A special booklet, titled a brief history of the big book, in english, spanish and french, will be included with all orders of this commemorative edition big book. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number. The big book of alcoholics anonymous still stands as today as the primary text for aa and is the foundation for most other 12 step programs. Hard cover reproduction of the first printing of the first edition of alcoholics anonymous.
The big book is well over 400 pages long and contains numerous chapters. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book ny. But when it arrived, it was a reproduction copy of a 1st edition. Here is a pdf version of the first 164 pages found in all aa books. Later printings two to 16 of the first edition become progressively cheaper. With these aa chips, we pay tribute to the first edition of the big book alcoholics anonymous. The third edition, which came off press in 1976, achieved a circulation of approximately 19,550,000 in all formats. The holy grail of aa big book collections heads to auction fine. The first time a publisher releases a new book, all copies of that book printed without major changes can be considered a first edition book. This is particularly true of books that later became.
Name the two reasons for the strong sentiment against any radical changes being mad to the first portion of the big book. I believe everyone should learn and study this book and others like it to just help them make better decisions in managing their lives. Jul 21, 2017 alcoholics anonymous big book audio read aloud duration. The message of the book has still not changed today, which is hope. First is a first edition, first printing of the big book from april 1939 in its original jacket, signed by bill wilson. Part i pioneers of aa acceptance was the answer previously doctor, alcoholic, addict 439 407 dr. Alcoholics anonymous big book 1st edition 75th anniversary reprint hardback wdj. Works publishing company, april 1939, hardcover 400pp.
Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Preface forward to the 1st edition the treasure map. The first edition big book stories barefoots world. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book.
Alcoholics anonymous big books abookman, a book man, book. In collecting terms, a general definition of 1st edition book would be a works first commercially available appearance in. Aa big book first edition yearly alcoholics anonymous 17. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic publication of alcoholics anonymous in april 1939, the 20 general service conference approved the creation of this facsimile edition of the first printing of the first edition. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. Finding and possessing a rare first edition book is often a goal of both the novice and expert book collector.
The big book of alcoholics anonymous forward to the 1st. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. The 4th edition 2001 is also freely available online. W e, ofalcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Fun to have a reproduction of the first edition as a collection for my shelf. Edition alcoholics anonymous 1st edition, alcoholics anonymous first edition.
The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. Buy first edition books for sale at auction invaluable. First published in 1939, alcoholics anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. Bobs story has appeared in every edition of the big book as the first of the stories, as has bill ws story in chapter 1 of the first 164 pages. There are, however, additional promises in the big book. See all the printings of the first edition big book 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous facsimile first printing of the first edition. These are the original stories as they appeared in the first edition of the big book. Special edition with red hardcover binding, the famous circus cover dust jacket and bulky paper which was why it was initially called the big book. This was the version of the big book distributed to friends and colleagues of aas founders before the first edition was printed. Compared to the original this reproduction has the same content and appearance but is not as thick. I was very disappointed that they showed images of a first edition big book published in 1946 4 images also in the description, it clearly says it was published january 1st, 1946. Oct 24, 2017 foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins handbook.
Each 1st reference given in red is from the first edition. There were 4,730 books printed, with red cloth binding, wide columns, thick paper which was why it was called the big book in the first place, and a red, yellow. For many vintage books or books published by a small imprint, only 100 or so copies were run for the first edition, so they are both highly sought after and hard to find. Alcoholics anonymous big book audio read aloud duration. In publishing terms, a first edition book is all copies that were printed from the same setting of type as when first published. This is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. Bobs nightmare 171 171 window of opportunity 421 aa number three 182 182 he had to be shown 193 he thought he could drink like a gentlemen. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. I started on this project several years ago, but could not get enough money together to publish the work. The book is only described as a second edition if significant changes are made to the copy. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing big book. More than 300,000 copies of the first edition are now in circulation.
This conferenceapproved special edition of alcoholics anonymous is a reproduction of the first printing of the first edition of the big book as it was published in 1939. The device was announced in the united states in october 2009 and was released the next month. On page 29 of the big book, it says, each individual, in the personal stories, describes in his own language and from his own point of view the way he established his relationship with god. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939 for sale. The big book is a quick history of how people can help people help them selfs with fellowship and understanding support to overcome many addictions. You can quit drinking and live a better life sober. Below are copies in various formats of the big book. The official publication date of the first printing of our big book, as noted by the united states copyright office, was april 10, 1939. With publication of the second edition in 1955, the third edition in 1976. Includes a reproduction of the original dustjacket. The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that i compiled from the first edition of the big book. The 1st edition alcoholics anonymous study big book is the first edition alcoholics anonymous book with added study notes, notations, comments and other facts.
Many of us have heard of the ninth step promises from page 8384 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Marty mann 19041980 wrote the chapter women suffer too in the second through fourth editions of the big book. Alcoholics anonymous first edition first printings 1939. Call 419 5635905 or email abookman for more information, order a big book, or to sell your books. Vinyl covers for giant print aa big book choce of colors. Free and lowcost alcoholism treatment is available. Foreword to first edition this is the foreword as it appeared in the. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. This is a link to the complete 4 th edition of the aa bigbook online.
Aa first edition, first printing april, 1939 big books available for purchase. Aside from the likes of key religious books, are there any other books like the big. The personal stories of the cofounders of aa are special to all of us. This is truly a unique recovery chip to give someone on their anniversary. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book.
Some of the promises are directly associated with completion of a step. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists a sentiment. A seventh printing sold for 2,750 several years ago but you are unlikely to find that printing as cheap as that again. This is the second edition of the book alcoholics anonymous, which made its first appearance in april 1939. Alcoholics anonymous first edition, first printing 1939 big book inscribed by bill wilson to margret bobbie burger, her personal gift book, with its original dust jacket. An affordable reproduction of the original big booka a. Alcoholics anonymous big book audioread aloud youtube. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. Comprising dozens of examples that address different industries and departments healthcare, transportation, finance, human resources, marketing, customer service, sports, etc. Several more expensive copies are available via abebooks. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to.
Each story has the authors name and in most cases, where they were from. It is common in aa lore to hear claims that the big book is the secondmost printed book of alltime, second only to the bible. If you have a problem drinking, please read this book. In collecting terms, a general definition of 1st edition book would be a works first commercially available appearance in book form, printed with the original setting of type. Big book changes these are the changes that have been made in the program portion of the big book the first 164 pages and the roman numeral pages since it was first published on april 10, 1939. According to the big book, how many copies were sold of the first edition of the big book. Alcoholics anonymous big books for sale, find first, second, third, fourth and international editions. A guide to collecting alcoholics anonymous big book abebooks. Aa big book aa big book taghere the foundation progress and principles washington temperance society of baltimore the missionary spirit alcoholism recovery 3rd edition 2nd edition alcohol allergy rehabilitation of alcoholics dr. Aa big book covers leather big book covers vinyl big book. Available with screen printing and coin holder display.
Alcoholics anonymous the big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Aabig book has been registered as a trademark by aa world service inc. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. War fever ran high in the new england town to which we new, young officers from plattsburg were assigned, and we were flattered when the first citizens took us to their homes, making us feel heroic. Started writing the book in the late 1930s, and the first edition was published in 1939 by bill w.
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