Aloha!
Dick B.’s son, Ken B., M.A., here.
Leave it to Yitzy to post in the “AA History Lovers” FB Group a 35-page document titled “The Akron Big Book pt. 1” in PDF format and ask if “[a]nyone know the story behind this?”
If I remember correctly, there was a thread in the “AA History Lovers” Group a while back about the so-called “Akron Big Book;” but again, if I remember correctly, not much of substance was turned up at that time about the so-called “Akron Big Book.”
Now Yitzy has come forward with a PDF version of “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” for everyone in the group to see.
I felt that there was enough valuable information in the document to make it worthwhile to do some investigation. And I am glad I did.
Here are some observations resulting from my research about this “Akron Big Book” document:
[1.] When I did a Google search for “The Akron Big Book” (in quotes), Google reported:
No results found for “The Akron Big Book”
[2.] When I did a Google search for “Akron Big Book” (in quotes), Google reported:
“about 17 results”
[3.] When I searched on an exact phrase from the manuscript–”What was A.A. like before there were meetings every day” (i.e., in quotes), Google reported: “No results found . . .”
[4.] My preliminary conclusion is that the PDF document titled “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” in PDF format has (probably) not been “published” on the Internet to date—at least not in a readily-accessible fashion.
[5.] Here is a very brief outline of the contents of “The Akron Big Book pt. 1”:
PREFACE (pp. i-ii)
FORWARD TO THE AKRON PAMPHLETS (p. iii)
FORWARD TO A MANUAL FOR ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (p. iv)
“Chapter 1: A MANUAL FOR ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS” (pp. 1-31)
[6.] In addition to “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous” purportedly reproduced in “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1,” two of the other so-called “Akron Pamphlets” are mentioned in this 35-page document:
[6a.] “A Second Reader for Alcoholics Anonymous”:
“FORWARD [sic] TO THE AKRON PAMPHLETS
“THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTION appears on the outside of the 2014 printing of the binding for ‘The Akron Pamphlets.’
‘This historical literature was written by Evan W. at the request of Dr. Bob.
He felt that the newly written Big Book was too difficult for the blue-collar worker to read.
Evan was a former writer for the newspaper and
wrote “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous” in 1941, followed by
“A Second Reader for Alcoholics Anonymous”.
These pamphlets were completed by 1950 and reflected the early mindset of Akron’s earliest members.’”
[Source: “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1,” p. iii.]
[6b.] “A Guide to the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.”
“The Twelve Steps are more fully explained in another pamphlet published in Akron . . .
It is called ‘A Guide to the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.’
. . . Checks or money orders can be made out to A.A. of Akron.”
[Source: “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1,” on page 30 of the purported reproduction of “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous.”]
[7.] The first item that caught my attention was the very first footnote on page 1 of the “PREFACE”:
Footnote 1: “Dick B., Is Alcoholics Anonymous Effective?”
However, there were some problems with the footnote by the author(s).
[7a.] The author(s) didn’t provide the full title of the article by Dick B. The full title is:
“Is Alcoholics Anonymous Effective? A.A. Success Rates to Consider”
[7b.] There was no link or source provided for the article so that folks could go read what my dad had said in the article.
[7c.] In searching the Internet for the original article by Dick B., I discovered that it had practically disappeared off the Internet after the DickB dot com “authority site” (1995/96 to 2019) went away around mid-November 2019.
[7d.] Enough remnants of the article existed on the Internet to enable me to “reconstruct” the original Dick B. article and that is what I did.
[8.] So, I am happy to announce the launch of the new “Dick B. on Recovery Blog” (www.DickBonRecoveryBlog.com), featuring the full article by Dick B. referenced in “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1”:
https://bit.ly/DickBIsAlcoholicsAnonymousEffectiveAASuccessRatesToConsider2008
[9.] I would like to quote an extended section of the “PREFACE” in “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” so that the purpose of the 35-page document is clear:
“PREFACE”
“. . .
What was A.A. like before there were meetings every day?
What was A.A. like before the Big Book was published?
To answer these questions is the main object of this publication.
A.A. started in Akron four years before the publication of the big book.
The members who were sober there came to be known as ‘The Alcoholic Squadron’
of the Oxford Group.
The squadron stayed sober by following the Oxford Group principles and
carrying the message to other drunks.
This, they did very well.
‘There is lots of eyewitness evidence about the first 40 A.A. pioneers who had achieved the astonishing 75% success rate as calculated by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob in the late fall of 1937. . . .’ [footnote 1]
Because of this evidence, we believe that the reader will be interested in the program of A.A. that was working in Akron. . . .”
[page i ends here; page ii begins]
In order to understand the A.A. program in Akron, we can examine the ‘early mindset of Akron’s earliest members.’ [footnote 4]
This publication aims to reproduce the earliest printings of each pamphlet with footnotes detailing all the edits in the newest editions and additional context to provide clarity.
Each of the five Akron pamphlets will be reproduced along with the Cleveland pamphlet ‘The Four Absolutes.’ Lastly, an original publication detailing the ‘Akron Program’ will be provided.
As these publications predate the formation of the General Service Conference, they are not ‘conference approved.’ As they also predate the fellowship’s acceptance of the Twelve Traditions, they contain references to membership requirements as well as religious texts.
Whatever the reader’s spiritual leanings may be, we hope that they will see were the Akronites were successful.”
