Best Selling Books by Alcoholics Anonymous

The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism.

Commonly referred to as the “Twelve and Twelve,” Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions comprises 24 foundational essays by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. that have helped millions of A.A. members worldwide both to get and stay sober “one day at a time,” and to ensure that their "Fellowship" — Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole — will be there for them tomorrow. First published by Grapevine in 1952, the 12 essays in the book’s opening expand upon each of A.A.’s landmark Twelve Steps — its program of recovery from alcoholism — with practical applications, helpful examples and personal insights, many of which enlarge upon themes raised in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The second 12 illuminate the Twelve Traditions and explain how spiritual principles such as anonymity, humility and self-support serve to safeguard the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous and shield it from internal and external challenges. Whether read aloud at meetings, referred to while working with a sponsor, or turned to in a quiet moment, The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions can serve as a vital resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Steps and Traditions. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Co-founder Bill W. was keenly aware of the importance of personal stories, writing, “The story section of the Big Book ... is our principal means of identifying with the reader outside of A.A., it is the written equivalent of hearing speakers at an A.A. meeting; it is our show window of the results.” Experience, Strength and Hope offers back to the A.A. Fellowship the candor, wisdom and wit of 56 members whose stories are no longer available in the fourth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. With each edition, new stories were added to reflect A.A.’s changing membership, while others had to be dropped. Numerous requests from A.A. members led to the publication of this book, where now can be found such classics as “A Feminine Victory,” written by one of A.A.’s very first female members, and “The Car Smasher,” by “A.A. Number 3” — third after the co-founders themselves. A.A. membership continues to grow and change, but the voices contained here will never be outdated. From poignant accounts of sorrow and loss to more raucous tales laced with deprecating humor, this collection of stories offer today’s A.A. members the timeless gift of experience, strength and hope. Experience, Strength and Hope has been approved by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This collection of readings moves through the calendar year one day — and one page — at a time. For every day, a favorite quotation from the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous is followed by an A.A. member’s personal reflection, making for daily reading that is at once inspired and inspiring. While focusing broadly on the Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service, this volume offers experience, strength and hope on specific topics such as willingness, faith, making amends — themes that recovering alcoholics must address each day — and reminds us that we are never really alone in Alcoholics Anonymous. Whether using the day’s reading as a source for their morning meditation, discussing it with a sponsor or sharing it with their home group, many in Alcoholics Anonymous consider Daily Reflectionsto be a critical tool in their “spiritual toolkit.” Features a topical index to help guide discussion. Daily Reflections has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Écrit par et pour les détenus alcooliques, ce petit volume sans agrafe contient 26 histoires de membres des AA qui ont trouvé le chemin du Mouvement et qui sont devenus abstinents derrière les barreaux. Tous ces individus nous révèlent comment, à travers le programme des Alcooliques anonymes, ils ont transformé leurs vies et trouvé la sérénité malgré leur environnement. L’un après l’autre, ces alcooliques en rétablissement – de tous les âges et de tous les types – partagent comment ils ont compris qu’aucune prison n’était aussi terrible que celle de l’alcoolisme actif. Une histoire nous dit : « Il peut sembler étrange de se sentir libre en prison. C’est pourtant ce que je ressens. J’ai connu plus de liberté au cours des 15 derniers mois qu’au cours de mes 32 années de vie. » Plein de franche honnêteté, de révélations personnelles, et par-dessus tout, d’espoir au cœur de circonstances des plus difficiles, Les AA en prison : d’un détenu à l’autre, est une publication importante pour les alcooliques détenus ainsi que pour les membres des AA engagés dans le service au sein des établissements correctionnels. Les AA en prison : d’un détenu à l’autre a été approuvé par la Conférence des Services généraux des Alcooliques anonymes.

