A.A. Literature

105 public-domain documents, free to read — no sign-up, no adverts in the text. Jump to a section, or browse the full contents below.

A.A. Big Book

The foundational 164 pages — the Doctor's Opinion, the core chapters and the Twelve Steps.

  1. Preface (4th Edition)
  2. Foreword (1st Edition)
  3. Foreword (2nd Edition)
  4. The Doctor’s Opinion
  5. Bill’s Story (Ch. 1)
  6. There Is a Solution (Ch. 2)
  7. More About Alcoholism (Ch. 3)
  8. We Agnostics (Ch. 4)
  9. How It Works (Ch. 5)
  10. Into Action (Ch. 6)
  11. Working With Others (Ch. 7)
  12. To Wives (Ch. 8)
  13. The Family Afterward (Ch. 9)
  14. To Employers (Ch. 10)
  15. A Vision For You (Ch. 11)
  16. Dr. Bob’s Nightmare
  17. AA Number Three

Personal Stories — First Edition (1939)

All 29 pioneer recovery stories from the original 1939 edition.

  1. 1The Doctor’s Nightmare
  2. 2The Unbeliever
  3. 3The European Drinker
  4. 4A Feminine Victory
  5. 5Our Southern Friend
  6. 6A Business Man's Recovery
  7. 7A Different Slant
  8. 8Traveler, Editor, Scholar
  9. 9The Back-Slider
  10. 10Home Brewmeister
  11. 11The Seventh Month Slip
  12. 12My Wife and I
  13. 13A Ward of the Probate Court
  14. 14Riding the Rods
  15. 15The Salesman
  16. 16Fired Again
  17. 17The Fearful One
  18. 18Truth Freed Me!
  19. 19Smile with Me, At Me
  20. 20A Close Shave
  21. 21Educated Agnostic
  22. 22Another Prodigal Story
  23. 23The Car Smasher
  24. 24Hindsight
  25. 25On His Way
  26. 26An Alcoholic’s Wife
  27. 27An Artist's Concept
  28. 28The Rolling Stone
  29. 29Now We Are Thousands

Personal Stories — Second Edition (1955)

All 40 personal stories from the 1955 second edition.

  1. 1Pioneers of A.A.
  2. 2Doctor Bob's Nightmare
  3. 3Alcoholic Anonymous Number Three
  4. 4He Had To Be Shown
  5. 5He Thought He Could Drink Like A Gentleman
  6. 6Women Suffer Too
  7. 7The European Drinker
  8. 8The Vicious Cycle
  9. 9The News Hawk
  10. 10From Farm To City
  11. 11The Man Who Mastered Fear
  12. 12He Sold Himself Short
  13. 13Home Brewmeister
  14. 14The Keys Of The Kingdom
  15. 15They Stopped In Time
  16. 16Rum, Radio And Rebellion
  17. 17Fear Of Fear
  18. 18The Professor And The Paradox
  19. 19A Flower Of The South
  20. 20Unto The Second Generation
  21. 21His Conscience
  22. 22The Housewife Who Drank At Home
  23. 23It Might Have Been Worse
  24. 24Physician, Heal Thyself!
  25. 25Stars Don’t Fall
  26. 26Me An Alcoholic?
  27. 27New Vision For A Sculptor
  28. 28They Lost Nearly All
  29. 29Joe’s Woes
  30. 30Our Southern Friend
  31. 31Jim’s Story
  32. 32Promoted To Chronic
  33. 33The Prisoner Freed
  34. 34There’s Nothing The Matter With Me!
  35. 35Desperation Drinking
  36. 36Annie The Cop Fighter
  37. 37The Career Officer
  38. 38The Independent Blonde
  39. 39He Who Loses His Life
  40. 40Freedom From Bondage

Daily Readings

How It Works, the Ninth Step Promises, the Preamble, the Twelve Traditions and more.

  1. How It Works
  2. The Promises
  3. AA Preamble
  4. Twelve Traditions
  5. Just For Today
  6. On Awakening
  7. On Retiring
  8. A Vision For You

Prayers & Meditations

The Third and Seventh Step prayers, the Serenity Prayer, St Francis' Peace Prayer and others.

  1. Morning Prayer
  2. Nightly Prayer
  3. Third Step Prayer
  4. Seventh Step Prayer
  5. Eleventh Step Prayer
  6. The Lord's Prayer
  7. Fear Prayer
  8. Serenity Prayer
  9. Serenity Prayer Extended
  10. Resentment Prayer
  11. Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi