Noah Vinter
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a well-known organization that has been helping alcoholics recover for over 80 years. The group's name, Alcoholics Anonymous, was derived from the title of the book they published in 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story Of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism (also known as the Big Book). The book serves as a foundational text for AA members, outlining their philosophy, introducing the Twelve Steps, and sharing the recovery stories of 30 individuals. The name Alcoholics Anonymous emphasizes the importance of anonymity in the group, protecting members from the stigma associated with alcoholism and safeguarding the group's reputation and survival. The Twelve Steps were influenced by the Oxford Group's principles and readings, including the works of William James, who believed that spiritual transformation could lead to a cure for alcoholism. AA was co-founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, and their last names are often used to refer to them, resulting in the names Bill W. and Dr. Bob. The organization has grown significantly since its inception, with millions of participants worldwide, and has inspired various cultural works, including plays, movies, and songs that reflect the impact of AA on society.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of formation | 1935 |
| Founders | Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith |
| Founders' pseudonyms | Bill W. and Dr. Bob |
| Location of first group | New York |
| Location of second group | Cleveland |
| Number of people who achieved sobriety in the first four years | 100 |
| Year of publication of foundational text | 1939 |
| Title of foundational text | Alcoholics Anonymous |
| Other names for foundational text | The Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story Of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism |
| Year The Grapevine was established | 1944 |
| Year Alcoholics Anonymous Cleveland District Office was established | 1945 |
| Number of members in 1976 | 1,000,000 |
| Number of members in 2001 | 2,000,000 |
| Number of groups in 2001 | 100,800 |
| Number of countries in 2001 | 150 |
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What You'll Learn
- Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 in New York
- The group was co-founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith
- The group's philosophy is outlined in its foundational text, Alcoholics Anonymous, published in 1939
- The Twelve Steps were influenced by the Oxford Group's teachings
- AA's Big Book defines alcoholism as an illness requiring a spiritual experience
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 in New York
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, by Bill Wilson (Bill W.) and Dr. Bob Smith (Dr. Bob), two individuals who shared a struggle with alcoholism. The organisation's name was derived from its foundational text, "Alcoholics Anonymous", published in 1939. This book outlined AA's philosophy, introduced the Twelve Steps, and shared the case histories of 30 individuals who achieved recovery.
Bill W. was a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob was an Akron-based surgeon. Before their fateful meeting in 1935, both men had been in contact with the Oxford Group, a mostly non-alcoholic fellowship emphasising universal spiritual values. Bill W. had achieved sobriety through the group's influence and by working with other alcoholics. However, he struggled to help others maintain their sobriety. Similarly, Dr. Bob's involvement with the Oxford Group had not helped him achieve sobriety. When the two men met, Dr. Bob found himself facing a fellow alcoholic who was succeeding in maintaining his recovery.
The collaboration between Bill W. and Dr. Bob, influenced by their experiences with the Oxford Group, evolved into a mutual support group that eventually became AA. The organisation's structure and ideas were heavily influenced by the Oxford Group's teachings, including the concepts of "meetings," "sharing" (public confession), "restitution," "rigorous honesty," and "surrendering one's will and life to God's care."
In late 1935, a new group of alcoholics inspired by Bill W. and Dr. Bob's work began forming in New York, followed by another in Cleveland in 1939. Over the next four years, these three initial groups helped around 100 people achieve sobriety. The early years of AA were marked by experimentation, and anonymity was practised to protect members from the stigma of alcoholism. The name "Alcoholics Anonymous" referred to the members' anonymity rather than the message of the organisation.
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The group was co-founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was co-founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith (also known as Dr. Bob) in 1935. Wilson was born in East Dorset, Vermont, in 1895, and struggled with alcoholism in the 1920s and early 1930s, nearly destroying his career and marriage. During this time, he was introduced to the Oxford Group, a movement founded in 1921 that was based on the teachings of the psychologist and philosopher William James. Wilson became interested in helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety.
In Akron, Ohio, in 1935, Wilson met Dr. Robert Smith, a fellow native Vermonter and alcoholic, and together they formed a group specifically devoted to alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous. The group was initially formed in New York, followed by another in Cleveland in 1939, and over four years, these three initial groups helped around 100 people achieve sobriety. The group's philosophy was influenced by the Oxford Group's six steps and various readings, including William James's "The Varieties of Religious Experience."
The name "Alcoholics Anonymous" comes from the title of the book they wrote, "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism" (also known as the "Big Book"), which was published in 1939 and serves as a guide for AA members on how to stay sober. The name reflects the group's emphasis on anonymity to protect members from the stigma of being identified as alcoholics and to prevent alcoholic egos from seeking fame and fortune at the expense of the group.
Wilson and Smith's 12-Step program has been credited with saving the lives of millions of people worldwide, creating a transformative and universal support system for those in recovery. The program is based on the idea of one alcoholic sharing their experience with another, helping each other to stay sober. Wilson and Smith's legacies continue to impact the lives of those struggling with alcoholism, with AA growing into an international movement with millions of participants.
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The group's philosophy is outlined in its foundational text, Alcoholics Anonymous, published in 1939
The group Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded in 1935 in New York, with another group forming in Cleveland in 1939. In 1939, the fellowship published its foundational text, Alcoholics Anonymous, which outlined the group's philosophy, introduced the Twelve Steps, and included the case histories of 30 individuals who had achieved recovery. The Twelve Steps were influenced by the Oxford Group's six steps and various readings, including psychologist and philosopher William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience.
