a.a. literature
TRANSCRIPT
A.A.
Literature
HOW IT BEGAN
WHAT HAPPENED
WHAT ITS LIKE NOW
Many available
both in English
and several other
Languages
The 2020 AAWS
Literature Catalog
• Hard and soft cover
books
• Audio Books
• Pamphlets
• Numerous Cards,
Wallet Cards and
Posters
• Guides and Window
Shade Displays
It wasn’t always that way…
From the early days of our fellowship in 1935,
up until the publication of the book
Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939, A.A. members
used a wide variety of religious and spiritual
texts for inspiration and discussion…
1935 to 1939
Some books and pamphlets were very frequently
mentioned by A.A.’s pioneers.
They included: The Bible, James Allen’s As a Man
Thinketh, Henry Drummond’s The Greatest Thing in
the World, the Emmet Fox books, William James,
Carl Jung, the Oxford Group literature, and Sam
Shoemaker’s books. And many, many others…
.
In 1937, as membership and interest
grew, the early members saw a need
to write about their experiences and
the idea of a codified book came into
being.
1939
In 1939 after a few years of writing, editing and collaborating, the book Alcoholics Anonymous was published by Works Publishing.
The forward to the First
edition of Alcoholics
Anonymous states “to
show other alcoholics
precisely how we have
stayed sober is the main
purpose of this book.”
The “Big Book” has been translated
and published in over 70 languages
In the next several years, prior to the
Establishment of Conference Approval,
A.A.’s Works Publishing produced
additional literature several booklets…
The Sedative booklet contained
some interesting verbiage…
Today, A.A Conference Approved
literature is widely available in
various formats and media -
Placards
Meeting
Signage
Workbooks
Pamphlets
Cards
CD’s
Need for Uniformity…
At first General Service Conference, held in the1951, it
was recommended that:
In future years, A.A. textbook literature should have
Conference approval.
The objective was to provide, in the future, a means of
distinguishing Foundation literature from that issued
locally or by non-A.A. interests.
There would be exceptions…
Not All “A.A. Literature” Is Conference-Approved. Central
offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or
booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces
meet the needs of the local membership, they may be
legitimately classified as “A.A. literature.”
There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc.
(A.A.W.S. – publishers of Conference-approved literature),
and central offices or intergroups – rather they complement
each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such
material. G.S.O. does develop some literature that does not
have to be approved by the Conference, such as Service
Material, Guidelines and bulletins.
Is The Grapevine Conference
Approved?
Since Grapevine comes out 12 times a year, and the Conference meets only once a year, the magazine would never come off the press if it had to go through the Conference review process. However, the Conference has always supported the concept of Grapevine and, in 1986, a Conference Advisory Action specifically addressed the issue of Conference approval for the first time with the following statement:
“Since each issue of (the) Grapevine cannot go through the Conference approval process, the Conference recognizes (the) Grapevine as the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.” By extension La Viña is recognized in the same way
“Conference-approved” — What It
Means to You The term “Conference-approved” describes written or audiovisual
material approved by the Conference for publication by G.S.O. This process assures that everything in such literature is in accord with A.A. principles. Conference-approved material always deals with the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous or with information about the A.A. Fellowship.
The term has no relation to material not published by G.S.O. It does not imply Conference disapproval of other material about A.A. A great deal of literature helpful to alcoholics is published by others, and A.A. does not try to tell any individual member what he or she may or may not read.
Conference approval assures us that a piece of literature represents solid A.A. experience. Any Conference-approved booklet or pamphlet goes through a lengthy and painstaking process, during which a variety of A.A.s from all over the United States and Canada.
Over the course of more than 80 years of A.A. history, A.A.'s General Service Conference has approved more than ten books for publication by A.A. World Services (AAWS). The books have the label "This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature."
1. 1939 - Alcoholics Anonymous 2. 1953 - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions3. 1957 - Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age 4. 1967 - As Bill Sees It = Originally titled The AA Way of Life5. 1973 - Came to Believe6. 1975 Living Sober 7. 1980 - Dr. Bob and the Good-Old Timers 8. 1984 - Pass It On 9. 1990 - Daily Reflections10. 2003 - Experience, Strength and Hope
A.A. Conference Approved Literature can
be Ordered from:
* Chicago Area Service Office (CASO)
@Chicagoaa.org
* Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
(AAWS) On-line Store @ aa.org
Does your home group have a
Literature chair?
If, not Volunteer to fill that Service position
Help ensure that literature is available for to all that need it
Keep meeting schedules up to date and available
Have “newcomer packets” ready for anyone who has the desire to
stop drinking.
Free, yes FREE!
All Conference Approved
Literature is available for reading,
free of charge @ aa.org
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