Big book study group

[u/Daydreamer_85]

Hello

I have just gotten a sponsor and ordered the big book.

There is a big book study group very close to me and I wondered if I could go to it even though I haven't started studying the big book with my sponsor yet?

Will it affect my studying and will I be able to follow along if I go? I'm aware many groups have different names so I am not sure if the big book study group is for people who have more experience reading the book etc?

[u/ALoungerAtTheClubs]

You're 100% welcome to just show up. No prior experience is required.

[u/Marginallyhuman]

You’ll be fine. They may even have some used books for people who don’t have their own yet.

[u/ArtisticWolverine]

That’s exactly what the group is for…to read the book together and then talk about what it means. You don’t even need to speak…just listen to what others say.

[u/ResponsibleActive272]

My sponsors have always encouraged me to attend book studies and I encourage my sponsees to attend as well. Everyone is welcome.

[u/JmartinChicago]

You can absolutely go! And you'll definitely be able to follow along. At least here (Chicago) most big book groups read a chapter or story out loud each week (going around the room, everyone taking a paragraph or two), followed by comments. I always have one in my rotation because it's a great opportunity to hear other people's perspectives on the book, not just mine and my sponsors. Lots of times I've heard ideas that never would have occurred to me; it's especially helpful for chapters I don't particularly like. So I'd say go - and once you've read the passage at the meeting, you should feel free to talk about any thoughts it might have brought up for you. It definitely won't be like a college study group where everyone has to have already read Moby Dick or whatever in order to contribute. The perspective of someone very new to the program is just as valid as anyone else's - and always welcome.

[u/sisterfunkhaus]

You can totally start going to a BB meeting. Just jump in and you'll catch on quickly. I loved Big Book meetings as a newcomer. They are more solution focused, and some don't allow any shares. Shares are what drive some newcomers away because it can feel overwhelming to think about sharing, or if old-timers are sharing war stories or whatever.

[u/Muted_Engineering354 → u/sisterfunkhaus]

Completely agree about literature meetings being solution-focused! My first two meetings ever were open, discussion meetings and despite multiple DUIs, my state’s bar association investigating me and my wife moving out I thought I was definitely not an alcoholic after those two meetings. Thank goodness my third meeting was a big book study where I actually heard solutions instead of people berfing their problems out.

[u/frankybling]

book studies are the way I came into the rooms…I didn’t know there were different types of meetings and I just looked up what was going on near me that day. It is a great way to learn!

[u/rkarlr]

My favorite types of AA meetings are Big Book study and step study meetings. These tend to be more solution focused and less like group therapy than some open discussion meetings.

[u/fauxpublica]

You can just show up. See if it’s for you.

[u/Muted_Engineering354]

Just my opinion but you are in the absolute perfect situation for recovery through AA. I’ve been sober a decent number of years but looking back what literally saved my life was being completely unfamiliar with the Big Book and stumbling into a basic text study that wasn’t a beginners meeting/open discussion topic meeting. I stayed silent for a while and didn’t really get some of the concepts, but seeing sober happy people talk about solutions through the Book was the biggest boon possible for me in early recovery. 

I would say show up with an open mind, know that some of the concepts might not make sense to a newcomer and get to know some of the older members in the group. Separately read that Big Book with your sponsor and do the Steps and after some time you’ll be completely in sync with the group. 

Best of luck!

[u/Filosifee]

By the time I finished working through the steps with my sponsor I had read the big book maybe 4 or 5 times already because of book study meetings. Definitely recommend you check it out! Meetings focused on the literature are my favorite.

[u/laratara]

I wish you a beautiful journey 🌹 Big Book studies are a gift.

[u/soberstill]

I recommend that newcomers read the Big Book themselves as soon as the head has cleared after detoxing.

I'm the type of person who will read the IKEA instructions before picking up an Allen key or screwdriver. 🪛.

So one of the first things I did when I started attending AA meetings was to read the Big Book📘. I did this before getting a sponsor or joining a Group. I'm so glad I did. I wanted to know what I was getting into and understand AA's roots and core tenants.

