“Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic. Science may one day accomplish this, but it hasn’t done so yet.” (Source c. 1939 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, more about Alcoholism, p. 31.) was actually the opinion of physicians before the advent of Alcoholics Anonymous. But as days went by the world witnessed the changes in the lives of alcoholics and a renowned physician Dr William D. Silkworth writes in the foreword to the fourth edition, “I personally know scores of cases who were of the type with whom other methods had failed completely. These facts appear to be of extreme medical importance; because of the extraordinary possibilities of rapid growth inherent in this group they may mark a new epoch in the annals of alcoholism.” This should be taken as the crux of the book Alcoholics Anonymous. The whole book advocates the guiding principles that alcoholics must take seriously for getting out of their addiction successfully.
The first chapter begins with the story of Bill Wilson, the co-founder of AA, who realizes and appeals to fellow alcoholics to come to the realization that they have no power over alcohol. The next chapter cites a number of case studies which leads them conclude that only the power from above could deliver them from their addiction. In the following chapter ‘More About Alcoholism’, alcoholics are urged to rely on this ‘Higher Power’. ‘We Agnostics’, the following chapter communicates to the cynics the need to get closer to God to get into a stable life. The next chapter, exhorts alcoholics to be honest at all times and make a thorough inventory of themselves to help God to remove all blocks from within.
In all in entirety, the whole book makes a good read with a number of case studies some of which may resemble the life situation of an alcoholic reading it. And if these were not enough to bring sufficient changes, there are those thirty two personal stories that try to instil that sobriety can be lasting, and make one decide if they are an alcoholic, and restore hope to the hopeless. The Appendices speak more of the AA tradition, Spiritual Experience, Medical and Religious Views, A citation in the Lasker Award, How to become a member of AA and Short form of the Twelve Concepts. I see that this book is an earnest attempt to draw the alcoholics to the realization that there is very little that they could do with their own strength to lead a normal life, but which would actually become rather easier when they submit themselves to the Almighty.
Primary Source:
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/alcoholics-anonymous 18th Aug. 2016
Secondary Source:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program 18th Aug.2016