The book Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly known as the Big Book, is an attempt to collect and codify all knowledge gained by the new fellowships. It is considered the "basic text" for AA members on how to stay sober. The Big Book outlines a suggested program of ongoing drug rehabilitation and self-improvement, with a key component being the alignment with a personally defined concept of God. The steps begin with an acknowledgment of powerlessness over alcohol and the unmanageability of life due to alcoholism. Subsequent steps emphasize rigorous honesty, including the completion of a "searching and fearless moral inventory", the acknowledgment of "character defects", sharing the inventory with a trusted person, making amends to individuals harmed, and engaging in regular prayer or meditation.
The Big Book takes a step away from Christian language and theology by leaving out references to Jesus. It makes clear that each alcoholic can choose their own concept of God. The Big Book is primarily concerned with alcohol, treating alcoholism as the foremost aspect of a person's moral condition. It outlines a three-stage inventory process, examining honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.
The Twelve Steps are considered a group of spiritual principles, providing a 'spiritual' mechanism of recovery. The steps are a program of character development that involves a move away from self-will, self-reliance, and self-seeking and towards a life aimed at adapting to the universe. The Big Book suggests that a conversion or spiritual experience may be necessary for recovery from alcoholism. It also emphasizes the importance of working with other alcoholics to maintain sobriety.
The name "Alcoholics Anonymous" referred to the members, protecting their identities and preventing egos from seeking fame and fortune at the group's expense. The group also wanted to avoid the stigma associated with being an alcoholic and the potential harm to the group's reputation if members were seen drinking in public.
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The Twelve Steps were influenced by the Oxford Group's teachings
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were influenced by the teachings of the Oxford Group, a religious movement popular in the US and Europe in the early 20th century. The group's philosophy centred around six principles of self-improvement: performing self-inventory, admitting wrongs, making amends, using prayer and meditation, and carrying the message to others.
Bill W., one of the co-founders of AA, joined the Oxford Group and learned its teachings. He was introduced to the group's basic tenets and the book "Varieties of Religious Experience" by William James, a psychologist and philosopher. James's belief concerning alcoholism was that "the cure for dipsomania was religiomania". This idea of a spiritual transformation resonated with Wilson, and upon his release from the hospital in December 1934, he attended Oxford Group meetings and socialised with other ex-drinking members.
Wilson and Dr. Bob, the other AA co-founder, initially used the Oxford Group's six steps as they reached out to help other alcoholics. These steps were eventually expanded and transformed into AA's 12 Steps, which became the focus of the organisation and the basis for many addiction treatment programs. The steps included admitting powerlessness over alcohol, honesty with oneself and others, making amends, and working with other alcoholics.
The Oxford Group's philosophy and practices influenced the structure and ideas of Alcoholics Anonymous, providing a foundation for the Twelve-Step Program that has helped countless individuals achieve sobriety and recovery from alcoholism.
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AA's Big Book defines alcoholism as an illness requiring a spiritual experience
The name "Alcoholics Anonymous" was derived from the title of the group's foundational text, "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story Of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism", also known as "the Big Book". The book was first published in 1939 and outlined AA's philosophy, introduced the Twelve Steps, and included the recovery case histories of 30 individuals. The name "Alcoholics Anonymous" referred to the members, not to the message. Anonymity was initially practised to protect members from the stigma associated with alcoholism.
AA's Big Book characterises alcoholism as an "illness" or "malady" that can only be overcome through a spiritual experience. The book suggests a twelve-step program in which members admit that they are powerless over alcohol and need help from a "higher power". It offers guidance and strength through prayer and meditation. It suggests that a member pray for guidance from God (or a higher power of one's own understanding); take a moral inventory with care to include resentments; list and become ready to remove character defects; list and make amends to those harmed; continue to take a moral inventory, pray, meditate, and try to help other alcoholics recover.
The Big Book further describes a "spiritual experience" as a "personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism (addiction) [that] has manifested itself among us in many different forms". While AA emphasises the spiritual nature of its program, it also acknowledges the importance of tolerance and inclusivity, avoiding a narrow religious worldview that may limit its appeal. This tension has led some to describe AA as a quasi-religious organisation.
AA's philosophy and the Twelve Steps were influenced by the teachings of the Oxford Group, a Christian fellowship founded in 1921, as well as the book "The Varieties of Religious Experience" by William James. James's belief concerning alcoholism was that "the cure for dipsomania was religiomania". The Twelve Steps were also influenced by various readings, including William James's "The Varieties of Religious Experience".
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Frequently asked questions
The name Alcoholics Anonymous comes from the title of the book written by the group's co-founders, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, which serves as the "basic text" for AA members on how to stay sober. The book is called "Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story Of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism" (also known as "The Big Book").
AA's Big Book characterises alcoholism as "an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer". The group's philosophy is based on one alcoholic helping another, and its program of recovery is built on the foundation of one alcoholic sharing their experience with another. The Twelve Steps, which guide recovery from alcoholism, were influenced by the Oxford Group's six steps and various readings, including William James's "The Varieties of Religious Experience".
Alcoholics Anonymous was founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith in the mid-1930s. Wilson and Smith, both members of the Oxford Group, formed a group specifically devoted to the disease of alcoholism. Wilson, who had struggled with alcoholism himself, was interested in learning how to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. The first AA groups were formed in New York and Cleveland, and over four years, these initial groups helped around 100 people achieve sobriety. In 1939, the fellowship published "Alcoholics Anonymous", which outlined AA's philosophy, introduced the Twelve Steps, and included the case histories of 30 individuals who had achieved recovery.
