First Editions presented by Mike F – 2025-03-18

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown Listen to Workshop Recording

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown Mike F speaking on "First Editions" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (March 18, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:03.240 – 00:00:07.200] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:18

[00 00:07.200 – 00:00:10.218] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

0:21

[00 00:10.218 – 00:00:15.019] My name is Tim, and tonight we have a special presentation led by Mike F.

0:28

[00 00:15.019 – 00:00:23.739] And Mike will be presenting on The Birth of Recovery: Exploring the First Edition of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book.

0:36

[00 00:23.739 – 00:00:29.679] We meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:43

[00 00:29.679 – 00:00:37.039] And next week is the last Tuesday of March, so we will have our conversation with a long-timer.

0:51

[00 00:37.039 – 00:00:41.000] So join us again next week for that.

0:55

[00 00:41.000 – 00:00:50.020] This meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation as well as all of our past presentations can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

1:05

[00 00:50.020 – 00:01:00.439] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and other 12-step

1:15

[00 01:00.439 – 00:01:01.100] fellowships.

1:16

[00 01:01.100 – 00:01:11.280] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement available

1:23

[00 01:11.280 – 00:01:13.340] for everyone today and in the future.

1:27

[00 01:13.340 – 00:01:19.959] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:34

[00 01:19.959 – 00:01:28.039] Included in the daily emails are the links to the recordings of this meeting, as well as flyers for upcoming presentations.

1:43

[00 01:28.039 – 00:01:40.040] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I shared in the chat, or you can send me an email at info@recoveryspeakers.com

1:56

[00 01:40.040 – 00:01:42.980] and I will get you added to our email list.

2:00

[00 01:42.980 – 00:01:48.260] Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c][3] public charity.

2:04

[00 01:48.260 – 00:01:58.359] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and I have shared the different ways to make contributions in the chat,

2:16

[00 01:58.359 – 00:02:01.780] or you can use the QR code that is up on the screen now.

2:22

[00 02:01.780 – 00:02:05.359] And, uh, thank you for all of your support.

2:26

[00 02:05.359 – 00:02:08.400] We will have a...

2:28

[00 02:08.400 – 00:02:12.280] Well, we might have time for Q&A at the end of the meeting.

2:34

[00 02:12.280 – 00:02:15.740] Mike might go for four hours tonight, so we'll see how it goes.

2:40

[00 02:15.740 – 00:02:24.439] Um, but if you have any questions, please write them down and feel free to send an email or get ahold of us to ask your questions.

2:51

[00 02:24.439 – 00:02:29.699] And I am going to close the chat right now, and I will open that back up at the end of the meeting.

3:01

[00 02:29.699 – 00:02:33.219] And that is it for me.

3:03

[00 02:33.219 – 00:02:38.280] I am going to go ahead and turn it over to Mike, and, uh, enjoy.

3:10

[00 02:38.280 – 00:02:41.780] Thank you, Tim.

3:12

[00 02:41.780 – 00:02:43.060] Welcome, everyone.

3:13

[00 02:43.060 – 00:02:45.120] So glad you're here this evening.

3:16

[00 02:45.120 – 00:02:54.780] It had been a while since I had presented anything on Recovery Speakers, and a few of my friends have been, uh, asking me if I'm all right.

3:27

[00 02:54.780 – 00:02:58.699] So I wanted to come on and let everybody know that, yes, in fact, I'm all right.

3:35

[00 02:58.699 – 00:03:08.489] And, uh, we really wanted to share a presentation on the first edition Big Books, because there were so many changes, uh, that happened.

3:45

[00 03:08.489 – 00:03:13.080] But they were, they were slight changes, but I find them very interesting.

3:50

[00 03:13.080 – 00:03:14.569] I think you will.

3:52

[00 03:14.569 – 00:03:16.759] Um, Tim created the PowerPoint.

3:55

[00 03:16.759 – 00:03:26.409] We've, we did this, uh, a couple of years ago, so we've, uh, we've expanded it and included some things that we didn't have.

4:05

[00 03:26.409 – 00:03:36.439] And all of the, uh, photographs that you see of the, of the various books and things, uh, uh, in this presentation are, have all

4:16

[00 03:36.439 – 00:03:41.639] been, uh, made available to us through, uh, recoverycollectibles.com.

4:20

[00 03:41.639 – 00:03:44.919] So we're grateful for the relationship with that.

4:24

[00 03:44.919 – 00:03:49.080] And I am going to go ahead and share my screen.

4:28

[00 03:49.080 – 00:03:58.400] And as Tim said, um, I'm gonna try to do this relatively quickly without a whole lot of, uh, narrative on my part.

4:38

[00 03:58.400 – 00:04:02.960] Um, I don't want it to go more than an hour or two.

4:44

[00 04:02.960 – 00:04:07.219] Uh, but, uh, no, it- hopefully we can keep it to around an hour.

4:50

[00 04:07.219 – 00:04:10.240] But, uh, I, and I do hope you enjoy it.

4:54

[00 04:10.240 – 00:04:15.000] And if you don't enjoy it, please, please let Tim know, okay?

5:00

[00 04:15.000 – 00:04:18.639] And if you enjoy it, just let me know, okay?

5:04

[00 04:18.639 – 00:04:23.319] Um, now Tim and I work so good together and I'm so grateful for his help.

5:11

[00 04:23.319 – 00:04:33.899] And believe me, going down the rabbit holes to create this stuff and put the pictures and, and to make sure that he puts enough information that I can read it without getting confused,

5:25

[00 04:33.899 – 00:04:37.139] um, he does a great job.

5:28

[00 04:37.139 – 00:04:44.899] We would not be able to, to have this meeting or a lot of the work that we do if Tim wasn't as active as he is.

5:39

[00 04:44.899 – 00:04:47.660] So I'm gonna share my screen.

5:42

[00 04:47.660 – 00:04:54.680] Just have to get to the right spot.

5:46

[00 04:54.680 – 00:04:57.279] Slideshow.

5:47

[00 04:57.279 – 00:05:04.000] All right.

5:48

[00 05:04.000 – 00:05:06.220] I hope I'm doing this correctly.

5:51

[00 05:06.220 – 00:05:08.019] It has been a while.

5:53

[00 05:08.019 – 00:05:14.839] Um, Tim will have to let me know, 'cause I can't see anybody.

5:59

[00 05:14.839 – 00:05:15.360] All right.

6:00

[00 05:15.360 – 00:05:22.360] Um, Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition Big Books, 1939 to 1954.

6:04

[00 05:22.360 – 00:05:32.600] The first Big Book was printed and delivered on April the 10th of 1939, and the last one was delivered

6:12

[00 05:32.600 – 00:05:37.379] and printed in August of 1954.

6:14

[00 05:37.379 – 00:05:47.939] Now, we all know that there were 16 printings of the first edition.

6:19

[00 05:47.939 – 00:05:48.959] But was there?

6:21

[00 05:48.959 – 00:05:53.660] There was actually 21 printings of the first edition.

6:25

[00 05:53.660 – 00:06:03.720] There were 16 general printings, but several of the printings had additional runs where they

6:31

[00 06:03.720 – 00:06:10.920] used different colored cloth, and we're gonna share some of that with you.

6:36

[00 06:10.920 – 00:06:11.800] Here you go.

6:38

[00 06:11.800 – 00:06:21.800] Uh, 21, and, and if you look, the first one is the big red, and then the next three books are second printings, and that's a, uh, what we're

6:50

[00 06:21.800 – 00:06:25.439] calling a teal blue, a navy blue, and a red.

6:54

[00 06:25.439 – 00:06:32.240] The red is believed to be left-over cloth from the original first printing that they did.

7:01

[00 06:32.240 – 00:06:42.550] The printer was concerned that they were not going to be paid in full for the books, so they stopped the press and did not

7:12

[00 06:42.550 – 00:06:44.379] finish the run of 5,000.

7:14

[00 06:44.379 – 00:06:47.300] They finished somewhere around 4,700.

7:16

[00 06:48.069 – 00:06:56.309] So when they did the second printing in March of 1941, they had some red cloth left.

7:23

[00 06:56.309 – 00:07:00.309] No one knows how many were printed with the red.

7:27

[00 07:00.309 – 00:07:10.529] Um, I've been doing, you know, this type of thing a long time, and I have seen, uh, three of them that were actually legitimate

7:38

[00 07:10.529 – 00:07:12.029] red second printings.

7:39

[00 07:12.029 – 00:07:17.669] And then the third printing was available in blue, green, and navy.

7:45

[00 07:17.669 – 00:07:21.238] And then the fourth in green and navy.

7:48

[00 07:21.238 – 00:07:24.499] And the fifth was just made in a baby blue.

7:53

[00 07:24.499 – 00:07:34.569] Then the, uh, sixth and seventh, and all books printed beyond that were navy blue, with the exception

8:00

[00 07:34.569 – 00:07:44.769] of one mistake that was made in 1977 when they printed a second printing and the printer put black cloth

8:08

[00 07:44.769 – 00:07:49.549] on a few of the books in error, and those, uh, made it out.

8:15

[00 07:49.549 – 00:07:58.409] So I have seen that, but the only books that were really printed in different colors were in that first few, one through five.

