The IWS Study Edition Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book - Founders Day 1995

This is the IWS Study Edition Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. There is a commemorative imprint on the front cover for the 1995 Founders Day Celebration in Akron, OH. This celebrated AA’s 60th Anniversary.

Here you can read the Foreword to learn more about this special book!

By making the Big Book easier to study, understand, and afford, we hope to be of some help to our fellow alcoholics, but we don't want to change the text in any way. So here is an explanation of what we have done and the precautions we have taken.

The more obscure references in the text are footnoted with explanations. These are shaded to differentiate them from the original text and are limited strictly to facts - no opinions.

Next to the text is a numbering system to help make discussions on particular paragraphs or sections easier.

A comprehensive index to the Big Book's first 164 pages is provided. We hope it will cover most anything you may want to look up. In the index are definitions for the less common words from the text. The first three definitions for each were taken directly from Webster's Dictionary. We feel it best for the reader to decide what the author meant.

Shaded with a grey border to differentiate it from the modern text is the Original Manuscript of the Big Book. It is presented here in a retyped version to make it easier to read. It has been thoroughly proofread to be just like the original. Even the apparent mistakes are as they were.

The same paragraph numbers from the modern text are provided next to their corresponding paragraphs in the manuscript to make comparison easier.

In the back, are the various intergroups and central offices in the world in case you need directions to a meeting while trudging the road of happy destiny.

If we made any mistakes, missed something or included anything we shouldn't have, we hope you will let us know.

THE IWS GROUP

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

IWS is an A.A. group dedicated to our program's Fifth Tradition. Our primary purpose is to carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic.

We feel the best way to do this is through the distribution and study of the unadulterated message of A.A. as contained in the first 164 pages of our basic text.

We hold The Traditions dear and want to emphasize that we are a group "inside"

A.A. rather than an "outside enterprise." We are an A.A. group staying sober by helping as many alcoholics as we can.

Our group is entirely nonprofessional. Nobody is making money at IWS and we are certainly not organized. However, in order to adhere to The Sixth Tradition, our books are published by IWS Inc., which is incorporated and separate from the group.

This is to ensure that the material is kept separate from the spiritual.

Tens of thousands of copies of the first 164 pages (along with lists of local telephone numbers to call A.A.) have been donated to hospitals, shelters, detox units and other places where the price of a Big Book is a hardship.

All proceeds are used to help the still-suffering alcoholic.

The IWS Group

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This book is in very good condition with some wear to the cover. The book is inscribed by Ray G., who was the archivist at Dr. Bob’s house in Akron. There is no other writing or markings inside the book. 

Please view all of the photos for the conditions.