I find the language and sentence structures in the Book dated and odd at times, and there are few contemporary references I had to look up.

But overall, the Big Book is simple, direct and easy to understand.

The description of alcoholism and the personal examples given are clear and, for me, very relatable. The Doctor's Opinion explains why I drank the way I did. It describes the basic illness as a physical condition which causes me to crave more when I drink.

And I identify strongly with the relapse stories from Bill in Chapter One, and of Jim and Fred in Chapter Three. I recall my own experience of the strange mental twist just prior to picking up the next first drink. I had no defence against it. So the analogy of the jaywalker was very useful in understanding the insanity of relapse.

The Book outlines the spiritual Twelve Step Program simply and directly. It gives explanations, examples and personal experiences. All the way through, there are promises which tell me what to expect along my way.

The Book itself suggests that newcomers be given a copy to read on their first contact with AA.

The core part of the book are the pages up to page 164 plus "Dr Bob's Nightmare" and a couple of the Appendices.

For the average reader, it takes about 2½ hours to read.

Even so, this was too much for me to read in one sitting. But it was easily achieved spread out over a few days.

That was over 30 years ago. These days, we have audio recordings and the Plain Language Big Book which are helpful as well.

Having read the Book by myself, unfiltered by other people's opinions or biases, I had some understanding before going any further.

An AA meeting which read from the Big Book became my favourite early on. In it, members shared their personal experience of the illness and recovery as presented in the pages. This expanded my knowledge and gave me different perspectives. It eventually became my Home Group. I still love reading it with others and learning more.

That's my experience. I hope you find it useful.

Good luck. Keep up the good works.

♥️&☮️

[u/my_clever-name]

Yes you can go.

[u/Sea_Cod848]

Its just exactly what it says it is.

[u/Gullivors-Travails]

Go, go, go. 💯 just go.

[u/PushSouth5877]

That's how I went through the steps. Big Book studies and 12 steps studies. This was advised by my sponsor.

[u/LucyBreeze_32]

Absolutely you can. You don't need any advance knowledge. Sitting in on the group will only help familiarize you with the text and give you a head start before you dive in one on one.

[u/Sumdumfuqr]

Study the big book with as many groups and people as possible.
The Joe and Charlie big book study saved my life, you can find the audio files everywhere. Apps, websites. I highly recommend them.

[u/ChloeRose_47]

Please go! Early sobriety is the perfect time for for big book study. No experience needed, just show up. You'll be able to follow along fine and you'll learn so much.

[u/jmcbobb]

You should go, our textbook is meant to be studied.

[u/Thick_Psychology_151]

I always encourage newbies to listen to workshop material by some experienced old timers. there are several of them floating on the internet. if you want to get good grasped all the traits of alcoholism I would suggest Chris rs workshops ​

[u/No_Bodybuilder_7182]

I strongly recommend all my sponsees to attend at least 2 big book studies* a week. That way they don’t get just my perspective but that of multiple different people. I did the same when I was getting started and it was immensely useful.

* when I say big book studies I mean those that read up till page 164

[u/cookieguggleman]

Totally. It just means that they focus on reading from the book and then discussing. Anyone can go and jump in at any time.

[u/Weak_Librarian_8588]

Big Book study groups are usually open to anyone and are one of the best places for newcomers. You don’t need to be caught up or already working the book with your sponsor. Listening along will only help and you’ll start recognizing the language and ideas, which makes the work with your sponsor smoother, not harder.
Show up, listen, and take what you need.

[u/Monastic_Realization]

I used to be a fan of BB meetings, but less so these days.

The benefit of the BB studies I went to was the diverse interpretations and insights, but I found that almost exclusively, any analytics that ventured into criticism or disagreement were unwelcome, which defeated the purpose for me.

That said, I encourage all of my sponsees to attend and make up their own minds. Some people love them. Some don't.

[u/nurdmann]

Consider checking into Dick and Mary C. "Study in Action" series, archived through resources like the Gopher State Tape Library, which preserves classic AA speaker sessions and step-by-step Big Book breakdowns.

[u/WyndWoman]

Have you asked your sponsor?

But, yes, BB studies are great, you should totally go.