A.A.

Literature

HOW IT BEGAN

WHAT HAPPENED

WHAT ITS LIKE NOW

Many available

both in English

and several other

Languages

The 2020 AAWS

Literature Catalog

• Hard and soft cover

books

• Audio Books

• Pamphlets

• Numerous Cards,

Wallet Cards and

Posters

• Guides and Window

Shade Displays

It wasn’t always that way…

From the early days of our fellowship in 1935,

up until the publication of the book

Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939, A.A. members

used a wide variety of religious and spiritual

texts for inspiration and discussion…

1935 to 1939

Some books and pamphlets were very frequently

mentioned by A.A.’s pioneers.

They included: The Bible, James Allen’s As a Man

Thinketh, Henry Drummond’s The Greatest Thing in

the World, the Emmet Fox books, William James,

Carl Jung, the Oxford Group literature, and Sam

Shoemaker’s books. And many, many others…

.

In 1937, as membership and interest

grew, the early members saw a need

to write about their experiences and

the idea of a codified book came into

being.

1939

In 1939 after a few years of writing, editing and collaborating, the book Alcoholics Anonymous was published by Works Publishing.

The forward to the First

edition of Alcoholics

Anonymous states “to

show other alcoholics

precisely how we have

stayed sober is the main

purpose of this book.”

The “Big Book” has been translated

and published in over 70 languages

In the next several years, prior to the

Establishment of Conference Approval,

A.A.’s Works Publishing produced

additional literature several booklets…

The Sedative booklet contained

some interesting verbiage…

Today, A.A Conference Approved

literature is widely available in

various formats and media -

Placards

Meeting

Signage

Workbooks

Pamphlets

Cards

CD’s

Need for Uniformity…

At first General Service Conference, held in the1951, it

was recommended that:

In future years, A.A. textbook literature should have

Conference approval.

The objective was to provide, in the future, a means of

distinguishing Foundation literature from that issued

locally or by non-A.A. interests.

There would be exceptions…

Not All “A.A. Literature” Is Conference-Approved. Central

offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or

booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces

meet the needs of the local membership, they may be

legitimately classified as “A.A. literature.”

There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc.

(A.A.W.S. – publishers of Conference-approved literature),

and central offices or intergroups – rather they complement

each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such

material. G.S.O. does develop some literature that does not

have to be approved by the Conference, such as Service

Material, Guidelines and bulletins.

Is The Grapevine Conference

Approved?

Since Grapevine comes out 12 times a year, and the Conference meets only once a year, the magazine would never come off the press if it had to go through the Conference review process. However, the Conference has always supported the concept of Grapevine and, in 1986, a Conference Advisory Action specifically addressed the issue of Conference approval for the first time with the following statement:

“Since each issue of (the) Grapevine cannot go through the Conference approval process, the Conference recognizes (the) Grapevine as the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.” By extension La Viña is recognized in the same way

“Conference-approved” — What It

Means to You The term “Conference-approved” describes written or audiovisual

material approved by the Conference for publication by G.S.O. This process assures that everything in such literature is in accord with A.A. principles. Conference-approved material always deals with the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous or with information about the A.A. Fellowship.

The term has no relation to material not published by G.S.O. It does not imply Conference disapproval of other material about A.A. A great deal of literature helpful to alcoholics is published by others, and A.A. does not try to tell any individual member what he or she may or may not read.

Conference approval assures us that a piece of literature represents solid A.A. experience. Any Conference-approved booklet or pamphlet goes through a lengthy and painstaking process, during which a variety of A.A.s from all over the United States and Canada.

Over the course of more than 80 years of A.A. history, A.A.'s General Service Conference has approved more than ten books for publication by A.A. World Services (AAWS). The books have the label "This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature."

1. 1939 - Alcoholics Anonymous 2. 1953 - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions3. 1957 - Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age 4. 1967 - As Bill Sees It = Originally titled The AA Way of Life5. 1973 - Came to Believe6. 1975 Living Sober 7. 1980 - Dr. Bob and the Good-Old Timers 8. 1984 - Pass It On 9. 1990 - Daily Reflections10. 2003 - Experience, Strength and Hope

A.A. Conference Approved Literature can

be Ordered from:

* Chicago Area Service Office (CASO)

@Chicagoaa.org

* Alcoholics Anonymous World Services

(AAWS) On-line Store @ aa.org

Does your home group have a

Literature chair?

If, not Volunteer to fill that Service position

Help ensure that literature is available for to all that need it

Keep meeting schedules up to date and available

Have “newcomer packets” ready for anyone who has the desire to

stop drinking.

Free, yes FREE!

All Conference Approved

Literature is available for reading,

free of charge @ aa.org

Search for AA Literature

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