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The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous

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He or she who attempts to define the roots of Alcoholics Anonymous should never fall into the short-cut trap that has caused these writers and a number of historians to focus on the Oxford Group, rather than upon the various roots and also the specific roots that Bill Wilson himself described. First, one must distinguish between the original Akron Christian Fellowship program described in The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics AnonymousThe Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous; Then the many elements in the "rest of the story: found in Real Twelver Step History Real Twelve Step Fellowship History; The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the BibleUtilizing Early A.A.'s Spiritual Roots for Recovery Today (Why It Worked: A.A. History Series, Vol. 1)The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living that Works; and certainly the revealing personal journal kept by Dr. Bob's wife Anne and shared with early AAs and their families each morning Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939: A.A.'s Principles of Success. And, of course the materials on Quiet Time--which was a must in early A.A.Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A.
Half a loaf is not better than the entire loaf (the full picture). This title is satisfactory to those who simply want to know Pittman's view of the Steps. But the principles of the Twelve Steps, of the Original A.A. program, and the first edition of the Big Book involve much much more--starting in fact with the conversion of A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson--the event which furnished "The Solution" for which he believed desperate alcoholics had been searching. The Conversion of Bill W.