Getting Started in AA

I didn't find this book until six months into my recovery and I'm very glad I did. I wish I had it in my first weeks. I wonder why this book isn't more highly touted in AA groups! If you are a burned in AA member, there is no such thing as unapproved AA literature, both Bill W. and Dr. Bob out right said this. I really love Living Sober and I'm so grateful that I bought it early in my sobriety. But, I wish I had found Getting Started in AA by Hamilton B. published by Hazelden. I digress a little bit. Do you know the added verses to the AA happy birthday song? You know...don't drink, go to meetings, read the book, Work the steps, call your sponsor, say your prayers... right? Those are listed as the first 6 chapters in this book! No kidding! Then I read it. As a sponsor the first thing I will say to someone who asks me to sponsor them is "Where's your big book?" the second is "Here, keep this book "Getting Started in AA" handy." If you have a sponsor get him/her this book, get one for yourself. If you don't have a sponsor... get this book. If you are a sponsor get one for yourself and one for your sponsee. Hamilton B. has us alcoholics nailed to a tee. I can't duck it I can't deny it. This book will help me stay sober, might help you too. I would thank my Lord if they sell enough to make a second printing.

I buy this book in bulk and give it to newcomers at meetings. It is a terrific comprehensive intro to AA, the customs and slogans of which can seem overwhelming to people also struggling to decide if they need to stop drinking. This book will never go out of date, for much of AA has stayed unchanged for the last 20-30 years (if not for the last 70 years, since it began). To your health!

I had attended 6 AA meetings and still had many questions; How did AA begin? Is AA right for me? Are all meetings the same? What is a sponsor and how do I get one? What is the Big Book? and what do some of the slogans they use mean? Getting started in AA answered all of these questions and more. The book is designed in a way to allow readers to read it straight through or as a referance tool. It is divided into several parts so that you can easily skip around to the subjects that interest you the most. The content of the book is complete and written so that it can be read with ease. Although I skipped around a little, I read most of the book in one night. It answered all of my questions and gave me some guidence as to what to expect and what step to take next. I highly recomend this book to anyone who is new to AA or maybe has been in the program for a while, but still has questions about AA. This is also a good book for anyone who has never been to AA, but wants to stop drinking and is not sure if AA is right for them.