Posted by Dick B.'s son Ken
So how does one settle apparent controversies in A.A. such
as the one swirling around the words "recovered" and
"recovering?" The following wise words from the current edition of
the Big Book might be of help: ". . . [O]ur literature has preserved the
integrity of the A.A. message, . . ." ["Alcoholics Anonymous,"
4th ed., xxiv].
According to a concordance available online of the current,
fourth edition of “Alcoholics Anonymous” (“the Big Book”) published in 2001,
the word “recovered” relating to alcoholism occurs 15 times [http://www.164andmore.com/words/recovered.htm;
accessed 6/5/16] up to and including page 164. The word “recovering” used in relation to alcoholism occurs
twice, once in a footnote on page 104 in chapter eight, “To Wives” (which note
was not present in the first printing of the first edition of “Alcoholics
Anonymous” published in 1939); and once on page 122 in chapter nine, “The
Family Afterward.” [http://www.164andmore.com/words/recovering.htm;
accessed 6/5/16]
“Foreword to First Edition” [1939]
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men
and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. [“Alcoholics
Anonymous,” 4th ed., xiii]
“To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is
the main purpose of this book.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., xiii]
“Foreword to Second Edition” [1955]
“In that brief space [“Sixteen years . . . between our first
printing . . . and . . . our second edition.”], Alcoholics Anonymous has
mushroomed into nearly 6,000 groups whose membership is far above 150,000
recovered alcoholics.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., xv]
“Their very first case, a desperate one, recovered
immediately and became A.A. number three.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., xvii]
“The Doctor's Opinion”
“This man and over one hundred others appear to have
recovered.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., xxv]
“There Is a Solution”
“Nearly all have recovered.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th
ed., 17]
“Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the
face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless
condition of mind and body.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 20]
“Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we
recovered.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 29]
“We Agnostics”
“If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life
were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long
ago.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 45]
“Working with Others”
“If he says yes, then his attention should be drawn to you
as a person who has recovered.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 90]
“He often says that if he had continued to work on them, he
might have deprived many others, who have since recovered, of their chance.” [“Alcoholics
Anonymous,” 4th ed., 96]
“To Wives”
“But many of the suggestions given here may be adapted to
help the person who lives with a woman alcoholic -- whether she is still
drinking or is recovering in A.A.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 104,
footnote (added after the first printing of the first edition of “Alcoholics
Anonymous” was published in April 1939]
“He knows that thousands of men, much like himself, have
recovered.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 113]
“The Family Afterward”
“Our women folk have suggested certain attitudes a wife may
take with the husband who is recovering.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 122]
“We have recovered, and have been given the power to help
others.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 132]
“We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles
of mental health.” [“Alcoholics Anonymous,” 4th ed., 133]
“To Employers”
“An alcoholic who has recovered, but holds a relatively
unimportant job, can talk to a man with a better position.” [“Alcoholics
Anonymous,” 4th ed., 146]
