Thank you, it's reassuring to see AA videos popping up amongst all the hatred in America right now. I've been sober for decades, I'm terrified of this regime - it's a world of lies, crime, and hate. DEstruction - I think anyone in politics should have to work the Steps. That would be the day, eh? "Spirituality is a relationship with the Divine - Religion is crowd control".

Thanks 😊

Is Bill a member of AA himself? I'm throughly enjoying this deep dive history lesson! 28th January 2006 , myself 😊

Thank you for your information, Bill! Prior to us meeting, my husband, David, had gotten sober in 1993 because of his introduction to God and the AA program in rehab. I don't believe his relationship with God was predicated on religion, however he simultaneously develop a strong bond with a local minister, who was fascinated by the transformation and devotion of the sober men and women of AA at that time. David had a deep bond with God and understood the importance of connecting with God to change one's life. It was not religion that saved him. It was his relationship with God by whatever means he sought, and he trusted the same safe passage should be had by others. Our Higher Power could be different things to different people...Jesus, Buddha, Divine Light, Inner Being...it makes no difference. Trying to tell anyone who their Higher Power should be is wrong, and arrogant. We must choose for ourselves to have a meaningful experience, and respect that choice in others. David passed four years ago and left with me a devotion to AA that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have just purchased your book and am very interested in Bill's journey of healing. I hope to find some answers there. Thanks so much!

Seems like Hank Parkhurst was bi-polar and probably would have benefitted from modern CBT therapy and drugs such as Lexapro. Bill too, but Bill brazened it out to the bitter end, except when he wanted whiskey on his dead-bed. No judgement. Humans are faulty. And that was long ago.

Wait did you just left out higher power? How is it that really trying means just to go to meeting fellowship and get a sponsor do the steps with the sponsor how is it that higher power is not mentioned there since that’s the only solution as written and you said earlier?

Thanks 😊

Wow...I never knew. Thanks for sharing.

Bill s, at best is a biased archive clerk. Hes rude, and his narrative on the origin of the steps and the influence of oxford practices, is incomplete, shortsighted and arrogant.

So, Brooklyn is three miles west of NYC? I think you're a little fucked up there, guy. How much did AA pay you, to write another hagiography about them? How about the Toronto intergroup that tried claiming religious organization status, under the Ontario Human Rights Code? AA head office must have had a little talk with them about that.

I am absolutely delighted to have found your channel! I primarily attend Spanish speaking meetings so I’m a little late to the party when it comes to finally meeting you. I will be watching all your videos starting today until I see them all. Also, will be adding your book as part of my AA collection. 📘☕️02-07-08☕️📘

Moral psychology is the changing of ones mind. The essential psychic change IS the moral psychology.

Don't be more critical of yourself I'd doest help. Infact most like free will doesn't exist not only is your experience illusion but you also probably not in charge at all ie call it spirit god ect

You ever read tradition 11?

Thank you so much for your Book Bill it has helped me more than you'll ever know and for these extra helpful youtube videos. As a militant Athiest in AA with 10 years sobriety I have to thank Hank too, I struggled with AA for 24 years before finally getting sober in 2014 because of my own prejudices,I would throw the baby out with the bath water on many occasions until a fellow Athiest and AA member pointed me towards learning more about the History of AA and the not so religious early members who fought to give us the book we have today.

20 years sober. Well done. The messianic narrative of Bill W's hero's journey is not the correct narrative he had a lot of help. All idols have feet of clay.

We know bills grandfather had a white light experience. When Bill was writing different versions of his story some dont mention it and one says he had it at his house after talking to Ebby. Its not a bad thing he put that in the BB but the fact that incident wasnt a concrete part of his story till later versions makes it to me very likely to me he borrowed it from Grandpa.

Lastly we know bills grandfather had a white light experience. When Bill was writing different versions of his story some dont mention it and one says he had it at his house after talking to Ebby. Its not a bad thing he put that in the BB but the fact that incident was a concrete part of his story till later versions makes it to me very likely to me he borrowed it from Grandpa.

Does Lois ever mention Henry prior to August and does she ever mention him again? Does This Henry hold any importance? With all the people bouncing around why does this obscure new guy earn an entry in the diary and does he continue to be written about? Does she continue to make entries for both Hank and Henry? I see that you are thoroughly convinced they are two different people, but unless she continues to make that distinction and future entries then I don’t think they are. She just may have emotionally used the name, Henry being Hanks real first namebecause of the emotional impact, his drinking would’ve had on everybody. Just like when my mom never uses my first name except in the most extreme conditions. I don’t know. It still seems suspect to me unless of course she continues to make the distinction about this Henry guy. Or does he just disappear again?

So grateful to have found you and your extraordinary work!

