Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today (A Bible Study Primer for AAs and Other 12-Steppers) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!..." (more)
Key Phrases: medically incurable, foregoing verses, golden text, Jesus Christ, Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A Bible-study primer by an active, recovered AA for AAs and 12-Steppers. Specifically written to help the thousands in 12 Step Fellowships who want the specifics about early A.A. Bible study (what was said and done), where Bible study fits in recovery today, and how to begin that study with specific focus on portions of the Bible assuring victory in sobriety and the abundant life that makes it worthwhile.

From the Publisher

A book that meets the growing need in recovery for specific information about early A.A. as a Christian Fellowship, holding "old fashioned prayer meetings," and taking its basic and highly successful ideas from the Bible. A "how to" for those asking, "Where and how can I begin" in A.A. itself.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Paradise Research Publications, Inc.; 1st edition (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885803311
• ISBN-13: 978-1885803313
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #776,710 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A specific Bible Study Guide from early AA for Today's AAs, October 2, 2001

By	John Hill IV (Virginia) - See all my reviews

I've long awaited this book. 9 months to be exact. It was to have been a manual for studying the Bible within A.A. and other 12 Step programs. It was delayed because of the author's surgery. At the end, it became a review of what early AAs said about Bible study, about what they studied in the Bible, about what the Bible itself is, about the Bible's statements as to our Creator and His name Yahweh and His son Jesus Christ, and then about what it has to offer in terms of releases we all need--from fear, guilt, shame, failure, despair, loneliness, and so on. The appendices are specific, scholarly studies of God's name Yahweh, of the parts of the Bible Dr. Bob considered essential, and about success in A.A. yesterday compared to today. Very useful!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real instruction book for believers on A.A. history, Bible roots, and Bible study, November 19, 2006

By	John Albert Hill Jr. "Bible student in recovery" (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A while ago I wrote a brief review of this book. Then I spotted a review which talked about "tolerance" but never even seemed to mention this book or its contents. But time marches on. Since my first review, there has been an intense new interest in A.A.'s Biblical roots and history. Here are a few of the things that have risen on the scene: (1) Regular heritage seminars each year by Dick B. at the Wilson House where Bill Wilson was born and where he went to Sunday School and then nearby lived with his grandfather Griffith. (2) Several nationwide A.A. history conferences sprang up where the real roots were presented by Dick B., by Dr. Bob's son Smitty, by Ray G.--archivist at Dr. Bob's Home, and by several veteran A.A. women who had not been called on before. (3) Dick was asked to speak at Archives 2000, the event at the International Convention in Minneapolis. His topic--the roots of A.A. (4) Several websites, including four of Dick's own, began posting all kinds of important truths about the real early A.A. and pulling no punches when it came to accurate reporting. Some included NICD, aabibliography, anonymousone.com, mental health matters, silkworth.net, Bible Study Notes, and others. (5) More excellent studies by people like Mel B., Hartigan, Tom White, Susan Cheever, Nan Robertson, Raphael, and the biographers of Silkworth and Lois Wilson. (6) The actual Bill Wilson autobiography that had gathered dust for years was covered in Dick B.'s Turning Point and then published in full by Hazelden. There have been lots more appearances of history. But all these gave rise to the need for a guidebook that would tell people where to start as they picked up their Bibles and wanted their studies to bear the same kind of fruit the early AAs plucked from this "absolutely essential" source. Dick has written other titles on this subject since, but this book stands as a one-stop start on A.A. history and the Bible AAs read and you can read--as I have.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Historical Bible Study Primer for AAs and Twelfth Steppers, March 27, 2008

By	Daxton Lyon (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA) - See all my reviews

Here's a book that meets my need for a simple, progressing, informative approach to studying the Good Book the way early AAs did. It briefly covers early A.A. history. Then it dives into a very valuable approach to studying the Bible to learn about God, the Bible itself, Jesus Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the renewed mind walk, and the important Christian principles and practices. There is a particular focus on the Creator's personal name--Yahweh. The roots and documentation in the Bible of this important name are clearly laid out in the text and the Appendix. Sometimes people are detoured from the Bible in recovery by expressions such as "I couldn't understand it." "I can never get beyond the begats." "I can't deal with the "Thee" and "Thou" language." "A.A. is spiritual but not religious." "You can believe anything you want about God or not god or no God at all." "The word 'God' scares away newcomers." Yet many want to learn about, use, and understand the new birth, the power of God, prayer, the Bible, and the Christian precepts that abound in A.A. history. It fits well with Dick's The Good Book and The Big Book and his later title The Good Book-Big Book Guide Book. It's a great tool I can use in recovery meetings, and do.