8:25

[00 07:58.409 – 00:08:08.209] Here's Bill Wilson telling, uh, you know, kind of how the book idea came about.

8:31

[00 08:08.209 – 00:08:11.929] And this is a, a pretty clean, uh, audio.

8:35

[00 08:11.929 – 00:08:19.709] Some of the audio that we use we're currently trying to get cleaned up, and, uh, we're definitely looking for volunteers.

8:44

[00 08:19.709 – 00:08:26.869] So if anybody has any expertise with audio, uh, please feel free to get ahold of us.

8:51

[00 08:26.869 – 00:08:29.049] And here's Bill.

8:53

[00 08:29.049 – 00:08:39.089] I suppose the book, yeah, really started in the living room of, uh, Doc and Annie Smith.

9:00

[00 08:39.089 – 00:08:44.509] As you know, I landed there in the summer of '35.

9:05

[00 08:44.509 – 00:08:47.129] A little group called Hall.

9:08

[00 08:47.129 – 00:08:53.709] I helped Smithy briefly with it, and he went on to found the first AA group in the world.

9:16

[00 08:53.709 – 00:09:04.609] So on this late fall afternoon in 1937, Smithy and I were talking together in his living room and

9:23

[00 09:04.609 – 00:09:09.879] sitting there by the gas stove, and we began to count noses.

9:29

[00 09:09.879 – 00:09:17.469] How many people had stayed dry in Akron, in New York?

9:34

[00 09:17.469 – 00:09:20.009] Maybe a few in Cleveland.

9:36

[00 09:20.009 – 00:09:24.469] How many had stayed dry, and for how long?

9:40

[00 09:24.469 – 00:09:32.049] And when we added up that score, true, it was a handful.

9:45

[00 09:32.049 – 00:09:36.609] I don't know, 35, 40 maybe.

9:47

[00 09:36.609 – 00:09:47.589] But enough time to had a laugh on enough really fatal cases of alcoholism

9:53

[00 09:47.589 – 00:09:57.608] so that when we grasped the import of our boozy, small, pathetic group, Bob and

10:00

[00 09:57.609 – 00:10:05.789] I saw for the first time that this thing was going to succeed.

10:06

[00 10:05.789 – 00:10:15.809] That God in His providence and mercy had thrown a new light into

10:11

[00 10:15.809 – 00:10:24.869] the dark cave where we and our kind had been and were still by the millions dwelt.

10:18

[00 10:24.869 – 00:10:31.629] Besides, we reflected, uh, we'd have to get some kind of literature.

10:24

[00 10:31.629 – 00:10:40.529] Up to this moment, not a syllable of this program, so far as I know, was in writing.

10:31

[00 10:40.529 – 00:10:44.229] It was a kind of a word of mouth deal.

10:36

[00 10:44.229 – 00:10:51.029] You, with variations according to each man or woman's fancy.

10:40

[00 10:51.029 – 00:10:56.369] Well, in a general way we said, "Well, the booze has got you down, boys.

10:47

[00 10:56.369 – 00:11:00.229] And you got an allergy and an obsession and you're hopeless.

10:52

[00 11:00.229 – 00:11:05.189] If you are, you better get honest with yourself.

10:56

[00 11:05.189 – 00:11:07.849] Take stock.

10:57

[00 11:07.849 – 00:11:14.589] You ought to talk this out with somebody." Kind of a confessional, you know?

11:03

[00 11:14.589 – 00:11:19.149] "And you ought to make restitution for the harms you did.

11:08

[00 11:19.149 – 00:11:23.009] You ought to make amends," and all that kind of business.

11:13

[00 11:23.009 – 00:11:31.088] And, "While you're praying, it's best to cut according to your light to family." So that was the sum of the word of mouth program up to that time.

11:25

[00 11:31.088 – 00:11:36.309] But as I say, variations on that were already appearing.

11:29

[00 11:36.309 – 00:11:39.449] How could we unify this thing?

11:32

[00 11:39.449 – 00:11:49.469] Could we, out of our experience, get certain principles, describe certain methods that had done the

11:39

[00 11:49.469 – 00:11:50.249] trick for us?

11:41

[00 11:50.249 – 00:11:52.669] Yes, obviously.

11:42

[00 11:52.669 – 00:12:02.699] If this movement was to propagate, it had to have a literature so its message could not be garbled either by the drunks or by the general public.

11:54

[00 12:02.699 – 00:12:09.669] That's fantastic, and when you think at the time Bill Wilson and Dr.

11:59

[00 12:09.669 – 00:12:16.149] Bob and those that were gathered in Akron for the counting of the heads, he said there were around 40.

12:07

[00 12:16.149 – 00:12:21.539] Can you think, 40 recovered alcoholics, and they felt like they had a cure- Right ...

12:14

[00 12:21.539 – 00:12:24.979] and needed to have a book so that they could get the information out.

12:20

[00 12:24.979 – 00:12:26.469] It's amazing.

12:21

[00 12:26.469 – 00:12:36.609] Bill went back to New York after the meeting in Akron, and Hank Parkerson, him, both set out to begin

12:29

[00 12:36.609 – 00:12:42.569] doing what was necessary to get the groundwork done and to get the book published.

12:36

[00 12:42.569 – 00:12:45.109] Hank was extremely helpful.

12:38

[00 12:45.109 – 00:12:55.169] You'll, uh, you'll learn that, uh, much about Hank and Hank's, uh, contributions through, uh, the book, The

12:46

[00 12:55.169 – 00:13:01.189] Writing of the Big Book that William Shayberg did, and that's available.

12:51

[00 13:01.189 – 00:13:11.509] Um, Bill me- uh, Bill Wilson mentioned there in his talk, he said there was nothing written about Alcoholics Anonymous, nothing

13:00

[00 13:11.509 – 00:13:12.329] anywhere.

13:01

[00 13:12.329 – 00:13:22.409] And then he went on to recite what he remembered them using in the early days, and that would be complete deflation, belief in

13:11

[00 13:22.409 – 00:13:31.449] some sort of God, uh, writing down your story, sharing that as a confession, restitution for harms done, and working with others.

13:20

[00 13:31.449 – 00:13:35.129] So they had the idea of the program already laid out.

13:25

[00 13:35.129 – 00:13:35.679] It just wasn't-

13:26

[00 13:35.951 – 00:13:37.271] In written form.

13:28

[00 13:37.271 – 00:13:45.791] Hank Parkerson built, had a little company called, uh, Honors Dealers, which was a business in New Jersey.

13:36

[00 13:45.791 – 00:13:51.071] Uh, and the idea was they were gonna sell automotive, uh, products.

13:41

[00 13:51.071 – 00:13:57.181] And, uh, they hired a secretary, uh, Ruth Hock.

13:45

[00 13:57.181 – 00:14:06.691] And Ruth came to work for Honor Dealers, but shortly found herself being fully engaged in what was to become Alcoholics Anonymous.

13:54

[00 14:06.691 – 00:14:11.151] It was still a fellowship without a name.

13:58

[00 14:11.151 – 00:14:18.151] And, uh, well, Ruth talks a little bit about writing the book here, and I thought it would be, uh, important to share this.

14:08

[00 14:18.151 – 00:14:21.611] The reason I began to answer the mail was Bill hated to dictate.

14:14

[00 14:21.611 – 00:14:22.491] He really did.

14:15

[00 14:22.491 – 00:14:27.951] This whole, this whole manuscript was done with Bill standing behind me while I typed.

14:22

[00 14:27.951 – 00:14:35.451] He liked to speak a while and then look it over, and he wanted it right then while his thoughts were working in the, in the same, uh, vein.

14:34

[00 14:35.451 – 00:14:38.211] He, uh, usually came in in the morning with notes.

14:39

[00 14:38.211 – 00:14:48.351] But I want to tell you, we could have done the book much more quickly if we hadn't had such marvelous people coming in at all times, 'cause Bill was ready to drop at any time,

14:54

[00 14:48.351 – 00:14:56.351] and that's why I was the duchess, 'cause I kept reminding him that after all, we had a book to write, you know, and that s- that sort of thing, which, which, uh, he always did.

15:09

[00 14:56.351 – 00:14:59.401] So that when the, when the, when the...

15:12

[00 14:59.401 – 00:15:04.321] finally the, we, it, the book idea was started b- between, uh, Dr.

15:18

[00 15:04.321 – 00:15:14.451] Bob and Akron and Cleveland and ourselves because so many questions were coming in about, well, uh, what, what do you do at a meeting, and how do you start, and all the rest

15:32

[00 15:14.451 – 00:15:14.711] of it.

15:33

[00 15:14.711 – 00:15:23.391] And B- Bill felt at, in the early days that everyone should, ev- every group had the right to formulate its own way of doing this particular thing.

15:45

[00 15:23.391 – 00:15:33.671] Um, until it, it came about that, uh, we had a wandering, loving, lovable Jewish salesman who traveled all through the South, and he

15:55

[00 15:33.671 – 00:15:42.371] came back with stories about how they had one particular group that, well, they served beer during the evening, but nothing but beer, so that everything was perfectly fine.

16:07

[00 15:42.371 – 00:15:49.211] And of course, it w- Bill thought it was hilarious, but nevertheless, he also thought that this kind of thing shouldn't go on.