Bill, thank you for what you do. Can you tell me the dates of each of Dr Silkworths letters? I’m trying to see the length of time between the 2 “letters” he wrote in the Drs Opinion. So far I have it at about a 5 month distance. Letter #1 late July 1938 and Letter #2 around December 1938. Please, I look forward to your reply

What I heard about Wilson, was that all he was interested in doing, was making money out of AA. He apparently authored little (if anything) in the Big Book, yet he was able to fraudulently acquire sole copyright to it, from which he became quite well off. Prior to that, in an attempt to raise funds to publish the Big Book, he created an unincorporated company and sold worthless shares in it, then kept most of the money, but AA keeps quiet about all of this. In 1956, he tried LSD, then tried to convince the AA board of trustees to endorse it as a cure for alcoholism, which it wouldn't go for. In 1963, he butted heads with the board, again, this time wanting it to give 10% of his estate's Big Book royalties to his mistress, Helen Wynn, upon his death. They at first balked , but then begrudgingly agreed. Also, around that time, there was a group of senior members who called themselves the 'Founder's Watch' committee. They would accompany Wilson to AA speaking engagements and when they saw him trying to seduce any young women there, they would intervene. This was done to avoid it scandalizing the AA name. Yeah, sounds like a really credible guy. AA doesn't deny any of these facts, but prefers to keep them all quiet. But try telling any AA member this, and they'll most claim it's all lies. And then they wonder why they're considered a cult.

As was said in this video Bill Wilson had a knack for being a politician. He knew he had two very very different philosophies of recovery between Akron and New York and he needed both. Even though Akron's contribution to the Big Book was almost non existent he still fought to be inclusive rather then exclusive. He gave a nod to Akron he gave a nod to New York but sought the middle ground between both. He performed masterfully. Yes you need the spiritual and yes you need moral phycology. It takes both.

I always wondered if the doctors’s opinion was moved to the roman numerals because they didn’t want to confuse Dr. Silkworth with Dr. Bob.

Wonderful

I find it interesting that you highlighted the 12 Steps in Bill W's story but did not show the same respect to Earl Treat's story. Earl Treat's story mentions all 12 steps as well.... though I fully understand that mentioning this fact would not have met your narrative. Shame on you. If you're going to tell people the truth, please tell them the truth.

Incidentally, I got sober in 82, 85, 91, and the last time 94. Will see what happens today! The last time I got sober, it was on a prayer!!

Read the book. Tough getting thru this with all that clicking. My keyboard can be silenced. A voracious reader and I enjoy getting to know authors.

Thanks Bill S. For sharing.

Some of the smaller groups struggle. And I have been around long enough to see some groups disband. Thanks to covid we now have zoom meetings. And hybrid meetings.

Self support is still very important to AA. I'm not chastising groups that don't or can't afford to send money to new york. AA is in over 170 countries now. I forget how many languages the big book is printed in.

Only half the groups are sending money to new york. And the sales of the big book still helps support AA as a whole.

Amazing

Bill I'm with you in what you are saying here about AA needing to update itself on various fronts including The Big Book. I to am suggestive about these needs and I experience the profound resistance from many AA you speak of. Many would consider me a trouble maker I'm sure. Now and then however someone will say they agree with me on a particular point I make. That's encouraging to me. I know for each one that expresses it to me theirs plenty of others who agree but stay silent for whatever reason. Probably the fear of rejection. I'm glad you see this need as well.

Your work has been vital Bill. Pointing out the difference between New York AA and Akron AA in the early days has answered many a lingering question. You can still see the two different approaches in AA groups today. Being non religious New York would be the choice to make. The deeper in religion you are steeped Akron would be your haven. At least to varying degrees that would be the case. Thanks.

Atheists have some of the strongest faith I have ever seen.

The bible is the bigger book of the big book. AA will bring you to hell? To many false higher powers. Only one god who came down and died for our sins.

Interesting but not that important to my overall spiritual growth and growing a relationship w God. Idc about dates and i think watering down the program and making it secular is not AA. Perhaps we need a separate movement ourside of AA for those who want secular, agnostic, etc, esoecially since that's not AA or the point of our founder path. Lol. Unfortunately, quitting drinking is only the beginning and selling Abstinence as the goal is not the point of AA, the big book or AA recovery. The bb is very simple. It's a very important part of our AA history. The words are beautiful, meaningful and spiritual. Sad what we have allowed within the AA society. ❤

Thanks Bill, I'm really just getting into the history of AA and appreciate your research. Thank you for your service.

Have only listened to a small portion of this first video but I could see this becoming the definitive history.

