Recovery Resources

Tools for Your Journey

Essential Resources for Recovery

These resources have been carefully selected to support your AA program. From the foundational texts of AA to helpful websites and selected talks, these materials complement the work we do in meetings and with sponsors.

Essential AA Literature

Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book)

Essential

The Big Book is a recording of the experience of the founders of AA and the foundation of the program of recovery. It is part textbook, instructional manual, autobiography, and spiritual expository writing. This remarkable book contains the complete program that has guided millions to sobriety since 1939.

For newcomers, the Big Book provides clear direction on how to work the steps and achieve sobriety. For old-timers, it serves as a constant reminder of fundamental principles and a source of renewed inspiration. The first 164 pages contain everything needed to recover from alcoholism - no matter how many times you've read it, there's always something new to discover.

Essential Sections:

  • The Doctor's Opinion (p. xxiii)
  • How It Works (p. 58)
  • Into Action (p. 72)
  • Working with Others (p. 89)
  • Spiritual Experience (Appendix II)
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Additional AA Resources

Essential AA literature and pamphlets to deepen your understanding of the program.

  • Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
    A detailed exploration of each of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, offering deeper insight into the spiritual principles of the AA program.
  • Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers
    The biography of AA co-founder Dr. Bob Smith and the early days of AA in Akron, Ohio. Essential reading for understanding AA's roots and development.
  • Pass It On
    The biography of AA co-founder Bill Wilson and the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous. Chronicles the development of the fellowship and its principles.
  • The AA Group... Where It All Begins
    Essential pamphlet about the importance of the home group in AA. Explains group dynamics, service commitments, and how groups support individual sobriety.

Additional Reading & Websites

Helpful books and websites that complement your AA program and spiritual growth. Alcoholics Anonymous does not approve or disapprove outside literature. AA World Services (AAWS) publishes AA literature sometimes referred to as “AA approved.” The books listed here are not affiliated with or endorsed by AA; they are simply titles that have helped some people in recovery.

📚 Spiritual Reading

  • The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
    A classic work on spiritual development, self-discipline, and personal growth that resonates with many in recovery.
  • Be Here Now by Ram Dass
    A spiritual classic about presence, consciousness, and finding meaning in the present moment. Popular among those exploring Eastern philosophy.
  • Not God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous by Ernest Kurtz
    A scholarly yet accessible history of AA that explores the spiritual and philosophical foundations of the fellowship.

🌐 Essential Websites