16:17

[00 15:49.211 – 00:15:55.651] And that's and that's, that's really how, uh, the idea of the book, uh, really started.

16:24

[00 15:55.651 – 00:16:01.811] I'm so glad that we have these recordings and Recovery Speakers to share with you.

16:30

[00 16:01.811 – 00:16:09.791] Uh, the clarity of Ruth talking and, and describing what was going on in the early days of, of AA.

16:39

[00 16:09.791 – 00:16:15.561] I'm just grateful that we're able to do that and, you know, that's the work that Recovery Speakers does.

16:47

[00 16:15.561 – 00:16:22.251] What w- what you're seeing right now is kind of the, the product that can be created from our work.

16:55

[00 16:22.251 – 00:16:29.611] The writing in the Big Book, when Bill began writing the book, we should all remember that he was only three and a half years sober.

17:06

[00 16:29.611 – 00:16:34.831] The first two chapters of the book were writ- were written, There's a Solution and Bill's Story.

17:14

[00 16:34.831 – 00:16:43.191] Bill was only four years sober when he wrote the first full version of the 12 steps in December 1938.

17:21

[00 16:43.191 – 00:16:53.731] There are copies in circulation, a rough draft, There's a Solution, and in that, the, uh, the, the original writing was over 5,000 words,

17:31

[00 16:53.731 – 00:17:00.291] and, uh, the, the finished product that came out in the first printing of the Big Book was 3,600.

17:39

[00 17:00.291 – 00:17:02.831] So, uh, 3,600 words.

17:40

[00 17:02.831 – 00:17:13.271] So, so Bill was forced to condense his writing so that he could be to the point

17:48

[00 17:13.271 – 00:17:22.811] and not, uh, e- embellish too much on different things, and I think he mastered that, uh, certainly in There's a Solution.

17:57

[00 17:22.811 – 00:17:32.871] Now, Ruth talks about the process here of the book, and I, you know, we wanted to include some of this because it's kind

18:07

[00 17:32.871 – 00:17:41.871] of crazy just to say, "Well, here's the Big Book." There's a lot of things that had to happen so that this book could take shape and be published.

18:19

[00 17:41.871 – 00:17:45.091] Well, the book was written and a little more about the first early groups.

18:25

[00 17:45.091 – 00:17:53.371] Um, as I said, Bill did not like to dictate, uh, any- at any length of time and then have me type it and read it, and he was very...

18:38

[00 17:53.371 – 00:18:03.631] His, his mind and the whole, his whole thought process was just over and ab- above and beyond all that, so that he did come in almost every morning with

18:50

[00 18:03.631 – 00:18:07.071] a yellow legal pad on which he had made notes.

18:55

[00 18:07.071 – 00:18:17.371] And, uh, if he was in the mood, he would, uh, stand behind me and simply begin to talk, and I developed quite a speed to be able to keep up with this kind of dictation,

19:10

[00 18:17.371 – 00:18:21.651] which I had never tried before, but he liked to see it appear ahead of him.

19:17

[00 18:21.651 – 00:18:31.651] Now, we had, um, already contacted every group there was or any individual there might be with whom we had any kind of correspondence, uh,

19:27

[00 18:31.651 – 00:18:38.051] for ideas and for, um, stories, personal stories, that if they cared to write their own stories.

19:35

[00 18:38.051 – 00:18:41.711] Uh, and, um, this was, um...

19:37

[00 18:41.711 – 00:18:51.851] At this, at the time we were working on the original, the first few chapters and, um, the steps, the stories were in the process of coming in and, and we didn't

19:51

[00 18:51.851 – 00:18:53.971] have much about, uh, in that way at that time.

19:55

[00 18:53.971 – 00:18:56.211] But every, uh...

19:57

[00 18:56.211 – 00:18:57.531] I, I really don't know.

19:59

[00 18:57.531 – 00:19:02.891] As I said, I don't have total recall, and I had no idea that history was going to ask details.

20:08

[00 19:02.891 – 00:19:13.071] I, so I don't know how many of these we did, but we did, I would guess, 40 or 50 different times, because every time we wrote to, uh,

20:19

[00 19:13.071 – 00:19:17.911] even if we didn't write, we had criticism from Akron and Cleveland and wherever it was.

20:26

[00 19:17.911 – 00:19:27.911] "We heard that this is what you're going to say in the book, Bill, and you can't do that." And then we might do a couple of pages and, and this sort of thing, so it was a long, drawn-out, uh,

20:43

[00 19:27.911 – 00:19:28.251] thing.

20:44

[00 19:28.251 – 00:19:38.351] I love, uh, Ruth's, uh, interpretation of what was going on at the time, and certainly there are other accounts of, uh,

20:53

[00 19:38.351 – 00:19:39.711] of what was happening.

20:55

[00 19:39.711 – 00:19:43.231] But, but if you look at it, there was a small group of people.

21:01

[00 19:43.231 – 00:19:53.331] There was a small group of very enthusiastic alcoholics who were staying sober by helping each other, and they wanted to get the word out, but they wanted to get it right.

21:15

[00 19:53.331 – 00:19:56.401] And I'm so grateful that they took the time- At the book- ...

21:20

[00 19:56.401 – 00:19:58.771] to discuss these things and make it right.

21:24

[00 19:58.771 – 00:20:04.041] Here i- uh, in one of the efforts, a Works, uh, Publishing stock certificate.

21:30

[00 20:04.041 – 00:20:08.731] In 1938, Bill Wilson and Hank Parkers were focused on writing the book.

21:35

[00 20:08.731 – 00:20:10.351] Money was running out.

21:37

[00 20:10.351 – 00:20:16.751] Bill and Hank needed to find a way to raise money so that they could live and they could get the bu- book published.

21:47

[00 20:16.751 – 00:20:23.011] Hank developed the idea of selling stock in the publishing company that didn't exist.

21:53

[00 20:23.011 – 00:20:23.681] It's just-

21:54

[00 20:23.953 – 00:20:26.053] An amazing story.

21:56

[00 20:26.053 – 00:20:28.293] I don't have the numbers in front of me.

22:00

[00 20:28.293 – 00:20:38.333] We do in our, in our archive, but this particular, uh, uh, stock certificate we have is number 37, and

22:08

[00 20:38.333 – 00:20:46.293] this stock certificate was made out to the Alcoholic Foundation, and they had purchased five shares of stock here.

22:16

[00 20:46.293 – 00:20:56.733] So, uh, this is really kind of a, a unique, uh, stock certificate being that it is, uh, uh, made out to the Alcoholic Foundation.

22:27

[00 20:56.733 – 00:21:02.793] Works Publishing stock report June 1940.

22:29

[00 21:02.793 – 00:21:07.533] This particular report, uh, was inscribed by Bill Wilson to Mr.

22:34

[00 21:07.533 – 00:21:13.473] Richardson, and this report was made at the time that Works Publishing was incorporated.

22:40

[00 21:13.473 – 00:21:15.773] It will give you the complete background.

22:43

[00 21:15.773 – 00:21:18.273] That was Bill's inscription to Mr.

22:46

[00 21:18.273 – 00:21:19.353] Richardson.

22:47

[00 21:19.353 – 00:21:22.113] And, uh, here we go.

22:49

[00 21:22.113 – 00:21:29.153] "We wish to thank those who have contributed stories, funds, or services to the preparation of the book Alcoholics Anonymous.

22:58

[00 21:29.153 – 00:21:37.113] Especially appreciated is the patience with which subscribers have awaited this, our first report.

23:04

[00 21:37.113 – 00:21:43.103] The following pages set forth something more than conventional statement to stockholders.

23:09

[00 21:43.103 – 00:21:52.953] We propose to review the entire book project from its inception, describing in detail several stages of its development.

23:17

[00 21:52.953 – 00:22:00.333] In addition, a full accounting of all monies received and paid in connection with this book will be made.

23:26

[00 22:00.333 – 00:22:10.433] Demand for the book, particularly since January 1 of this year, suggests that Works Publishing will, within a reasonable time, settle its

23:34

[00 22:10.433 – 00:22:20.873] obligations, return subscribers their investments, and later pay the dividend to them through the Alcoholic Foundation,

23:41

[00 22:20.873 – 00:22:27.593] headquarters of Alcoholics Anonymous." Now, what's really cool about this was this was Mr.

23:47

[00 22:27.593 – 00:22:37.673] Richardson, who was one of the Rockefeller guys who ended up on the board of, as a trustee of Alcoholics Anonymous, and Bill was,

23:58

[00 22:37.673 – 00:22:41.533] uh, had taken the time to give this report to sell Mr.

24:03

[00 22:41.533 – 00:22:45.493] Richardson on what AA was accomplishing at that time.

24:07

[00 22:45.493 – 00:22:55.513] The original manuscript according to, uh, Bill, 400 copies of the multi-lith were printed and started

24:13

[00 22:55.513 – 00:23:01.493] being distributed in February of '39 to everybody that they thought might be concerned with an alcohol problem.

24:21

[00 23:01.493 – 00:23:12.773] The printing, uh, uh, the printers, the printings were sent out to AA members and people in the community and doctors such asking their opinion

24:32

[00 23:12.773 – 00:23:20.693] before the pr- first printing went to, uh, went to Cornwell Press, Cornwall Press.

