All Addicts Anonymous — New Edition of the AAA Big Book by Tom Powers - 1993

All Addicts Anonymous
New Edition of the AAA Big Book

How to Work the All-Important Third Step — The Key to the Program — One Day at a Time
Tom P.
East Ridge Press · Hankins, New York · 1993

Description

Offered here is a scarce edition of All Addicts Anonymous: New Edition of the AAA Big Book by Tom P., published by East Ridge Press in Hankins, New York in 1993.

This unusual and deeply spiritual work grew out of Tom Powers’ earlier book, originally published in 1959 as First Questions on the Life of the Spirit. That original project began through a grant from The Laymen’s Movement and explored questions of spiritual contact, trust in God, and the lived experiment of faith. Over time, the work was revised and expanded under different titles, eventually becoming this 1993 edition intended as the “Big Book” of All Addicts Anonymous.

Tom P. occupies a fascinating and important place in the broader history of Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Step literature. He was closely connected with Bill W. and is remembered by collectors and historians for his significant editorial and writing contributions to early A.A. literature, including work connected with Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age. He was also part of Bill W.’s wider circle of spiritual exploration, including the much-discussed experimental work in Los Angeles involving LSD and the search for deeper spiritual experience.

Over time, Tom P.’s path moved in a more explicitly spiritual and orthodox direction. His later work placed heavy emphasis on direct conscious contact with God, surrender, obedience, and the daily practice of the Third Step. This eventually led him away from the mainstream A.A. setting and into the spiritual work connected with The Laymen’s Movement, later helping form a community and fellowship centered in Hankins, New York.

This book takes a very serious and searching approach to the spiritual nature of the Twelve Steps, with special emphasis on the Third Step:

“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”

Rather than offering simple answers, Tom P. leads the reader through questions, reflection, practice, and personal experiment—aiming toward a deeper relationship with God and a way of life that could be applied across many forms of addiction and compulsion.

The title page describes it as:

All Addicts Anonymous
New Edition of the AAA Big Book
How to Work the All-Important Third Step — The Key to the Program — One Day at a Time

Historical & Collector Significance

All Addicts Anonymous occupies a unique place in the extended world of Twelve Step-related literature. It reflects an effort to apply the spiritual principles of A.A. more broadly to “all addictions,” while placing strong emphasis on direct spiritual experience, disciplined practice, surrender, and reliance on God.

Tom P. is especially compelling to collectors because of his connection to several important currents in A.A. history: the development of major A.A. literature, Bill W.’s ongoing spiritual searching, the mid-century interest in conscious contact and spiritual experience, and the later formation of a more God-centered recovery fellowship outside the mainstream A.A. structure.

The book includes Tom P.’s author’s preface, where he describes the long history of the work, its original 1959 publication, later editions, and the development that eventually led to All Addicts Anonymous. It is not simply a recovery book, but a spiritual manual built around practice, surrender, and the Third Step as a daily way of living.

Copies of this edition are not commonly encountered, making this a strong addition for collectors interested in Tom P., Bill W., Twelve Step literature, alternative recovery movements, The Laymen’s Movement, conscious contact, and lesser-known branches of recovery-related spiritual history.

Edition Details

Title: All Addicts Anonymous
Subtitle: New Edition of the AAA Big Book: How to Work the All-Important Third Step — The Key to the Program — One Day at a Time
Author: Tom P.
Publisher: East Ridge Press
Place: Hankins, New York
Year: 1993
Format: Softcover / Paperback

Condition

This book is in fair to good condition overall.

The cover shows general wear, rubbing, soiling, and handling marks. The cover is detaching from the backing board, as shown in the photos. The interior pages are clean, with no writing or markings noted inside the book.

Binding and condition should be reviewed closely in the photos.

Please view all photos for the most accurate condition details.