Known as the "Big Book," the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of people worldwide get and stay sober since the first edition appeared in 1939. Opening chapters articulate A.A.’s program of recovery from alcoholism — the original Twelve Steps — and recount the personal histories of A.A.''s co-founders, Bill W. and Dr. Bob. In the pages that follow, more than 40 A.A. members share how they stopped drinking and found a new healthier and more serene way of life through the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Whether reading passages at meetings, reading privately for personal reflection, or working with a sponsor, the Big Book can be a source of inspiration, guidance and comfort on the journey to recovery. This Fourth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Living Sober is an extremely informative book which does not offer a plan for getting sober but does offer us sound advice about how to stay sober. Living Sober is an extremely informative book which does not offer a plan for getting sober but does offer us sound advice about how to stay sober. Basic, essential information from Alcoholics Anonymous. As the book states, "Anyone can get sober. . .the trick is to live sober."

A.A. co-founder Bill W. tells the story of the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous from its make-or-break beginnings in New York and Akron in the early 1930s to its spread across the country and overseas in the years that followed. A wealth of personal accounts and anecdotes portray the dramatic power of the A.A. Twelve Step program of recovery — unique not only in its approach to treating alcoholism but also in its spiritual impact and social influence. Bill recounts the evolution of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts for World Service — those principles and practices that protect A.A.s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service — and how in 1955 the responsibility for these were passed on by the founding members to the Fellowship (A.A.’s membership at large). In closing chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, early "friends of A.A.," including the influential Dr. Silkworth and Father Ed Dowling, share their perspectives. Includes 16 pages of archival photographs. For those interested in the history of A.A. and how it has withstood the test of time, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age offers on the growth of this ground-breaking movement. Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age has been approved by the General Service Conference.

The Plain Language Big Book is a tool to help readers understand the book Alcoholics Anonymous, which was first published in 1939. This new book is designed so that the A.A. Twelve Step program of recovery from alcoholism may be easily understood by all people who have a desire to stop drinking. The Plain Language Big Book has been written to present the original ideas and same spiritual message of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous in simpler language. The Plain Language Big Book covers the core content of what is the “abridged version” (the edition without personal stories) of the original Big Book. This book is General Service Conference-approved literature. This book has been published in accordance with Advisory Actions passed by substantial unanimity of the General Service Conference (GSC) of Alcoholics Anonymous. The final draft of the Plain Language Big Book was reviewed and approved by substantial unanimity at the 74th GSC, in April 2024.

Living with an Alcoholic: With the Help of Al-Anon is a deeply empathetic, practical, and empowering guide for those affected by the destructive spiral of a loved one''s alcoholism. Drawing upon the collective experiences of Al-Anon members and the shared wisdom of families and spouses who have walked this path, the book addresses the emotional, psychological, and spiritual toll of living in the shadow of addiction. It explores the patterns of denial, enabling, and emotional dependency that can silently erode the lives of those who love alcoholics, often leaving them anxious, isolated, or consumed by guilt. Through relatable stories, reflective insights, and simple yet profound guidance, the book provides tools for reclaiming peace and sanity. Central to its message is the idea that one cannot control another''s drinking, but one can take charge of their own reactions, emotions, and choices. It introduces the Twelve Steps of Al-Anon in a gentle, non-dogmatic tone, offering a spiritual framework rooted in acceptance, surrender, and growth. Readers learn how to detach with love, establish healthy boundaries, and rebuild their sense of worth, whether or not the alcoholic in their life seeks recovery. It also highlights the importance of community support, shared experience, and finding hope through mutual understanding. While not an official Al-Anon publication, this book reflects the core values of the program and provides a lifeline to those navigating the chaos of addiction in a family setting. Compassionate, clear, and affirming, it is an essential companion for spouses, parents, children, and friends seeking light amid the darkness of alcoholism.