24:38

[00 23:20.693 – 00:23:21.913] And here's a copy.

24:40

[00 23:21.913 – 00:23:25.933] This is the original manuscript that we have, um, here.

24:44

[00 23:25.933 – 00:23:28.153] But this is basically what it looked like.

24:48

[00 23:28.153 – 00:23:38.353] It was just, uh, uh, uh, there was a red comb on it and, uh, it had the, uh, the manuscript with the personal

24:58

[00 23:38.353 – 00:23:39.193] stories.

24:59

[00 23:39.193 – 00:23:49.493] Now, the original working manuscript, we, uh, that became the book that started it all is also a very interesting

25:07

[00 23:49.493 – 00:23:51.733] story, and Ken R.

25:09

[00 23:51.733 – 00:24:01.993] and myself are going to be doing that later this month for another group, and we're going to, uh, make that presentation in May or June for recovery speakers.

25:21

[00 24:01.993 – 00:24:05.713] Publishing the book.

25:23

[00 24:05.713 – 00:24:07.633] Mr.

25:24

[00 24:07.633 – 00:24:12.233] Blackwell had highly, was highly recommended to Bill.

25:27

[00 24:12.233 – 00:24:18.793] Blackwell was the president of Cornwall Press, so Bill and Hank went down there to meet with him.

25:35

[00 24:18.793 – 00:24:26.853] They were told that the book would probably be only about 400 pages when printed.

25:41

[00 24:26.853 – 00:24:28.533] That seemed pretty skimpy.

25:43

[00 24:28.533 – 00:24:38.573] Blackwell agreed to print 5,000 copies of the first printing for a down payment of $500 in good faith, and trusted Bill

25:52

[00 24:38.573 – 00:24:43.493] and Hank would pay the remain- remainder of the cost as book sales came in.

25:58

[00 24:43.493 – 00:24:54.693] For the first printing of the Big Book, April 10th, 1939,

26:03

[00 24:54.693 – 00:24:58.933] approximately 4,700 Big Books were printed in red cloth.

26:06

[00 24:58.933 – 00:25:07.293] The red cloth was used as a result of the printer having excess material that AA could use at a cheaper cost.

26:16

[00 25:07.293 – 00:25:16.393] Everything that had anything to do with these books in the beginning was about economizing and saving money.

26:23

[00 25:16.393 – 00:25:20.233] They wanted it to be a big book.

26:27

[00 25:20.233 – 00:25:28.113] They wanted to charge a lot more money for this book than other books at the time were selling for.

26:36

[00 25:28.113 – 00:25:32.613] This book was to be sold for $3.50.

26:39

[00 25:32.613 – 00:25:40.873] A New York member named Ray Campbell, who was an artist, was the one who created the dust jacket.

26:47

[00 25:40.873 – 00:25:44.853] His story appears in the first edition, The Artist's Concept.

26:51

[00 25:44.853 – 00:25:55.073] And next to it is the Pathway to the Cure, which was a proposed dust jacket which AA did not end up using.

27:01

[00 25:55.073 – 00:25:58.753] The Doctor's Opinion.

27:03

[00 25:58.753 – 00:26:05.533] Notice the large margins around the text of the page, first page of the Doctor's Opinion.

27:10

[00 26:05.533 – 00:26:15.513] The Doctor's Opinion is now in Roman numeral section at the front of the Big Book, and page one is now the beginning of Bill's story.

27:20

[00 26:15.513 – 00:26:17.293] So they changed that a little bit.

27:24

[00 26:17.293 – 00:26:27.383] This change happened with the first printing of the second edition, and that's when it just seemed, uh, uh, when they printed the second printing of the first edition, they made some changes,

27:38

[00 26:27.383 – 00:26:37.593] but later when they came out with a second edition, they did, uh, make the Roman numerals appear instead

27:46

[00 26:37.593 – 00:26:39.893] of the Doctor's Opinion on page one.

27:49

[00 26:39.893 – 00:26:41.653] Bill's story started there.

27:51

[00 26:41.653 – 00:26:43.673] The first printing.

27:52

[00 26:43.673 – 00:26:47.733] Bill and Hank wanted to sell the book for $3.50.

27:57

[00 26:47.733 – 00:26:57.873] That was a large sum of money, somewhere around 50 bucks today, and they wanted the thickest, cheapest paper they could get, and they wanted the big

28:07

[00 26:57.873 – 00:26:58.553] margins.

28:08

[00 26:58.553 – 00:27:00.953] They wanted the thick boards.

28:11

[00 27:00.953 – 00:27:03.833] Um, so everything that they wanted, they got.

28:14

[00 27:03.833 – 00:27:11.673] And, and, you know, here in the picture we're showing a, a fourth, a first printing of a fourth edition and a first printing of their first-

28:26

[00 27:11.836 – 00:27:17.176] Edition, and you can see why it was nicknamed the Big Book.

28:31

[00 27:17.176 – 00:27:26.456] On page 234, despite all their efforts of proofreading, there were still typographical problems.

28:37

[00 27:26.456 – 00:27:31.456] On page two thir- 234, the second and third line from the bottom was printed twice.

28:43

[00 27:31.456 – 00:27:36.096] This, this was corrected in, in, uh, later printings.

28:47

[00 27:36.096 – 00:27:46.176] The Herbert Spencer quote is now part of Appendix Two, was first included at the beginning of this

28:55

[00 27:46.176 – 00:27:47.856] story of the artist concept.

28:57

[00 27:47.856 – 00:27:53.256] The Lone Endeavor.

28:59

[00 27:53.256 – 00:27:58.996] The Lone Endeavor was the very last story placed in the 1939 first printing Big Book.

29:05

[00 27:58.996 – 00:28:05.196] It was removed, and not in any other printings after the first.

29:11

[00 28:05.196 – 00:28:08.176] And here's Ruth talking about that story.

29:14

[00 28:08.176 – 00:28:12.256] Uh, the last story in it is called The Lone Endeavor, which I wrote.

29:20

[00 28:12.256 – 00:28:17.936] But it isn't much of a story, and it was based on the fact that, uh, Bill thought it might be interesting...

29:29

[00 28:17.936 – 00:28:26.356] This was on the basis of correspondence only, and what this, uh, ma- His mother had contacted me, and I had written, and then we had gotten in touch a little bit.

29:43

[00 28:26.356 – 00:28:31.616] And at that, and I never did know what happened to them, to him, and nobody in New York, in New York does either.

29:53

[00 28:31.616 – 00:28:37.136] But after that first, uh, the next time the books were rewritten, that was left out.

30:00

[00 28:37.136 – 00:28:38.856] It was very well left out.

30:03

[00 28:38.856 – 00:28:44.306] That was kinda, uh, when I first heard, uh, Ruth share that story- I don't know why ...

30:10

[00 28:44.306 – 00:28:47.596] I was actually surprised that she took credit for writing that.

30:15

[00 28:47.596 – 00:28:50.756] Um, the appendix was added.

30:17

[00 28:50.756 – 00:29:01.596] Well, the appendix gives information about the structure of the foundation trustees and how to contact AA, and this was found in the, uh, back

30:28

[00 29:01.596 – 00:29:03.896] of the first printing.

30:30

[00 29:03.896 – 00:29:07.386] The personal stories, Dr.

30:32

[00 29:07.386 – 00:29:17.696] Bob's Nightmare, The Unbeliever, European Drinker, Feminine History, Our Southern Friend, A Businessman's Recovery, A Different

30:39

[00 29:17.696 – 00:29:18.036] Slant.

30:39

[00 29:18.036 – 00:29:19.356] I love the names.

30:41

[00 29:19.356 – 00:29:29.616] Traveler, Editor, Scholar, The Backslider, Home Brewmeister, Seven Month Slip, My Wife and I, A Ward of the Probate

30:50

[00 29:29.616 – 00:29:39.796] Court, Riding the Rods, The Salesman, Fired Again, The Fearful One, Truth Freed Me, Smile

30:56

[00 29:39.796 – 00:29:50.136] With Me, At Me, A Close Shave, Educated Agnostic, Another Prodigal Story, The Car Smasher,

31:02

[00 29:50.136 – 00:30:00.376] Hind Sleigh, On His Way, An Alcoholic Wife, The Artist Concept, Rolling Stone, Lone Endeavor,

31:09

[00 30:00.376 – 00:30:03.036] Now We Are Thousands.

31:11

[00 30:03.036 – 00:30:05.256] I just...

31:12

[00 30:05.256 – 00:30:15.536] Looking at the names in the first printing, and the names of the stories, the titles, just, you know, really resonates so much of what the time

31:24

[00 30:15.536 – 00:30:15.776] was.

31:24

[00 30:15.776 – 00:30:19.236] But also, you know, Doctor's Nightmare.

31:27

[00 30:19.236 – 00:30:23.516] Yeah, it, they really made y- you wanna read this stuff.

31:32

[00 30:23.516 – 00:30:25.476] They made it so you wanted to know more.

31:36

[00 30:25.476 – 00:30:35.555] One of the things that they did was to try to promote the sale of the book, was one of the guys had a connection with, uh, Gabriel Heatter in the, on the,

31:50

[00 30:35.555 – 00:30:42.256] uh, radio program, We the People, which was a New York radio program, but it was a national syndicate.

