Changing the basic text, the first 164 pages of the Big Book, or re-writing the basic text into their own language appears to be something that some folks are doing out there on the Internet. Be careful of these would-be imposters, as their interpritation of the program of recovery is not AA and you may be deluded into thinking that you are working the AA program, while truthfully, you are working Al’s Program (or some other author).

I’m not saying you cannot read them, that is totally your perogative if you want to read, scan or survey materials other than the Big Book during the course of your lfetime in sopbriety. My viewpointe is sinvcere and honest in that, why would I need to look further than the tried and true Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous for direction, it’s all in there.

Well, when I’m given a consideration, I try to answer it, at the very least, for my own personal growth. So why am I looking for a Big Book Study Guide? Doesn’t the Big Book give me a clear cut set of instructions?

Yes it does, and going through the Big Book with someone else is imparative - to both you and the other person. The work in the Big Book is laid out to not only save one life and make it beter, but to save two lives and make them both better in the process.

There is a spirtual axiom that ocurrs when one Alcoholic Works with another Alcoholic and takes them through the Big Book and the step work, they both become closer to God and experience a personal Freedom - this is a freedopm from the bondage of self.

Since all of our problems are of our own making, than our problems truly are ourselves, our thoughts, our own ideas, us getting into our own way. So invariably, when we work with another Alcoholic, not only are we remionded of the things that we should be doing to work on our own sobriety (which are necessary) but we are acting selflessly!

Two opposites cannot inhabit the same person simultaniously. Happy/Sad, Angry/Friendly, Depressed/Elated. So when we are working selflessly with another Alcoholic, and giving of ourselves, our time and our energy without any desired compensation, then the selfishness that used to encompass the whole of our character slowly begins to die off.

So working with a workbook by yourself is not recommended. (unless of course you live in the nether regions of the world, uninhabited by similar lifeforms)

Taking others through the work using a Big Book Study Guide is ok, if it keeps you on track. Some of the more experienced AAs don’t need to do this because theyve taken 100+ AA’s through the work and know it like the back of their hand.

But back to the subject matter. For anyone to rewrite the steps, the text from the Big Book or a Big Book study Guide that may alter the actual clear cut set of instructions laid out inside the first 164 of the Big Book, can be misleading, so if you must go, go carefully.