Lena Savoie
The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, also known as the 12 and 12, is a book that explains the 24 basic principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and their application. The book was written by Bill W. Wilson, who co-founded AA in 1935. Wilson wrote a series of essays for Grapevine Magazine in 1946, which were later sent to all members in pamphlet form in 1947. The 12 Traditions were unanimously adopted at the First International Convention in Cleveland in 1949 and underwent years of revisions before becoming the 12 Traditions used in current AA meetings. The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions book was published in 1953 and is widely used at AA meetings and other 12-step programs.
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What You'll Learn
- Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith founded AA and wrote the 12 steps
- The 12 steps are a set of guiding principles for tackling alcoholism and addiction
- The 12 steps are not rules but suggestions for a supportive network
- The 12 steps were first published in 1939, with a second version in 1953
- The 12 steps are widely known and one of the oldest programs
Bill W. and Dr. Bob Smith founded AA and wrote the 12 steps
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded by Bill Wilson (Bill W.) and Dr. Bob Smith in 1935. The Twelve Steps, which are at the heart of Alcoholics Anonymous, were inspired by the Oxford Group and its belief that problems rooted in fear and selfishness could be changed through the power of God and by following the "Four Absolutes": a moral inventory of "absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love".
Bill W. wrote the 12 steps twice, with the two principal versions differing in history and spirit. The first version was written by a young, optimistic Bill W. in the early days of his sobriety, and the second was written 15 years later when he was suffering from depression. The first version was published in the "Big Book" in 1939, and the second in 1953's "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions". The "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" contains 12 essays by Bill W. that expand upon each of the steps, and another 12 that explain how the traditions protect the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Bill W. began work on the "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" in early 1952, and by 1957, 50,000 copies were in circulation. The book is commonly used at AA meetings and other 12-step programs, with a step or tradition chosen as a prompt for discussion. The 12 steps are widely known, established, and organized, and there is a supportive network of peers available to those struggling with substance abuse.
The 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous were first introduced by Bill W. in a series of essays for the Grapevine Magazine in April 1946, titled "Twelve Points to Assure Our Future". Pamphlets of Bill W.'s words were sent to all members in 1947, and in 1949, the Traditions were unanimously adopted at the First International Convention in Cleveland. The Traditions underwent years of revisions before becoming the 12 Traditions used in current AA meetings. They are not rules but rather suggestions for how AA groups should operate, and they are grounded in the spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.
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The 12 steps are a set of guiding principles for tackling alcoholism and addiction
The 12 steps are widely known and established, and there are many meetings where they are practiced. There is little to no cost to those in need, and the program is a free intervention to address a chronic disease. The steps are meant to be addressed in sequential order, but there is no one "right" way to approach them. Sometimes people need a break between steps, or they might need to spend longer on one step than another. Some people never stop working the 12 steps because they become a part of life.
The 12 steps are outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book, published in 1939, changed the conversation about alcoholism and brought the 12-step model of recovery into the public eye. The 12 steps were inspired by the Oxford Group and its belief that all problems rooted in fear and selfishness could be changed through the power of God and by following the "Four Absolutes"—a moral inventory of "absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love". The steps were also developed through synthesizing concepts from other teachings.
The 12 steps are not just for alcoholism but have also been adopted nearly word-for-word by Al-Anon/Alateen, a recovery program for the families and friends affected by a loved one's drinking. The 12 steps are a set of general guidelines for healthy relationships between the group, members, and other groups. They are not personal guidelines for the addict or alcoholic. The basic premise of the 12-step philosophy is that people can help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from substances, but that healing cannot come about unless people with addictions surrender to a higher power. This higher power does not have to be God; it could be nature, the universe, fate, karma, or any other power that one believes in.
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The 12 steps are not rules but suggestions for a supportive network
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are a set of guiding principles that outline a course of action for tackling problems related to alcoholism, drug addiction, and behavioural compulsion. The steps are meant to be addressed in sequential order, but there is no one "right" way to approach them. There is no hard and fast timeline, and some people may spend more time on some steps than others or take breaks between steps. The 12 steps are not rules but suggestions for a supportive network, providing a formula for unity and functioning within the group.