31:58

[00 30:42.256 – 00:30:47.356] And they felt that they were going to get tremendous response from this.

32:04

[00 30:47.356 – 00:30:52.216] So Blackford started printing the 5,000 books.

32:06

[00 30:52.216 – 00:30:55.036] Plates were made and the galleys were read.

32:10

[00 30:55.036 – 00:30:59.216] Gee, all of a sudden we thought of the Reader's Digest.

32:15

[00 30:59.216 – 00:31:04.416] So we go up to the Reader's Digest.

32:19

[00 31:04.416 – 00:31:06.116] We walk in on Mr.

32:21

[00 31:06.116 – 00:31:08.796] Kenneth Payne, and we said, "Mr.

32:24

[00 31:08.796 – 00:31:12.856] Payne, we're all ready to shoot." And Mr.

32:28

[00 31:12.856 – 00:31:21.836] Payne said, "Shoot what?" Blackford started printing the 5,000 books.

32:32

[00 31:21.836 – 00:31:24.936] Plates were made and the galleys were read.

32:35

[00 31:24.936 – 00:31:29.095] Gee, all of a sudden we thought of the Reader's Digest.

32:40

[00 31:29.095 – 00:31:34.316] So we go up to the Reader's Digest.

32:44

[00 31:34.316 – 00:31:35.826] We walk in on Mr.

32:46

[00 31:35.826 – 00:31:38.836] Kenneth Payne, and we said, "Mr.

32:49

[00 31:38.836 – 00:31:42.386] Payne, we're all ready to shoot." And Mr.

32:53

[00 31:42.386 – 00:31:50.736] Payne said, "Shoot what?" "Yes," he said, "I remember you, Mr.

32:58

[00 31:50.736 – 00:31:51.836] Parkers and Mr.

32:59

[00 31:51.836 – 00:31:52.536] Wilson.

33:00

[00 31:52.536 – 00:32:02.856] You were the gentlemen up here last fall." He said, "I told you that I thought the Reader's Digest would be interested in this new work and in this book."

33:13

[00 32:02.856 – 00:32:12.936] But he said, "Right after you were here, I consulted our editorial board, and to my great surprise, they didn't like the idea at all, and I forgot to

33:25

[00 32:12.936 – 00:32:21.876] tell you." Boy, we had the drunk with 4,500 bucks in it.

33:30

[00 32:21.876 – 00:32:25.776] Charlie Town hooked for 2,500 bucks.

33:32

[00 32:25.776 – 00:32:29.176] On the cuff with the printer.

33:35

[00 32:29.176 – 00:32:33.736] Maybe $500 left in the bank.

33:37

[00 32:33.736 – 00:32:36.556] What in the deuce would we do?

33:40

[00 32:36.556 – 00:32:47.116] Well, this fella, Morgan Ryan, the good-looking Irishman that had taken the book, uh, or Catholic Committee on Publications,

33:49

[00 32:47.176 – 00:32:51.416] had been an earlier time a good ad man.

33:53

[00 32:51.416 – 00:33:00.516] And he said, "I know Gabriel Heatter." And Gabriel Heatter is putting on these three-minute, uh, art plug, uh, programs on the radio.

34:02

[00 33:00.516 – 00:33:05.296] He says, "I'll get an interview with Gabriel Heatter.

34:06

[00 33:05.296 – 00:33:13.296] Maybe he'll interview me on the radio about all this." So our spirits rose once again.

34:13

[00 33:13.296 – 00:33:19.716] And then all of a sudden, we had a big chill.

34:18

[00 33:19.716 – 00:33:32.116] We thought, "Well, supposing this Irishman got, got drunk before Heatter interviewed him." So

34:24

[00 33:32.116 – 00:33:35.556] he went over to see Heatter, and lo and behold, Heatter would interview him.

34:30

[00 33:35.556 – 00:33:37.496] And then we got still more scared.

34:34

[00 33:37.496 – 00:33:47.496] So we rented a room in the Downtown Athletic Club, and we put Ryan in there with a day and night guard for 10

34:43

[00 33:47.496 – 00:33:47.916] days

34:44

[00 34:05.332 – 00:34:08.872] again, we could see those books just going out in carloads.

34:49

[00 34:08.872 – 00:34:19.172] Then my promoter friend said, "Well, look, there should be a, you know, a follow-up on a big thing like this, Heater interview." He said,

34:59

[00 34:19.172 – 00:34:29.332] "It'll be heard all over the country, national network." Now he said, "I think, folks, that the big market for this book

35:09

[00 34:29.332 – 00:34:39.672] are the doctors, the physicians." And he said, "I suggest that we pitch the last $500 we got in the treasury on a postal

35:18

[00 34:39.672 – 00:34:45.012] card shower, going to every physician east of the Rocky Mountains.

35:23

[00 34:45.012 – 00:34:55.772] And on the postal card we will say, 'Hear all about Alcoholics Anonymous on Gabriel Heater's

35:30

[00 34:55.772 – 00:34:56.292] program.

35:31

[00 34:56.292 – 00:35:06.812] Send 3.50 for the book Alcoholics Anonymous, sure cure for alcoholism.'" So we spent the last $500.

35:38

[00 35:06.812 – 00:35:09.612] The postal card shower went out.

35:41

[00 35:09.612 – 00:35:15.172] They managed to keep Ryan sober, although he since hasn't made it.

35:46

[00 35:15.172 – 00:35:20.112] All the drunks had their ears glued to the radio.

35:50

[00 35:20.112 – 00:35:30.152] The group market and Alcoholics Anonymous was already saturated, because you see, we had 49 stockholders and they had

35:58

[00 35:30.152 – 00:35:31.472] all got a book free.

36:01

[00 35:31.472 – 00:35:36.272] And then we had 28 guys with stories, and they all got a free book.

36:07

[00 35:36.272 – 00:35:38.431] So we'd run out the AA market.

36:10

[00 35:38.431 – 00:35:43.612] But we could see it moving out in carloads to these doctors and their patients.

36:16

[00 35:43.612 – 00:35:48.612] Sure enough, Ryan is interviewed.

36:19

[00 35:48.612 – 00:35:56.252] Heater pulls out the old tremolo stop, and we could see them book orders coming back in carloads.

36:27

[00 35:56.252 – 00:36:05.892] Well, we just couldn't wait to go down to old post office box 658, Church Street address.

36:33

[00 36:05.892 – 00:36:09.792] The address printed in the back of the old book.

36:38

[00 36:09.792 – 00:36:21.132] We hung to it for about three days, and then my friend Hank and little Ruthie Hoff, that some of you remember, and I went over

36:49

[00 36:21.132 – 00:36:24.692] and we looked in box 658.

36:51

[00 36:24.692 – 00:36:28.492] It wasn't a lock box.

36:54

[00 36:28.492 – 00:36:30.432] You just looked through the glass.

36:57

[00 36:30.432 – 00:36:35.512] And we could see in there a few of these postal cards.

37:02

[00 36:35.512 – 00:36:38.932] I had a terrible sinking sensation.

37:05

[00 36:38.932 – 00:36:55.912] But my friend, the promoter, he said, "What the hell?" He said, "They can't put all that stuff in the box." He said, "They got mailbags full of it out there." So

37:18

[00 36:55.912 – 00:37:05.952] we go to the clerk, and he brings us out 12 lousy postal cards, 10 of them completely illegible, written

37:26

[00 37:05.952 – 00:37:07.752] by a doctor's drunkest monkey.

37:28

[00 37:07.752 – 00:37:17.762] And we had exactly two orders for the book Alcoholics Anon- Anonymous, and we were absolutely and

37:35

[00 37:17.762 – 00:37:19.612] utterly stony broke.

37:37

[00 37:19.612 – 00:37:23.272] The sheriff then moved in on the office.

37:41

[00 37:23.272 – 00:37:25.632] Poor old Mr.

37:42

[00 37:25.632 – 00:37:30.252] Blackwell wondered what to do for money and felt like taking the book over.

37:48

[00 37:30.252 – 00:37:40.412] And at that very opportune moment, the house in which Lois and I lived were, was foreclosed, and we

37:56

[00 37:40.412 – 00:37:42.952] and our furniture were set out in the street.

38:01

[00 37:42.952 – 00:37:52.952] And that was the state of the book Alcoholics Anonymous in the summer of 1939, and the state of Grace

38:09

[00 37:52.952 – 00:37:54.132] at the Wilson home.

38:11

[00 37:54.132 – 00:37:56.212] Wow.

38:11

[00 37:56.212 – 00:38:06.452] That, uh, that little story, I'm so glad that we have Bill on so many different recordings telling different stories, and the quality that,

38:22

[00 38:06.452 – 00:38:09.772] that we're able to share is remarkable.

38:25

[00 38:09.772 – 00:38:19.932] And for him to talk about the book coming out and how broke they were and how they couldn't pay for the book, and then they get evicted from their house, and they spend two

38:39

[00 38:19.932 – 00:38:20.872] years homeless.

38:41

[00 38:20.872 – 00:38:29.262] And Lois and Bill endured an awful lot so that the book Alcoholics Anonymous could be made available to people.

