile
11,12,13,14,15p 165-3-3,4 time.” As ex-problem drinkers, we smile
1p 168-1-1 Nearly four years ago
5p 168-1-1 Nearly nine years ago
10,11,12,13,14p 168-1-1 Nearly ten years ago
15p 168-1-1 Nearly ten years ago
1p 176-1-4 drug addiction. Four years ago
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 176-1-4 drug addiction. Six years ago
1p 176-2-7,8 you may see thirty or forty, there are
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 176-2-7,8 you may now see scores of members. There are
1p 178 footnote Alcoholic Foundation. It may be we shall be able to carry on a limited correspondence.
5p 178 footnote Alcoholic Foundation. We invite correspondence. Also see page 391–“Now We Are Ten Thousand.”
10p 178 footnote Alcoholic Foundation. We invite correspondence. Also see page 391–“Now We Are Fourteen Thousand.”
11,12,13,14,15p 178 footnote Alcoholic Foundation. We invite correspondence. Also see page 391–“Now We Are Thousands.”
1p 399 Appendix
5,10,11,12,13,14p 397 Appendix I
1,5p 399-2-3,4,5 Alcoholic Foundation. Three Trustees are members of Alcoholics Anonymous, the other four are well-known
10,11,12p 397-2-3,4,5 Alcoholic Foundation. Four Trustees are members of Alcoholics Anonymous, the other five are well-known
13,14,15p 397-2-3,4,5 Alcoholic Foundation. Seven Trustees are members of Alcoholics Anonymous, the other eight are well-known
1,5p 399-2-7 states these four (who are
10,11,12p 397-2-7 states these five (who are
13,14,15p 397-2-7 states these eight (who are
1p 399 (The paragraph below is omitted)
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 397-3 The Alcoholic Foundation maintains an office in New York City as national headquarters of Alcoholics Anonymous.
1p 400-1-2,3 engagements touching on our alcoholic
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 398-1-2,3 engagements touching nationally upon our alcoholic
1p 400-2-1,2,3 Works Publishing Company, organized and financed mostly by small subscriptions by our members. This company donates the customary royalty from each copy of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS to The Alcoholic Foundation.
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 398-2-1,2,3 Works Publishing Inc., originally organized and financed by small subscriptions from our older members. These subscribers, forty-nine in all, have since donated their entire interest in Works Publishing Inc. to The Alcoholic Foundation, thereby giving the Foundation complete ownership and control of this book.
1p 400-3 **To order this book, send your check or money order for $3.50 to:
Book orders ONLY to
Works Publishing Co.
Church Street Annex Post Office
Box 657
New York City
* General Correspondence to
The Alcoholic Foundation
Church Street Annex Post Office
Box 658
New York City
5p 398-3 To order this book please send your check or money order to:
WORKS PUBLISHING INC.
Grand Central Annex
Box 658
New York City (7)
General Correspondence to
The Alcoholic Foundation
Grand Central Annex
Box 658
New York City (7)
10,11,12,13,14,15p 398-3 To order this book please send your check or money order to
WORKS PUBLISHING INC.
Grand Central Annex
Box 459
New York City (17)
General Correspondence to
The Alcoholic Foundation
Grand Central Annex
Box 459
New York City (17)
1p 400 last page
5,10,11,12,13,14,15p 399-400
Appendix II
The terms “spiritual experience” and “spiritual awakening” are used many times is this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms.
Yet it is true that our first printing gave many readers the impression that these personality changes, or religious experiences, must be in the nature of sudden and spectacular upheavals. Happily for everyone, this conclusion is erroneous.
In the first few chapters a number of sudden revolutionary changes are described. Though it was not our intention to create such an impression, many alcoholics have nevertheless concluded that in order to recover they must acquire an immediate and
overwhelming “God-consciousness” followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook.
Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformations, though frequent, are by no means the rule. Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the “educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of the newcomer are aware of the difference long before he is himself. He finally realizes that he has undergone a profound alteration in his reaction to life; that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self discipline. With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.
Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience. Our more religious members call it “God-consciousness.”
Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts. He can only be defeated by an attitude of intolerance or belligerent denial.
We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.
“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance–that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”