Made available to readers everywhere for the first time, Our Great Responsibility brings together 16 talks given by Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. over the span of two decades. With his characteristic humor and down-to-earth candor, Bill shares his thinking on myriad A.A. themes — the principles of A.A. service, the relationship between principles and personalities, even the origins and adaptability of the Twelve Steps — and reveals his willingness to entertain a broad, long view of Alcoholics Anonymous, open to change and growth. Complementing the text are more than 60 archival photographs and other images from the General Service Office Archives, some never before published, as well as a concise history of the founding of A.A.’s General Service Conference, the mechanism for the Fellowship’s annual “group conscience.” We also hear from “friends of A.A.,” including Bill’s wife Lois, Dr. “Jack” Norris and Bernard Smith. Taken together, Our Great Responsibility provides both a window into how Alcoholics Anonymous has continued to grow over the years — and a roadmap for how it may move forward in unity. Whether read for historical interest, for inspiration on the journey to recovery, or for a deeper look at the powerful principles upon which Alcoholics Anonymous functions today, Our Great Responsibility both educates and inspires readers today.

Alcoholics Anonymous, by its very nature, could not have been founded by one person: its essence is sharing. Bill W. and Dr. Bob are always referred to within A.A. as “co-founders.” Having died in 1950, when A.A. was only 15 years old, the Ohio surgeon may be less well-known than the New York stockbroker, his influence on the whole A.A. program is permanent and profound. Filled with interviews with friends and family, this deeply researched biography follows A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob S. from his New England childhood to his days as a surgeon and father who couldn''t stop drinking; to his transformative meeting with Bill W. and the birth of A.A. in Akron; and finally to his untimely death in 1950. Inextricably entwined with Bob’s life, the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Midwest is chronicled along the way. With 26 archival photographs. General Service Conference-approved. For A.A. history buffs as well as members curious to know more about the quieter co-founder, Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers offers an inside glimpse into the inspiring life of this complex, compelling character. With 39 archival photographs. Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers has been approved by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Full of first-person accounts and primary source material, this portrait of Bill W. recounts his journey from Vermont youth to army officer to Wall Street success story to hopeless drunk — until a series of remarkable events leads him to stop drinking and to meet Dr. Bob, with whom he would found Alcoholics Anonymous. We follow Bill through his tireless work for Alcoholics Anonymous: the publishing of the Big Book, the development of the Twelve Traditions, the formation of the General Service Conference. Closing chapters walk us through Bill''s final years of challenge and change. With every word documented and every source checked, ‘Pass It On’ is the definitive biography of a fascinating yet enigmatic individual whom we get to know better in these pages. For the A.A. history buff as well as the member simply curious about Bill W., ‘Pass It On’ offers a wealth of information that sheds light on how the unique movement that is Alcoholics Anonymous came to be what it is today. With 39 archival photographs. ‘Pass It On’ is General Service Conference-approved.

Gathered in this booklet are the heartfelt stories of more than 75 A.A. members from around the world who share what the phrases "Higher Power” and "God as we understood Him" mean to them. The title — the first three words in the second of A.A.’s Twelve Steps — hints at the book’s theme: that recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous is not a destination, but a spiritual journey that takes place over time, while living “life on life’s terms.” Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, but always honest, the stories in Came to Believe present a wide range of perspectives on what spirituality can look like in the context of Alcoholics Anonymous, demonstrating how the A.A. program is best described as “spiritual but not religious.” The rich diversity of voices we hear reflect the infinite number of paths available to those seeking freedom from alcohol. From newcomers just finding their way to longtimers seeking new perspectives, A.A. members of all kinds may find in Came To Believe added insight and inspiration to breathe enrich their recovery journey. Came to Believe has been approved by the General Service Conference.

Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. once wrote that this collection of excerpts from his writings was “meant to serve as an aid to individual meditation and a stimulant for group discussion,” and since its publication in 1967 it has done that and more for millions of A.A. members around the world. Hundreds of brief passages — excerpted from the Big Book and other A.A. literature — address the principles of gratitude, spirituality, acceptance and a host of other themes central to living a serene life free from alcohol. With a topical index to point readers to subjects of particular interest, As Bill Sees It is an easy-to-use resource of inspiration, comfort, and humor that provides a sense of belonging for those on the path of recovery. Whether seeking insight on a specific topic or opening the book at random, readers will find that there is always more to discover. The passages are perfect for discussion in group settings or for personal reflection. As Bill Sees It, formerly published asThe A.A. Way of Life, has been approved by the General Service Conference.