38:49

[00 38:29.262 – 00:38:31.752] This was a transcription.

38:51

[00 38:31.752 – 00:38:36.752] Because of time, I'm, I'm not gonna, I'm just gonna read a couple sentences here.

38:58

[00 38:36.752 – 00:38:39.892] "Recently, we wrote a book called Alcoholics Anonymous.

39:01

[00 38:39.892 – 00:38:43.652] It tells precisely how we all came back from a living death.

39:07

[00 38:43.652 – 00:38:52.172] Working on a book made me realize how much other people had suffered, how they'd gone through the same thing I did.

39:16

[00 38:52.172 – 00:38:54.812] That's why I wanted to come on this program.

39:20

[00 38:54.812 – 00:39:02.352] I wanted to tell people who are going through that tor- torment, if they sincerely want to, they can come back.

39:29

[00 39:02.352 – 00:39:09.752] That there is a place in society once again." This was Morgan Ryan.

39:35

[00 39:09.752 – 00:39:19.752] I mean, can you imagine this guy volunteering to go on a, a national radio program to share and the, and

39:43

[00 39:19.752 – 00:39:30.092] the people that he's volunteering to do this for don't trust that he's gonna say sober and put him in the athletic club

39:53

[00 39:30.092 – 00:39:38.192] in a room there, and then had AA members guard it until the time that he was going to give his talk?

40:02

[00 39:38.192 – 00:39:40.072] Amazing what was happening.

40:04

[00 39:40.072 – 00:39:48.192] They were so concerned about, about being able to pull this off that those were the drastic measures that they had to take.

40:14

[00 39:48.192 – 00:39:56.312] Here's a book review in the New York Times from July 25th, 1939 by Percy Hutchinson.

40:21

[00 39:56.312 – 00:40:03.452] In September 1939, Liberty Magazine did a piece, Alcoholics and God.

40:25

[00 40:03.452 – 00:40:13.532] Around the same time, a little bit later, but in October of '39, the Cleveland Plain Dealer did a series of

40:34

[00 40:13.532 – 00:40:19.992] articles and, uh, Alcoholics Anonymous Makes its Stand Here by Elric Davis.

40:39

[00 40:19.992 – 00:40:30.072] It was these articles, this, the Liberty Magazine and the Cleveland Plain Dealer that really started getting

40:47

[00 40:30.072 – 00:40:31.592] AA some membership.

40:48

[00 40:31.592 – 00:40:37.412] Clarence Snyder in Cleveland started mass-producing sponsorship.

40:51

[00 40:37.412 – 00:40:46.852] He was teaching people how to go into the hospitals and sponsor guys and bring them out and bring them to the meetings and, and get them sober and be responsible for them.

41:05

[00 40:46.852 – 00:40:47.582] What had happened-

41:07

[00 40:47.694 – 00:40:57.874] As a result of the articles for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Liberty Magazine was there were enough AA members that were beginning

41:17

[00 40:57.874 – 00:41:08.164] to start groups in other parts of the country throughout the Midwest and the West, headed west, that when the Jack Alexander article came out in '41,

41:28

[00 41:08.164 – 00:41:15.074] there was actually enough people out there to handle the inquiries that were coming in.

41:35

[00 41:15.074 – 00:41:19.154] AA was doing everything they could to promote the book.

41:39

[00 41:19.154 – 00:41:29.554] If your group had 25 members, and that was a registered Alcoholics Anonymous, you would receive, uh, promotional pamphlets, like these two shown here, so that you could distribute

41:51

[00 41:29.554 – 00:41:34.154] them and help book sales and people could learn about what's in the Big Book.

41:57

[00 41:34.154 – 00:41:39.014] These pieces were all set up to help promote sales for the book.

42:03

[00 41:39.014 – 00:41:49.974] Uh, this is a list that was released by AA and may not be accurate, and these are the printings of the first edition.

42:13

[00 41:49.974 – 00:41:57.454] Um, I can tell you that, uh, y- uh, uh, these printings, seventh, uh, uh, printing is very questionable.

42:21

[00 41:57.454 – 00:42:02.294] I think that number should be 500 or less based on how many have appeared.

42:27

[00 42:02.294 – 00:42:05.894] And, uh, but these are what AA had put out.

42:32

[00 42:05.894 – 00:42:10.054] The Saturday Evening Post came out on March 1st, 1941.

42:36

[00 42:10.054 – 00:42:16.714] "Alcoholics Anonymous freed slaves of drink; now they free themselves," by Jack Alexander.

42:42

[00 42:16.714 – 00:42:26.714] This article literally brought AA on the map, and they went from around 2,000 members to over

42:49

[00 42:26.714 – 00:42:29.214] 8,000 in 1941.

42:49

[00 42:29.214 – 00:42:38.754] This magazine article also came out simultaneously with the second printing of the first edition.

42:56

[00 42:38.754 – 00:42:43.454] They were both released the same month, March of 1941.

43:00

[00 42:43.454 – 00:42:48.434] And the second aprint- uh, the second printing was done in three variations.

43:06

[00 42:48.434 – 00:42:55.894] We've got a light blue, a red, and a navy second printing, and I told a little bit about that before.

43:14

[00 42:55.894 – 00:42:58.394] Changes to the second printing.

43:17

[00 42:58.394 – 00:43:08.714] In the very first sentence of the forward, there was a change that said, "More than 2,000 men and women," rather than, "More than 100 men

43:27

[00 43:08.714 – 00:43:14.374] and women." Changes in the wording of the 12th step.

43:31

[00 43:14.374 – 00:43:24.594] First printing, "Having had a spiritual experience as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and practice these principles

43:42

[00 43:24.594 – 00:43:34.974] in all of our affairs." And in the second printing, it reads, "Having had a spiritual awakening as

43:50

[00 43:34.974 – 00:43:46.934] a result of those steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all of our affairs." Second

43:59

[00 43:46.934 – 00:43:54.834] printing, Appendix 2, that's where the spiritual experience was added on page 399.

44:04

[00 43:54.834 – 00:43:58.834] The second printing, page 391.

44:06

[00 43:58.834 – 00:44:10.044] On page 391, "a lone endeavor" was removed after the first printing, and new content was added, which was titled, "Now We Are 2,000." This

44:16

[00 44:10.044 – 00:44:19.854] title was updated with new membership numbers with each sub- subsequent printing of the first edition up until the 10th.

44:25

[00 44:19.854 – 00:44:31.434] In the 10th printing, and then beyond that, they discontinued that and simply put, "We are now thousands." Here

44:33

[00 44:31.434 – 00:44:41.494] are several versions of what it actually looks like in the different books, and you can see, you know, "Now we are 6,000," "Now we are 8,000," "Now we are 10,000,"

44:44

[00 44:41.494 – 00:44:52.304] "We are 23,000," "We are now thousands." The third printing of the Big Book, 1942,

44:50

[00 44:52.304 – 00:44:57.654] was also done in three colors, the navy blue, the light blue, and the green.

44:57

[00 44:57.654 – 00:45:01.394] Changes to the third printing.

44:59

[00 45:01.394 – 00:45:04.594] The third printing was published in June of '42.

45:03

[00 45:04.594 – 00:45:14.754] On page 27, the first page of "There's a Solution," there was a change to the second line of text that previously read, "100 men who were

45:14

[00 45:14.754 – 00:45:24.754] once," to, "Hundreds of men who were once." Little changes here and there on a book that some

45:21

[00 45:24.754 – 00:45:27.034] people say has never changed.

45:24

[00 45:27.034 – 00:45:28.514] Here we go.

45:25

[00 45:28.514 – 00:45:32.054] A green fourth printing and a navy blue fourth printing.

45:30

[00 45:32.054 – 00:45:38.974] The fourth printing was published in March of '43, 5,000 copies.

45:34

[00 45:38.974 – 00:45:48.974] On page 27, the first line, "There's a Solution," there was a change to the second line of text that previously read, "Hundreds of men

45:44

[00 45:48.974 – 00:45:58.114] were once," to, "Thousands of men and women were once." A lot of the changes were simple updates to keep things current.

45:54

[00 45:58.114 – 00:46:01.334] The AA pamphlet came out in 1943.

45:56

[00 46:01.334 – 00:46:03.614] Again, another promotional piece.

45:59

[00 46:03.614 – 00:46:06.354] This pamphlet was published by the foundation.

46:02

[00 46:06.354 – 00:46:11.254] It included several Big Book stories, The Doctor's Nightmare and Bill's Story.

46:07

[00 46:11.254 – 00:46:21.394] The story Women Suffer Too by Marty Mann was included in this pamphlet, but not added to the Big Book until the second

46:17

[00 46:21.394 – 00:46:24.134] edition in 1955.

46:18

[00 46:24.134 – 00:46:28.414] So Marty's story actually came out in 1943.

46:21

[00 46:28.414 – 00:46:35.874] Also included in the article is Medicine, Religion, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the book review by Dr.

46:28

[00 46:35.874 – 00:46:37.654] Harry Emerson Fosdick.

46:30

[00 46:37.654 – 00:46:46.294] The fifth printing was done in January 1944, and it was only done in light blue.

46:36

[00 46:46.294 – 00:46:49.174] The book was printed only in one color.