im gonna take another stab at refuting this idea. How can I best put this without ruffling feathers? The author ‘relies on primary documents” The earliest primary document we have is the first unedited draft of Bill’s story. In it Bill specifically mentions and details four steps. We don’t know how many other steps he wrote because the manuscript is missing. Bill characterized the steps as a program of recovery. See: 974. They were spiritual 975. principles and rules of practice he thought common to all of the 976. worthwhile religions and philosophies of mankind. He regarded them 977. as stepping stones to a better understanding of our relation to the 978. spirit of the universe and as a practical set of directions setting 979. forth how the spirit could work in and through us that we might 980. become spearheads and more effective agents for the promotion 981. of Gods Will for our lives and for our fellows. These steps are documented and we assume Bill practiced them in 1935 to 1938 before he wrote this manuscript, as he explains them in great and familiar detail-and yes he uses the word steps . See the following lines: Step One Surrender - 989 One: Turn my face 990. to God as I understand Him and say to Him with earnestness - complete 991. honesty and abandon- that I henceforth place my life at His 992. disposal and direction forever Step Two Inventory defects of character-- 995 TWO: Having taken this first step, I should 996. next prepare myself for Gods Company by taking a thorough and ruth- 997. less inventory of my moral defects and derelictions. Step Three Admitting wrongs to God and others-1040 Step number three required that I carefully go over my 1041. personal inventory and definatly arrive at the conclusion that 1042. I was now willing to rid myself of all these defects moreover 1043. I was to understand that this would not be accomplished by 1044. [line number skipped] 1045. myself alone, therefore I was to humbly ask God that he take 1046. these handicaps away. To make sure that I had become really 1047. honest in this desire, I should sit down with whatever person 1048. I chose and reveal to him without any reservations whatever 1049. the result of my self appraisal. Step Four Amends 1071 1071.l0 Step number four demanded that I frankly admit that my 1072.deviations from right thought and action had injured other people 1073.therefore I must set about undoing the damage to the best of my 1074.ability. Sadly the manuscript ends with this note: “archivist's note: the rest of this manuscript is currently missing”, so did two more steps exist in Bills "mythical" Six Step program? Well lets look at Bill's story and the actions he describe and what was published in the big book. Step 5 Pray and meditation-check “I was to test my thinking by the new God-consciousness within. Common sense would thus become uncommon sense. I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. Never was I to pray for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others.” and Step 6 Working with Others “My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me.” This was all written April 1938 so it most certainly is primary documentation. Of course this is my interpretation and my opinion. But lets look for more evidence without numbered steps. The word of mouth six step program was as this author mentions, in Earl Treats story (Dr Bob was his sponsor, so he has no skin in the game to lie or exaggerate) and Bill Wilson mentions the Six Step word of mouth program of recovery several times in 1940 speeches. But wait! A Vision for You is a primary document and was written months before How it Works, and Into Action; before the twelve steps were ever put to paper . Let's see what it says on page 164. Seems awfully close to the Six Steps. There are other places in the Big Book where these same steps appear. “There is a solution. Almost none of us liked the self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the process requires for its successful consummation. Pg 25 BB Finally comes the famous cocktail napkin to Father Ed… those famous six steps. We have all seen the photo. What would motivate Bill Wilson to lie about these spiritual principles and pass them off as a fabrication to Father Ed, his friend and spiritual advisor at the time? Why would we not believe Bill? What is the motive?… And why would I take the “lack of evidence” as evidence of a six step myth, when I can believe Bill Wilson at his word-right from his primary documentation written in 1938 but more importantly, given to Bill Wilson by word of mouth from Ebby Thatcher and shared with Dr Bob and the first 100. This is much like scientists espousing the Big Bang Theory, and not having witnessed it, saying it is a myth. Or an archeologist digging up the first know human skeleton, but because the arms are missing saying humans are a myth. Is not 66% of the word of mouth program written in Bills Story not enough. Why would Bill repeat the same spiritual concepts of Surrender, inventory, amends, Morning Meditation, and Helping others, in almost every chapter of the Big Book before he wrote the 12 steps in Dec 1938? If these word of mouth steps were a Myth or Fairy Tale, what was the alternative? Are we throwing out the baby with the bath water and declaring there never was a baby while the foot prints and soap bubbles are still wet on the floor? These steps get explained in Bills Story, before the twelve steps were written, and again actually written in Bills very first manuscript-the most primary document of all. And lastly if they were a myth, then we would need only alternative Two or Three Steps that existed in NY 1 Admit we were drunks 2 Coffee, donuts, 3 Fellowship. Good Luck with those.

Bill, I think this is so on the money! My group (Rye Harrison/ Westchester) just discussed the Plain Language Big Book issue at a special business meeting. It is one of the questions on the delegates questionaire that needs a response in the next week or so. Very interesting point you made about simplifying languarge that is so outdated, sexist, etc. Hadn't really thought of that. Also very much agree with our job in AA to be to help Alcoholics to get sober, not to bring them closer to God. And, as you say this gets tremendous push back from members. i felt like i was in a meeting of the Akron "Alcoholic Squad". LOL!!! Thanks again for a great book and great insights.

The first half is a rehash of the "More About Alcoholism" that I watched last night. I don't know if they used the same scripts, but it was close. Nothing new here. The bits about "We Atheists" are straight from the book. IMHO, this is not up to the quality of Bill's other presentations.

Its interesting the history of aa

Its good to know history

Thanks Bill- I’ve read your book & followed your continued work getting to the historical truth. I even read your synopsis in the most recent Grapevine of the writing of the Big Book for its 85th celebration. At 36 years sober a day at a time…I didn’t know Hank Parkurst’s massive contribution to the existence of AA (book and fellowship) so thank you for your continued research. Hank is also a great example of what happens if we stop doing “moral psychology” on a daily basis. Thank you🙏🏼

Why are episodes #7-13 missing from KZbin?

IMHO, this episode is just a rehash of previous episodes. Nothing new here. Disappointing if you have been following this series from its inception.

Great commentary Bill.. thanks for all your historic detective work. Alcohol is a subtle foe.

What a jerk this guy is