WHEN this book appeared in April
1939 there were approximately 100 A.A. members. Two thirds of them were at Akron, Ohio,
or nearby communities in the northern part of that state. Most of the remainder were in
or near New York City and a few others were scattered along the Atlantic Seaboard. The
work had then been in existence over four years. It had been satisfactorily demonstrated
that at least two out of three alcoholics who wished to get well could apparently do so,
notwithstanding the fact that their chance of recovery upon any other medical or
spiritual basis had been almost nil-a small percentage at best.
Publication of the book, which set down our experience and methods at length, opened a
new and unexplored phase which meant an attempt to carry the work to other localities,
widespread publicity, and the exposure of our methods to the test of approval or
disapproval by religion, medicine, and the general public-an uncharted field indeed.
Would theologians complain of our lack of orthodoxy? Would physicians frown upon the
idea of banding together great numbers of alcoholics for mutual aid through a spiritual
common denominator? Would reviewers and columnists ridicule the spiritual content of the
work, thus prejudicing the men and women we were trying to help? Would alco-
holic men and women and their families be convinced by the book and
the attendant publicity that here at last was a solution? Such were the uncertainties of
April 1939.
Remarkable as it may seem none of these anticipated difficulties has materialized.
Clergymen of all faiths, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish, have united in generous
approval of our activities. The Christian Science Monitor gave this book a favorable
editorial review. Physicians who have observed us at close range are almost unanimous in
their opinion that our methods are sound and the results most promising.
Best of all is the fact that alcoholics and their familes seize upon this book, perceive
its practical application to their problems, and often take action by writing to The
Alcoholic Foundation Office (Box 459, Grand Central Annex, New York 17) inquiring how
they may get in touch with the nearest A.A. center, or asking directions for starting
groups in their own communities. Innumerable inquiries have been answered by personal
letter, relating those anxious to get well to the nearest A.A. membership. In notable
instances The Alcoholic Foundation * has fostered the creation of new centers about
enthusiastic alcoholics who have derived their inspiration from the book alone. In some
cases the book has acted as a specific for alcoholism , for we are in touch with men who
have worked out their own recovery by simply following out the suggestions of the book.
Besides maintaining a correspondence with new people, our central office keeps in touch
with men who have
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* See appendix I-We invite
correspondence.
recovered in established centers, who travel to other communities, or
who find employment in new places. Such individuals turn up sooner or later where new groups
are in process of formation contributing to their success and relating them to the older
memberships.
When it is considered that we have increased one hundred fold in the last five years and
when it is remembered that we are growing by a sort of geometrical progression, each
alcoholic as a part of his own treatment working with others, one begins to ask h ow far
A.A. may go. Though we alcoholics are plagued with over active imaginations, we shall surely
have thousands of new members every year.
Then, too, it should be remembered that for each alcoholic three or four other persons are
vitally affected spiritually as well as economically. Even now it is evident that these
collateral benefits of our work are large.
Cleveland, Ohio, is an interesting example. In the Fall of 1939 approximately 25 Cleveland
alcoholics were attending meetings with the already large group at Akron, Ohio. The
Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a series of articles on A.A. featuring them upon its editorial
page. A rapid and successful growth ensued. This community has many active groups totaling
hundreds of alcoholic men and women. This activity includes perhaps thousands of additional
individuals-families, employers, and friends, who say they have been vitally touched and
benefited. Suppose several thousand alcoholics, most of them able and energetic men and
women coming from all walks of life, eventually recover. Surely the effect upon this city
would be potent.
There is another aspect of our
activity which has often been overlooked. Though no accurate census has been taken, it is
probable that 90% of active A.A. members are now employed. Most of them reestablished
themselves economically with no other help than we give each other. We believe we have
demonstrated that when an individual commences to think straight and elects a sound
spiritual basis for his life, he will presently find a way to maintain himself. This
spiritual principle, which looks to many people like threadbare rationalization, seems to be
practically proven by our employment record. The simple arithmetic of the situation tells
the story.
One might elaborate for pages upon what has taken place in the past few years. Stories of
spectacular recoveries, of intense spiritual experiences, of happy social contacts, of
regained health, of hundreds who have returned to their churches, of families reunited, of
seemingly impossible differences composed, of renewed business success; such narratives
might be set down by scores. Nor should we fail to mention other hundreds who have quietly
stopped drinking and resumed normal life. We could also tell of heartbreaking failures, of
seeing those for whom we have formed great attachments continue to disintegrate before our
eyes. Such is the warp and woof of A.A. everywhere.