1 Joe & Charlie Big Book Study Retreat Notes from Tapes
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JOE & CHARLIE BIG BOOK STUDY RETREAT NOTES FROM TAPES (1987) 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS (after the following overview a word by word transcript follows below) To the Transcript of The Big Book Study with Joe McQ. and Charlie P. Taped in Mesa, Arizona, February 6-8, 1987. (Disclaimer: This transcript is no substitute for the Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous." If you don't have one, it is strongly suggested that you get one, and read it. There is no affiliation with nor approval or endorsement from Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Joe and Charlie have not read this transcript. Some words have been changed or left out to make it easier to read. Nothing in parentheses are Joe and Charlie's own words. In a telephone conversation on 11/26/88, Charlie said it was okay to copy a transcript to help another drunk. He just didn't want anybody to sell it. To preserve that restriction, the transcriber has decided to include the following copyright notice: The Big Book Study (a.k.a. The Big Book Comes Alive) Copyright (c) 1987, 1988 Joe McQ. and Charlie P. Direct quotes from the Big Book are set off by single quotation marks. It is the transcriber's good faith belief that their use is consistent with copyright law. Copyright notice: Alcoholics Anonymous, Copyright (c) 1939, 1955, 1976 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademark notice: Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book and A.A. are registered trademarks of A.A. World Services, Inc.) Transcript page number Big Book page number on the left in parentheses. (TAPE 1 SIDE A) 1 Introduction 2 How Joe and Charlie started their study of the Big Book 3 Spread of the Big Book Study tapes 4 History of the Big Book 5 Bill and Dr. Bob realize that forty people are now sober 6 First groups decide on paid missionaries, chain of hospitals, and book; only the book is actually begun 7 Table of Contents is explained (p. v) The Doctor's Opinion, Bill's Story (the problem) Chapters Two through Four (the solution) Chapters Five through Seven (the program of action) 8 Preface--two points are emphasized (p. xi) Big Book a textbook 9 Like a math textbook, begin at the beginning 10 Problems with starting newcomer at Chapter Five 11 Program in the Big Book is unchanged Forward to the First Edition--two points are emphasized (p. xxii) One hundred people not just one author 12 Big Book shows precisely how that one hundred recovered Big Book deals with recovery, not with fellowship Big Book is as precise as a cake recipe 13 Forward to the Second Edition--Bill and Dr. Bob (p. xv) 14 Dr. Bob and the Oxford Groups (TAPE 1 SIDE B) 1 Dr. Bob gets message from Henrietta Dr. Bob prays with Oxford Group members but gets drunk 2 Bill brings Dr. Bob the problem as described by Dr. Silkworth (p. xvi ) 3 Dr. Bob sobers and with Bill they work on drunks (p. xvii) Akron, Ohio group forms They decide to publish a book Program in the fellowship has gotten away from program in the Big Book 4 Original program in Big Book was 75% successful (p. xx) The Doctor's Opinion--Dr. Silkworth describes two-fold disease Body AND mind of an alcoholic are both abnormal (p. xxiv) 5 Baffling from Solomon's time until Dr. Silkworth 6 Dr. Silkworth's opinion that we have an allergy to alcohol (p. xxiv ) 7 "Allergy" is an abnormal reaction, in this case to alcohol 8 Charlie describes his dramatically abnormal reaction to alcohol 9 Most alcoholics don't know what is either normal or abnormal 2 (TAPE 1 SIDE B continued) 10 Phenomenon of craving in allergic types only (p. xxvi) Joe describes normal drinkers on airplanes--no craving 11 Classification of alcoholics into five types 12 Only thing all types have in common is phenomenon of craving 13 Joe and Charlie's Disease Concept of Alcoholism Not A.A. information 14 Alcohol is broken down easily by the non-alcoholic (TAPE 2 SIDE A) 1 Alcohol broken down poorly or slowly by alcoholic Charlie describes a typical drinking escapade A man is supposed to clean up the yard, but goes to a bar 2 Drinking triggers the phenomenon of craving Phenomenon of craving gets worse with age or more drinking 3 Mental obsession of the man allergic to fish but eats it anyway 4 Alcoholics like the effect produced by alcohol (p. xxvi) Not the taste but the effect 5 Charlie describes how his mental obsession developed Alcoholics can't differentiate the true from the false (p. xxvi) 6 We