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NOTICE This is not an official site of, nor does it represent, Alcoholics Anonymous. You may contact A.A. at Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. The BIG BOOK BUNCH We are the Big Book Bunch group of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our origins are the Students of the Big Book group, which has met in Woodland Hills, California since December of 1985. Our goals are to live the spiritual process through which sobriety is obtained and enhanced, and to publish (at no charge) our experience for other recovering alcoholics. We have absolutely no affiliation with any organization or cause other than our membership as individuals in A.A.. Our written materials are not official AA literature. They usually do, nevertheless, contain information from the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) and other conference approved literature owned and published by Alcoholics Anonymous. All A.A. material used identifies the source from which it is quoted. References in our documents to Big Book content exclude its stories. Included is all material from inside the front cover through page 164, plus Appendices I (Traditions) and II (Spiritual Experience). You may reproduce materials of the Big Book Bunch, provided: a) that sources of materials (AA or the BBB) are identified, b) that no charge is made for the materials, and c) that they are not distributed by an organization or process that charges a fee. If you have corrections or improvements, please pass them on to us using the mailbox at the bottom. |
A number of years ago, one of our members started making notes to help him guide new step-takers through the steps. This was necessary because of his advancing years.
Each of these little step guidelines contained step-related reading to be done in the Big Book and the 12&12, some topics to discuss, and a writing assignment. When a step was begun, our friend and his seeker would take turns reading paragraphs of the suggested text. After each paragraph, they would discuss its significant points, look up misunderstood words in the dictionary, relate its content to other paragraphs, and use the paragraph as a springboard into personal experiences of both parties.
Another of our members was going on a trip, and he asked for one of the step notes. It's originator added some more text and converted the guide from an outline to a document. Eventually, all twelve steps were written up.
It then became a practice, after reading the book material, to read the step guide paragraph by paragraph, exploring each in the same fashion as the book material was studied.
Reading in this alternating fashion is a good way to stimulate questions and discussion, and that is what we suggest for you.
Before this material was posted at the Big Book Bunch page, we had many requests from newcomers for a complete set of the guides . We never complied, because these things need to be used rather than just read. Each one requires an absolute minimum of a week to grasp and be digested. Therefore, we only passed them out one at a time.
So, gather your pigeon, your Big Book, 12&12, and two copies of the step guide. Sit down comfortably at a table and go to it. We suggest your candidate be well into Step Nine by the end of the first year, and that Steps 10, 11 and 12 be taken daily as soon as they begin working with you.
If you would prefer one of the step guides to be worded differently, simply modify it as you pass through the troublesome part. If you are kind, you will let us know of the change. Maybe we can improve our version, too. In any event, the stimulation of relevant and worthwhile discussion about the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the actions that necessarily follow, is what is sought as a milestone in quality sober living for both you and your friend.