Welcome everyone to the newest cycle of our Big Book Study! We'll be
examining the book very closely throughout the coming weeks. It is
important to note that we will examine this book from the standpoint
of a textbook.

I always like to note at this juncture that the title page has the
following subtitle:

"The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from
Alcoholism", yes - Recovered! Now that usually opens a seething
couldron of debate ie: "Recovering" vs. "Recovered". The reason I
bring this up here is it is important to note that lasting recovery
(Recovered) is the result of what our book presents. Whether one
calls him/herself a "recovered-" or "recovering-" alcoholic is of no
consequence on this board. Let's try to limit our discussion to the
text. That debate® rages on at from time to time at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/recoveredalcoholics

(That is, if you care to get involved in it).

Turning the page to Roman Numeral v, the table of contents, let's
see how the book was laid out. Bill was an educated and intelligent
man. He was always taught to avoid repeating himself. However, he
also knew that he would have to make the same point repeatedly, but
in several different ways in order to get the point across. The
format of our book is very much like that of a textbook in this way.

The Doctor's Opinion and Bill's Story identify what the problem
is: "Powerlessness", and covers Step 1. The Doctor's Opinion,
written by Dr. Willam D. Silkworth, the doctor who treated Bill at
Towns Hospital (293 Central Park West at 89th Street in Manhattan)
was a part of the main text in the first edition of the book. It was
put into the Roman Numerals in the second edition on the advice of
literary experts of the time. (And, unfortunately, who reads those
Roman Numerals anyway!?!) The letter he provided was unsigned at the
time of the first edition as well. Dr. Silkworth was concerned about
his medical standing back in 1938 or so - the ideas were so radical
at the time that he was concerned about being ridiculed about his
ideas on alcoholism.

Chapters 2, 3, and 4 identify "The Solution", that we need "Power"
and cover Step 2.

Chapters 5, 6, and 7 identify the "Necessary Actions" to find that
"Power" and goes into the detail of Steps 3 thru 12.

Tomorrow we will begin on Roman Numeral xi the Preface to the Third
edition.

Please e-mail any questions to me at jknyc@... and please
pass it on so that others may enjoy what you have found!

Jim