46:40

[00 46:49.174 – 00:46:59.234] Pr- page 391 in this book is titled, "Now We Are 10,000." Change in size from the fifth to the

46:48

[00 46:59.234 – 00:47:00.054] sixth printings.

46:49

[00 47:00.054 – 00:47:08.294] Here you can see the fifth printing on the left, uh, is slightly thicker than the sixth.

46:56

[00 47:08.294 – 00:47:12.844] The size change occurred due to the thickness of paper used inside the book.

47:02

[00 47:12.844 – 00:47:19.534] There were no changes in the book, um, as far as, uh, amount of pages or reduction of pages.

47:10

[00 47:19.534 – 00:47:22.654] The fifth printing is the last of the true Big Books.

47:15

[00 47:22.654 – 00:47:30.194] The sixth and seventh printing were the same size before significantly reduction in size for the eighth printing.

47:23

[00 47:30.194 – 00:47:35.524] And here's the sixth printing, which was published-

47:26

[00 47:35.656 – 00:47:45.796] In June of '44, there were 5,000 copies made, and the printing was exclusively printed in one color, being navy blue, and all the remaining

47:37

[00 47:45.796 – 00:47:50.616] printings were also cover, uh, printed with a navy blue cover.

47:41

[00 47:50.616 – 00:47:57.296] The wartime seventh and eighth printing you can see on the right-hand side of your screen.

47:48

[00 47:57.296 – 00:48:01.246] This is, "The wartime printing is complete and unabridged in its contents.

47:54

[00 48:01.246 – 00:48:11.516] While the typeface remains unchanged, the book has been drastically reduced in size and weight in order to conform to the government regulations

48:03

[00 48:11.516 – 00:48:21.576] for saving paper." Well, they sorta didn't do that, because in January 1945 when the seventh printing came out,

48:11

[00 48:21.576 – 00:48:23.716] it was the same size as the sixth printing.

48:15

[00 48:23.716 – 00:48:27.476] It had that stamp in it, but they had failed to reduce it in size.

48:22

[00 48:27.476 – 00:48:36.116] The eighth printing came out one month later in February 1945, and today remains the smallest Big Book ever printed.

48:30

[00 48:36.116 – 00:48:41.896] The seventh printing was January '45.

48:32

[00 48:41.896 – 00:48:43.976] This one has an original dust jacket.

48:36

[00 48:43.976 – 00:48:45.396] Extremely rare.

48:37

[00 48:45.396 – 00:48:52.296] In the last 30 years, I believe only three have, uh, surfaced that had original dust jackets.

48:44

[00 48:52.296 – 00:48:56.526] The eighth printing, being the smallest, uh, also has a wartime printing.

48:49

[00 48:56.526 – 00:49:04.036] The ninth printing didn't happen until January of '46, and there were 20,000 copies released.

48:55

[00 49:04.036 – 00:49:07.096] This printing was slightly larger than the eighth.

48:59

[00 49:07.096 – 00:49:13.096] It did not have the wartime stamp like the other ones, and, uh, so it was ended.

49:06

[00 49:13.096 – 00:49:21.256] This printing after the war had ended, and the important notice about the government regula- was removed, and it never appeared in any books.

49:16

[00 49:21.256 – 00:49:27.036] So the wartime stamp was only in the seventh and eighth.

49:21

[00 49:27.036 – 00:49:30.436] This printing was slightly larger than the eighth.

49:25

[00 49:30.436 – 00:49:37.356] It remained that size through, uh, yeah, they didn't change the size of the book again until the second edition.

49:33

[00 49:37.356 – 00:49:43.536] The 10th printing, August of '46, there were 25,000 copies.

49:37

[00 49:43.536 – 00:49:47.276] You can see as time was going on, AA's numbers were growing.

49:43

[00 49:47.276 – 00:49:50.976] The amount of Big Books that they were selling was increasing as well.

49:48

[00 49:50.976 – 00:49:58.116] The 11th printing, 25,000 copies to this book, and this was done in 1947.

49:53

[00 49:58.116 – 00:50:01.296] And again, in 1948 they did the 12th printing.

49:57

[00 50:01.296 – 00:50:08.665] So they were reprinting these yearly, and, uh, each year with, you know, anywhere from 20 to 50,000.

50:04

[00 50:08.665 – 00:50:16.376] Here, the 13th printing of the first edition, there were 50,000 copies made of this book in February of 1950.

50:12

[00 50:16.376 – 00:50:26.756] The 14th printing in July, there were just under 50,000, and this was the last printing of the first edition

50:20

[00 50:26.756 – 00:50:28.936] done by Works Publishing.

50:22

[00 50:28.936 – 00:50:39.276] Works Publishing was renamed to AA Publishing prior to the, uh, release of the 15th

50:28

[00 50:39.276 – 00:50:42.416] and 16th printing of the first edition.

50:32

[00 50:42.416 – 00:50:46.896] Works Publishing changed its name to Alcoholics Anonymous.

50:35

[00 50:46.896 – 00:50:57.676] The 14th printing from 1951 was the last printing, and started the 15th printing in 1951, or 1954 under

50:42

[00 50:57.676 – 00:50:59.296] AA Publishing.

50:43

[00 50:59.296 – 00:51:08.836] So AA Publishing did the 15th printing and the 16th printing of the first edition.

50:50

[00 51:08.836 – 00:51:17.776] This printing of the 15th had 16,000 copies, and it was planned to be the last printing of the first edition.

50:58

[00 51:17.776 – 00:51:19.416] It was anticipated...

51:00

[00 51:19.416 – 00:51:23.416] Oh, gosh.

51:01

[00 51:23.416 – 00:51:28.396] Well, we just ended that presentation.

51:04

[00 51:28.396 – 00:51:31.356] Bear with me.

51:06

[00 51:31.356 – 00:51:32.636] I will get back to it.

51:08

[00 51:32.636 – 00:51:34.996] I apologize.

51:10

[00 51:34.996 – 00:51:48.216] Getting,

51:10

[00 51:48.216 – 00:51:49.396] I'm getting to the end.

51:13

[00 51:49.396 – 00:51:54.536] All right.

51:14

[00 51:54.536 – 00:52:04.636] I apologize, guys, for the screw-up, but January 1954, it was planned to be the last of the first editions

51:22

[00 52:04.636 – 00:52:09.976] with the anticipated release of the second edition in 1955 International.

51:27

[00 52:09.976 – 00:52:15.976] But because AA was selling so many books, they didn't have enough supplies.

51:32

[00 52:15.976 – 00:52:23.836] They did one final printing, and that is the 16th printing, August 1954.

51:38

[00 52:23.836 – 00:52:26.836] This was the last printing of the first edition.

51:42

[00 52:26.836 – 00:52:32.236] It was unexpected for this printing to be released due to plans for the second edition.

51:49

[00 52:32.236 – 00:52:41.256] There was a need for more books because, uh, AA was just literally on fire in the, in the mid-'50s.

51:57

[00 52:41.256 – 00:52:50.336] Uh, by the time the second edition had come out, Alcoholics Anonymous had done 21 printings of the first edition.

52:06

[00 52:50.336 – 00:52:58.876] The Alcoholics Anonymous second edition first printing made its official debut at the international convention held in St.

52:13

[00 52:58.876 – 00:53:00.676] Louis, Uber.

52:14

[00 53:00.676 – 00:53:05.136] Four days in July in 1955.

52:17

[00 53:05.136 – 00:53:12.156] That concludes my presentation on the first edition Big Books.

52:21

[00 53:12.156 – 00:53:21.936] I hope I shared some info that might be helpful, and right on the screen right now is we have two recordings on recovery speakers, Bill W.

52:33

[00 53:21.936 – 00:53:27.636] talking about how the book was written, and Jim Burwell talking about how the book was written.

52:40

[00 53:27.636 – 00:53:30.356] Two different stories of the same book.

52:43

[00 53:30.356 – 00:53:41.256] I wanna thank you all for being with us tonight and, uh, allowing me the, uh, the privilege of sharing with you,

52:53

[00 53:41.256 – 00:53:43.196] uh, this presentation.

52:54

[00 53:43.196 – 00:53:44.156] Thank you.

52:55

[00 53:44.156 – 00:53:47.356] Thank you, Mike.

52:57

[00 53:47.356 – 00:53:48.256] Great job.

52:58

[00 53:48.256 – 00:53:51.035] And now we have some time for questions.

53:02

[00 53:51.035 – 00:53:56.396] If anyone has a question, please use the Raise Hand function, and I will call on you as you raise your hands.

53:11

[00 53:56.396 – 00:54:01.317] And first up is Penny.

53:14

[00 54:01.317 – 00:54:02.296] You can unmute.

53:15

[00 54:02.296 – 00:54:06.396] Thanks, Tim.

53:16

[00 54:06.396 – 00:54:08.116] Uh, Penny P, alcoholic.

53:18

[00 54:08.116 – 00:54:19.056] So, um, you said that the last printing of the first edition was in

53:25

[00 54:19.056 – 00:54:23.446] August of 1954, and the f-

53:27

[00 54:24.279 – 00:54:35.039] And the second edition was introduced at the International in July of 1955.

53:32

[00 54:35.039 – 00:54:44.689] So they printed enough in August of 1954 to have a supply until July of 1955?