are restless, irritable and discontent (p. xxvi-xxvii) Joe's example of the emotional barometer 7 Can't drink safely because of the body 8 Can't keep from drinking because of the mind 9 Will power is useless unless you see there is something wrong Without psychic change this is very little hope (p. xxvii) 10 Obsessions of other kinds are discussed--food, gambling, etc. 11 Bill was the first to know the problem, solution, and practical program of action 12 CHAPTER ONE, "Bill's Story" 13 Bill's Story is the textbook case study of active alcoholism (TAPE 2 SIDE B) 1 Like a Twelfth Step call, it describes Bill's disease to the newcomer 2 Law school to Wall Street--Bill's early days (p. 2) 3 Bill investigates companies on a motorcycle trip with Lois Fame and fortune come but drinking gets more serious; he becomes a lone wolf (p. 3) 4 Stock market crash, followed by financial decline (p. 4) 5 Liquor becomes a necessity, blows stock deal, "wakes up" (p. 5) 6 Bill tries to stop, steals from wife, fears suicide (p. 6) Uses sedative, goes to hospital, but gets drunk again (p. 7) 7 Pronounced hopeless, and admits alcohol his master (p. 8) 8 Bill talks to Ebby in his kitchen 9 Bill is "aghast" at Ebby's solution (p. 9) 10 Ebby's connection to Rowland H. and the Oxford Groups discussed 11 Bill balks at anything religious (p. 10-11) 12 Ebby tells Bill to choose his own conception of God (p. 12) 13 Bill tried to sober up with the Oxford Groups at first but fails Goes back to the hospital and finally accepts Ebby's proposals 14 All Twelve Steps are found on one page (p. 13) (TAPE 3 SIDE A) 1 Bill's spiritual experience (p. 14) CHAPTER TWO, "There is a Solution"--shows exactly what happened 2 We are people who normally would not mix (p. 17) 3 (TAPE 3 SIDE A continued) 3 Illustration of the passengers on an ocean liner Great difference between steerage and Captain's table 4 Great power in the fellowship is one element that binds us The common solution is the other essential element 5 Common solution is tremendous fact that binds us Many today just use the fellowship and not the solution Solution should be pointed out to the newcomer 6 Charlie talks about this illustration Different races at the Big Book Study Charlie finally made it to the Captain's table 7 Three types of drinkers are moderate social, heavy, real alcoholic (p. 20-21) 8 Description of real alcoholic (p. 21-22) 9 Why does he start?-- problem centers in his mind (p. 22-23) 10 We are without defence against the first drink (p. 24) 11 Failure of defence against the hot 1 stove Charlie recalls being burned by stove Most alcoholics are beyond human aid, so fellowship isn't enough 12 There is a solution-- the effective spiritual experience 13 Difficult to continue without an understanding of this term Most have a wrong conception of spiritual experience Charlie tells about his Aunt Molly's experience 14 Appendix II explains spiritual experience, spiritual awakening Personality change sufficient to recover (p. 569) Readers of first printing thought it had to be sudden (TAPE 3 SIDE B) 1 Most experiences are of the educational variety Others see it, then he realizes Profound alteration in his reaction to life Not brought about by himself alone 2 Tapped unsuspected inner resource (p. 570) 3 No middle-of-the-road solution, only two alternatives (p. 25) Go on to the bitter end (the problem of Step One) Accept spiritual help (the solution of Step Two) 4 Rowland H. was treated by Dr. Carl Jung for a year (p. 26) 5 Pronounced hopeless without a vital spiritual experience Huge emotional displacement and rearrangements 6 Three things come together in Bill's mind Problem from Dr. Silkworth Solution from Dr. Carl Jung Recovery program from Oxford Groups 7 CHAPTER THREE, "More About Alcoholism"--the mental obsession is illustrated by four examples Insanity is not what we do when drunk, it's believing a lie 8 We're like a pie with a piece missing, not all gone 9 Circle of recovery, the old member helps new see the truth 10 Great obsession that we will control and enjoy drinking (p. 30) 11 Methods we have tried, "ad infinitum" (p. 31) Might try controlled drinking (p. 31-32; first method of diagnosing yourself as alcoholic) 12 Man of thirty stays dry for twenty-five years, drinks again and dies in four years (p. 32-33) 4 (TAPE 3 SIDE B continued) Might try to stop drinking for a year (p. 34; second method of diagnosis) 13 Might look at the mental states that precede drinking (p. 34-35; third method of diagnosis) Story of the car salesman, Jim--keeps getting drunk (p.