Review:
Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as "The Big Book” is the basic text for the AA society. Left essentially unchanged since its first edition was released in 1939, this text contains instructions on how to use the 12-step program. Alcoholics Anonymous also includes 41 personal stories of alcoholics who used the AA program for their recovery. The testimonials include those of the founders of AA and of alcoholics that have come to AA over the years since. Alcoholics Anonymous is mainly written to men and gives detailed information on what alcoholism and the 12-step recovery from alcoholism looks like. It has additional sections that are expressly written to wives and employers of male alcoholics that attempt to bring understanding of alcoholism and the 12-steps. This book gives a comprehensive rationale for the importance of utilizing the 12 steps in treatment along with detailed instructions on how to do so.

 

 

Since alcoholism is a significant addiction that presents in counseling, counselors may find it helpful to read the text that many of their clients in recovery are reading or may read. It may provide a deeper understanding of the disease model of alcoholism and what the 12-steps really look like. Besides having a chapter entitled, "To Wives” and none for other types of partners, the text only includes male pronouns, and only refers to alcoholics and those in recovery as men.