The 12 steps were founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, inspired by the Oxford Group. The steps were originally based on the principles of a spiritual organization, with a belief in the power of God and following the "Four Absolutes": absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. Over time, the word "God" was replaced with "Higher Power" to be more inclusive of different faith traditions and beliefs.
The 12 steps are designed to help individuals recover from compulsive, out-of-control behaviours and restore manageability and order to their lives. They encourage participants to be honest, humble, courageous, compassionate, self-forgiving, and disciplined as they work through the steps. The program provides a supportive social network, fostering bonding among members and encouraging them to share their experiences and gain new perspectives.
The 12 steps are widely known and established, providing a free intervention for those struggling with substance abuse. The steps are not personal guidelines for the addict or alcoholic but general guidelines for healthy relationships within the group. The program has been adopted by other recovery groups, such as Al-Anon/Alateen, and has served as a foundation for helping individuals and their loved ones affected by addiction.
The "Twelve and Twelve", published in 1952 by Bill W., expands upon each of the 12 steps with essays, personal insights, and examples, further explaining how the traditions protect the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. This text, along with the "Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous," published in 1939, has provided valuable information and support for those struggling with addiction and has contributed to the success of the 12-step program in recovery journeys.
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The 12 steps were first published in 1939, with a second version in 1953
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were first published in 1939 in the book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, also known as the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The book was groundbreaking at the time as it introduced the idea of alcoholism as an illness and popularised the 12-step model of recovery. The 12 steps are a set of guiding principles that outline a course of action for tackling problems related to alcoholism, drug addiction, and behavioural compulsion. They are meant to be addressed in sequential order, but there is no one "right" way to approach them, and they often become a way of life.
The 12 steps were founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, who drew their inspiration from the Oxford Group. They believed that all problems rooted in fear and selfishness could be changed through the power of God by following the "Four Absolutes"—a moral inventory of "absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love"—and through public sharing and confession. The 12 steps and the fellowship of AA were founded and designed around these principles, with the aim of helping people recover from compulsive, out-of-control behaviours and restore manageability and order to their lives.
In 1952, Bill W. (Wilson) published "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions", which contained 12 essays that expanded upon each of the 12 steps with helpful examples and personal insights, and another 12 that explained how the traditions protect the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. This text further solidified the 12-step approach and has been widely adopted by AA members and groups worldwide.
The 12 steps have since been adopted nearly word-for-word by other recovery programs such as Al-Anon/Alateen, which helps families and friends affected by a loved one's drinking. The original AA model has also inspired the formation of other recovery programs addressing different types of addictions and compulsive behaviours.
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The 12 steps are widely known and one of the oldest programs
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, known to AA members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob", in Akron, Ohio. The 12 steps were originally based on the principles of a spiritual organization, but the world has changed since 1935 when the AA and the 12-step program were founded. The word "God" was eventually replaced with "Higher Power" to be more inclusive of individuals from all faith traditions and beliefs.
The Twelve Steps are widely known, established, and organized, and they are one of the oldest programs around. The Twelve Steps were adopted nearly word-for-word by Al-Anon/Alateen, a recovery program for families and friends affected by a loved one's drinking problem. The Twelve Steps are a set of guiding principles in addiction treatment that outline a course of action for tackling problems related to alcoholism, drug addiction, and behavioral compulsion.
The Twelve Steps are meant to be addressed in sequential order, but there is no one "right" way to approach them. There is no hard and fast timeline associated with the Twelve Steps. Some people may need a break between steps, while others may need to spend longer on one step than another. Some people never stop working the 12 steps because they become a part of their lives.
The Twelve Steps have been adapted to address a wide range of alcoholism, substance abuse, and dependency problems. Over 200 mutual aid organizations, often known as fellowships, with a worldwide membership of millions, have adopted and adapted AA's 12 steps and 12 traditions for recovery.
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Frequently asked questions
The 12 and 12 for Alcoholics Anonymous was written by Bill W. Wilson.
The 12 and 12, also known as the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, is a book that explains the 24 basic principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and their application.
The 12 and 12 was first published in 1953, though some sources state 1952. It was written 15 years after the original 12 steps were published in the "'Big Book'" in 1939.
