The Plain Language Big Book: is this a compendium to ye' olde book or a re-write in modern language?Referred
What’s Different?
- The first 164 pages are now 122 pages – by simplifying the language.
- More “gender-balanced” – e.g. jaywalker is female; but not gender-neutral using “they”.
- The wording of the Steps has not changed from Him/His, but in other places,gender-balanced He/Him/His “may have changed to God”.
- Only “Dr. Bob’s Nightmare” is included in the stories (more on some problematic Doctor Bob language to follow).
Plain language interpretation reduced 164 pages by 25%—a noteworthy reduction. How Bill wrote does not fit in as far as a contemporary discussion about alcohol use disorder or addiction in general. Here’s an example: it is unimaginable to expect to hear or read this abstract and flowery description of alcohol use disorder at your doctor’s office:
“But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is finitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics, these things are poison (“How It Works,” p. 66).”
Referred to in this show:
Blog JULY 2024 the Plain Language Big Book coming Fall of 2024
AA membership from 2002 to 2020 change (+/-) over 20 years
Biographies of the 28 AA stories in the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (and other AA stories)Referred
https://library.iusb.edu/search-find/archives/gcarchive/docs/ref-bb-authors.pdf
SAMHSA (substance abuse and mental health services admin) notes that 72.2% of Americans 12 years old or older who ever had alcohol or other drug dependency consider themselves recovered or in recovery.
https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20230920/new-data-recovery-from-substance-use-mental-health-problems-among-adults-in-united-states
2020 Membership Survey from Great Britain General Service Office+
81% of newcomers and 94% of people sober 10+ years believe in a higher power (Great Britain and English-speaking Central Europe). Of those who believe, ⅓ believe in a religious god, ⅔ believe in a secular higher power. See page 11.
https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AA-Membership-Survey-2020.pdf