Alcoholism and drug addiction have devastated many lives. For years, doctors and others who worked with those afflicted with these addictions despaired of every finding a way to help them. In the 1930s, an amazing breakthrough was made. A few “drunks” found some principles that made a difference in their lives. They shared their discovery with others, who also began to find recovery. Those early pioneers encapsulated these principles in what we know today as the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The main publication that explains the principles and the program is simply called Alcoholics Anonymous, more commonly referred to as “The Big Book.” From the foreword:
We, of Alcoholics Anoymous, are…men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book…We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the alcoholic…And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all. (p. xiii)
We, at Hearthaven Publishing, heartily recommend this book to all. Having studied its principles and applied it to a variety of addictions and life problems, we find it to be in harmony with the Book of Mormon and other Church teachings.
