Big Book Podcast

This is the 85th and final episode of the Big Book Podcast. It features the six Appendices and list of AA Publications found at the end of the Second Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in…

This is the final story in the Second Edition entitled “Freedom From Bondage” and was printed in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Editions of the Big Book. It was written by Wynn L. who joined…

This story, printed in the 2nd and 3rd Editions, was penned by Bob R. who sobered up in New York City AA in 1947. The story’s literary flair reflects Bob’s earlier ambitions of becoming a…

Published only in the Second Edition, this is the story of Nancy F., who got sober in New York City in 1945 when she was 39 years old. It is said that Nancy and another…

This story’s author is Sackville M., who got sober in Dublin, Ireland in 1947. Sackville helped reorganize the original Dublin AA meeting in which the secretary and a dozen members got drunk shortly after he…

Annie C. first joined AA in 1947 at the age of 67. One interesting item that shows up in Annie’s story is the reference to a farm in Connecticut where she went for a few…

This is a relatively short story printed in the Second and Third Editions. The author is Pat M., who joined AA and got sober around 1952. Those are the only two additional details uncovered by…

Written by Bill G., who got sober in 1945, this story runs the gamut from being a successful business man to literally being a bum on the street, pawning his shoes, living under a bridge,…

“The Prisoner Freed” was printed only in the Second and Third Editions,  so it will be heard for the first time by those who’ve otherwise been raised on the Fourth Editions alone. As with some…

Printed only in the 2nd and 3rd Editions of the Big Book, “Promoted to Chronic” was written by Helen B., who got sober in 1945. After working for the Boston Central Services Office of A.A.,…

“Jim’s Story” was written by Dr. Jim S., a physician in Washington D.C., who is credited with founding the first black AA group. While the struggles of starting that group are well-noted in the story,…

This is one of only 5 stories to show up in all 4 Editions. The author is John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo, known to his contemporaries as “Fitz” M. Unlike some of the previous Personal Stories,…

This 73rd episode begins Part 3, the last part of the Personal Stories section of the Second Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1955. Part 3 is entitled “They Lost Nearly All” and contains the…

This is a relatively rare story, as it is one of only five stories that was published exclusively in the 2nd Edition. There’s also nothing known about the author except what can be gleaned from…

This story is familiar to many, as it was printed in the Second, Third, and Fourth Editions of “Alcoholics Anonymous”. Unfortunately, the author of this story is unknown. What little we know about him is…

This story was penned by Felicia G. who first came to AA in 1943, but didn’t get sober until 1944. When she first met Bill W. at the AA Foundation office in New York, he…

Written by Dr. Earle M. from San Francisco, who got sober in June of 1953, this story was printed in the Second, Third, and Fourth Editions. Earle was a very active member of AA throughout…

Printed in the Second, Third, and Fourth Editions, the author of this story is said to have been Chet R. from Santa Barbara, California, though just when he wrote it or first came into AA…

In this 67th episode, story number 7 in Part 2 of the Personal Stories section of the Second Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous published in 1955. It’s entitled “The Housewife Who Drank at Home”” and it…

This story was printed only in the Second Editions,  so it has remained largely unseen by those AAs who’ve otherwise been raised on the Third and Fourth Editions. As with the last story, the author…