AA Hopelessness…a startling contradiction? Flip through the first few chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous and you’ll notice some contradictory material. On one page is the repeated refrain of alcoholic “hopelessness” and on the other the bold declaration that an alcoholic can be totally “recovered “ You … Read More

In AA’s First Five Years Lois W., wife of AA’s co-founder, Bill W., recalls the time in AA when there were few members and no Big Book. Copyright © AA Grapevine, Inc, January 1967 Read More

Is AA A Cult? Let’s Start With A Definition of Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of men and women who share a common purpose of helping one another stay sober from alcohol.  Other fellowships exist that have borrowed the major tenets of … Read More

AA Symbol…AA History Some AAs rave about it. Others give it little thought. But the truth is the AA Symbol of Recovery has been the subject of controversy, celebration, and dismissal since its advent. Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was somewhat of a … Read More

AA Slogans…just superficial sobriety blabber? Pardon the awful alcoholic alliteration…damn I did it again! Slogans, cigarettes, and coffee – that’s what Alcoholics Anonymous does!  The newcomer is bombarded with a bunch of steps, traditions, and concepts not to mention all the names of people they … Read More

The Power Of Connection…step one is acknowledging the disconnection Step One: We Admitted We Were Powerless Over Alcohol – That Our Lives Had Become Unmanageable It’s funny. Every time I find someone wrestling with Step One it invariably has to do with these two concepts: … Read More