[Source: “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” (unpublished), pp. i-ii.]
[10.] Since pages 1-35 of “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” document present what purports to be the original, oldest version of “the Akron pamphlet” known as “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous;” and since I was recently involved in helping to “find” and make available to the “AA History Lovers” FB Group one of the “Akron pamphlets” that had almost been “lost to history” (i.e., “What Others Think of Alcoholics Anonymous”); and since the matter of whether and to what extent the Bible played a role in why early A.A. succeeded; I would like to present as part of my analysis and commentary on “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” some of the statements from “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous” purportedly reproduced in the 35-page document under consideration here:
[10a.] “Chapter 1: A MANUAL FOR ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS . . .
TO THE SPONSOR: . . .
This booklet should be read in conjunction with
the large book , ‘Alcoholics Anonymous,’
the Bible,
the daily lesson,
any other pamphlets that are published by the group, and
other constructive literature.
A list of suggestions will be found in the back pages of this pamphlet.’”
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” (unnumbered) p. 1.]
[10b.] “The editors do not pretend any explanation of the spiritual or religious aspects of A.A.
It is assumed that this phase of the work will be explained by sponsors.
The booklet therefore deals solely with the physical aspects of getting sober and remaining sober.”
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” p. 2.]
[10c.] “A WORD TO THE SPONSOR . . .
[page 5 ends; page 6 begins]
“You should make it a point to supply your patient with the proper literature —
the big ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ book,
this pamphlet,
other available pamphlets,
a Bible, and
anything else that has HELPED YOU.
Impress upon him the wisdom and necessity of reading and re-reading this literature.
The more he learns about A.A. the easier the road to recovery. . . .”
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” pp. 5-6.]
[10d.] “[Section] V . . .
[p. 10 ends; p. 11 begins]
NOW YOU ARE ALONE. . . .
“Shortly after you leave the hospital you will be on your own.
The Bible tells us to put ‘first things first.’ . . .
There is the Bible that you haven’t opened for years.
Get acquainted with it.
Read it with an open mind.
You will find things that will amaze you.
You will be convinced
[p. 11 ends; p. 12 begins]
that certain passages were written with you in mind.
Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew V, VI, and VII).
Read St. Paul’s inspired essay on love (I Corinthians XIII).
Read the Book of James.
Read the Twenty-third and Ninety-first Psalms.
These readings are brief but so important.
Read ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ and then read it again.
You may find that it contains your own story.
It will become your second Bible. . . .”
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” pp. 10-12.]
[10e.] “[Section] VI
“NOW YOU ARE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL . . .
[p. 12 ends; p. 13 begins]
“. . . First off, your day will have a new pattern.
You will open the day with a quiet period.
This will be explained by your sponsor.
You will read the ‘Upper Room,’ or whatever you think best for yourself.
You will say a little prayer asking for help during the day.
You will go about your daily work , . . .
Finally, at the end of the day you will say another little prayer of thanks and gratitude for a day of sobriety. . . .”
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” pp. 12-13.]
[10f.] “. . . ‘Be still and know that I am God.’” [Psa 46:10a (KJV)]
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” p. 18.]
[10g.] “. . . Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things [of] itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
[p. 19 ends; p. 20 begins]
thereof.—Matthew VI, 34.”
These words are taken from the Sermon on the Mount.
Simply, they mean live in today only.
Forget yesterday.
Do not anticipate tomorrow.
You can only live one day at a time, . . .”
[Source: “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous,” pp. 19-20.]
[11.] The following information is provided on page 31 of the purported reproduction of “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous”—i.e., on the last page (page 31 of 31) of that document contained within “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1”:
“[p. 31 – A MANUAL FOR ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
——————————————-
“SUGGESTED READING [footnote 94]
The following literature has helped many members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ (Works Publishing Company [footnote 95]).
The Holy Bible
‘The Greatest Thing in the World,’ Henry Drummond.
‘The Unchanging Friend,’ a series (Bruce Publishing Co., Milwaukee).
‘As a Man Thinketh,’ James Allen.
‘The Sermon on the Mount,’ Emmet Fox (Harper Bros.).
‘The Self You Have to Live With,’ Winfred Rhoades.
‘Psychology of Christian Personality,’ Ernest M. Ligon (Macmillan Co.).
‘Abundant Living,’ E. Stanley Jones.
‘The Man Nobody Knows,’ Bruce Barron.”
Footnote 94: “This section is missing from the 2014 printing.”
[12.] To wrap things up in this brief overview and analysis of the 35-page document titled “The Akron Big Book pt. 1” in PDF format posted by Yitzy in the “AA History Lovers” FB Group, accompanied by his question, “Anyone know the story behind this?”:
[12a.] Footnote 2 on page i of “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” referencing William H. Schaberg’s title, “Writing the Big Book,” indicates that the 35-page document under consideration here was generated, or at least update, sometime after November 2019, as that is the date of publication for Schaberg’s book.
[12b.] The 35-page document known as “The Akron Big Book, pt. 1” in PDF format has apparently not been published “openly” on the Internet to date.
Thanks again, Yitzy, for the question; and for the motivation to launch my new “Dick B. on Recovery Blog” where I can post longer articles like this one.
Ken B., M.A. (Dick B.’s son Ken)
Get “the rest of the story” @DickBonRecovery:
Dick B. on Recovery Blog 