53:38

[00 54:44.689 – 00:54:46.119] Yes.

53:39

[00 54:46.119 – 00:54:56.399] Basically what they did, Penny, whatever they had left in stock from the 15th printing, which they printed more of those anticipating they would have enough

53:50

[00 54:56.399 – 00:55:03.179] to get them through till conference, and then they were running low so they did another printing to get them through.

53:59

[00 55:03.179 – 00:55:03.209] Ah.

54:00

[00 55:03.209 – 00:55:10.979] So the 16th printing was an unexpected printing, and they did have enough to get them through until July of '55.

54:09

[00 55:10.979 – 00:55:14.279] So they anticipated only having 15 printings.

54:12

[00 55:14.279 – 00:55:19.159] They needed to do another run because- That's right ...

54:16

[00 55:19.159 – 00:55:19.699] A.A.

54:17

[00 55:19.699 – 00:55:21.039] was exploding.

54:18

[00 55:21.039 – 00:55:23.759] Exactly, and they were amping up.

54:21

[00 55:23.759 – 00:55:30.619] And every, everything was going into the second edition by then, the changes and all of that, and they were preparing.

54:30

[00 55:30.619 – 00:55:34.679] So the, the 15th and 16th printing, which done by A.A.

54:35

[00 55:34.679 – 00:55:37.719] Publishing, are basically identical books.

54:37

[00 55:37.719 – 00:55:42.179] Uh, the only difference is the copyright and, and the things they had to change.

54:44

[00 55:42.179 – 00:55:43.619] Thank you.

54:45

[00 55:43.619 – 00:55:45.799] Thanks for a great presentation, Mike.

54:48

[00 55:45.799 – 00:55:47.379] Always, always delightful.

54:50

[00 55:47.379 – 00:55:48.619] Thank you, Penny.

54:51

[00 55:48.619 – 00:55:52.059] Thank you, Penny.

54:53

[00 55:52.059 – 00:55:53.459] And next is Bob.

54:55

[00 55:53.459 – 00:55:54.299] You can unmute.

54:56

[00 55:54.299 – 00:55:56.379] Hi.

54:57

[00 55:56.379 – 00:55:57.159] Bob, alcoholic.

54:58

[00 55:57.159 – 00:55:57.839] Thanks so much.

55:00

[00 55:57.839 – 00:55:59.719] Yeah, great, great presentation.

55:02

[00 55:59.719 – 00:56:06.139] Uh, and my brain doesn't work as fast as your, your, as you talk, so I, I missed a lot of it.

55:11

[00 56:06.139 – 00:56:07.769] But, uh, couple questions.

55:13

[00 56:07.769 – 00:56:15.419] One, uh, if you could clarify a little bit more on the, the war size and I, I thought that was the green color, but I guess not.

55:25

[00 56:15.419 – 00:56:17.939] Uh, but if you could clarify that a little bit.

55:30

[00 56:17.939 – 00:56:25.359] And then the story that they took out of that first edition at the very back that I s- I think you said Ruth read or wrote.

55:41

[00 56:25.359 – 00:56:31.569] And did they take that out of the first edition or just the first printing of the first edition?

55:49

[00 56:31.569 – 00:56:32.089] Right.

55:50

[00 56:32.089 – 00:56:34.279] If you could answer those two things, please.

55:54

[00 56:34.279 – 00:56:35.699] I, I'll start with the second thing.

55:57

[00 56:35.699 – 00:56:37.679] They took it out of only the first printing.

56:01

[00 56:37.679 – 00:56:40.059] So it did, it only appeared in the first printing.

56:05

[00 56:40.059 – 00:56:43.199] Lone Endeavor, it was in no additional printings.

56:09

[00 56:43.199 – 00:56:46.339] Um, the, the, uh, the wartime.

56:12

[00 56:46.339 – 00:56:52.619] So the, the variants and colors were really done because of cost.

56:17

[00 56:52.619 – 00:57:01.859] If, if the printer had material that he could save them printing costs on, they would go ahead and used it.

56:26

[00 57:01.859 – 00:57:07.239] So they did have the green, they did have the, the baby blue.

56:32

[00 57:07.239 – 00:57:10.518] They did have two other versions of blue.

56:35

[00 57:10.518 – 00:57:18.019] Um, the wartime, however, that was a mandate by the US government, and what I think happened was A.A.

56:44

[00 57:18.019 – 00:57:28.039] was in preparation of changing the, the book plates and everything so that they could print the smaller book, but they had a demand for books

56:55

[00 57:28.039 – 00:57:30.099] and did a seventh printing.

56:57

[00 57:30.099 – 00:57:38.959] I, I have to make some assumptions here that the seventh printing, uh, there couldn't have been more than 500.

57:05

[00 57:38.959 – 00:57:39.339] Okay?

57:06

[00 57:39.339 – 00:57:40.639] There just couldn't.

57:08

[00 57:40.639 – 00:57:49.479] And the, and the reason I say that is the very next month they came out with the eighth printing, 20,000 were printed.

57:17

[00 57:49.479 – 00:57:49.979] Okay?

57:18

[00 57:49.979 – 00:57:58.659] It's the smallest book, and it conformed to the government regulations when the seventh printing did not.

57:25

[00 57:58.659 – 00:58:08.859] So I think they just filled some orders, and anywhere from 100 to 500 printings of the seventh were done, and I believe that

57:34

[00 58:08.859 – 00:58:11.199] I'm probably pretty accurate with that.

57:37

[00 58:11.199 – 00:58:12.799] So I hope that helped.

57:40

[00 58:12.799 – 00:58:17.079] Thank you, Bob.

57:41

[00 58:17.079 – 00:58:19.159] Is there any other questions tonight?

57:44

[00 58:19.159 – 00:58:21.259] Great.

57:45

[00 58:21.259 – 00:58:24.119] Uh, Richard, you can unmute.

57:47

[00 58:24.119 – 00:58:26.699] Sure.

57:48

[00 58:26.699 – 00:58:26.989] Thanks.

57:49

[00 58:26.989 – 00:58:27.659] My name's Richard.

57:51

[00 58:27.659 – 00:58:28.339] I'm alcoholic.

57:52

[00 58:28.339 – 00:58:31.219] Thanks, Mike, for just a wonderful presentation.

57:55

[00 58:31.219 – 00:58:38.119] There was one of these done, like, five or six years ago on recovery speakers, and it really sparked my interest in studying the book.

58:06

[00 58:38.119 – 00:58:40.039] So thank you so much for that.

58:09

[00 58:40.039 – 00:58:47.279] I had heard that the debut of the second edition that was at the international conference in St.

58:17

[00 58:47.279 – 00:58:56.959] Louis, uh, there was a book, a second edition dust cover that was unique to, uh, ones that were sold at that conference.

58:26

[00 58:56.959 – 00:58:58.199] Is there any truth to that?

58:29

[00 58:58.199 – 00:58:59.919] And if so, have you ever seen one of them?

58:34

[00 58:59.919 – 00:59:02.419] Well, I just happen to have.

58:36

[00 59:02.419 – 00:59:06.379] Um- So here's the, here's the story on that.

58:40

[00 59:06.379 – 00:59:13.639] There were major changes from the first edition to the second edition.

58:46

[00 59:13.639 – 00:59:14.259] Okay?

58:47

[00 59:14.259 – 00:59:24.319] And to highlight those changes, they put a white band on the, around the outside of the dust jacket

58:55

[00 59:24.319 – 00:59:25.539] of the book.

58:56

[00 59:25.539 – 00:59:25.899] Okay?

58:57

[00 59:25.899 – 00:59:32.189] And, and on that band, it listed a couple of the major changes.

59:03

[00 59:32.189 – 00:59:34.599] So it was kind of a promotional piece.

59:06

[00 59:34.599 – 00:59:38.739] That was only given out at the International.

59:10

[00 59:38.739 – 00:59:42.179] It only came on the books that were released at the International.

59:15

[00 59:42.179 – 00:59:52.479] And another way to tell if you have one of those that maybe lost the band, okay, that was around it, on the inside of the back

59:27

[00 59:52.479 – 01:00:02.879] flap of the dust jacket, there is an additional paragraph that does not exist in any other printing other than the first issue,

59:36

[01 00:02.879 – 01:00:10.139] and that says that you can review this book, and if you're not happy with it, you can return it for a full refund.

59:47

[01 00:10.139 – 01:00:10.619] Okay?

59:47

[01 00:10.619 – 01:00:21.349] So those are, are, uh, exclusive to the first run of the first print of the second edition in July of '55.

59:57

[01 00:21.349 – 01:00:23.499] Hope I didn't confuse anybody there.

59:59

[01 00:23.499 – 01:00:24.539] There you go, Tim.

60:02

[01 00:24.539 – 01:00:25.239] Thank you.

60:03

[01 00:25.239 – 01:00:26.559] Where do I get one?

60:05

[01 00:26.559 – 01:00:30.539] All right.

60:06

[01 00:30.539 – 01:00:31.659] And there we go.

60:08

[01 00:31.659 – 01:00:32.739] Thanks.

60:09

[01 00:32.739 – 01:00:33.919] All right.

60:10

[01 00:33.919 – 01:00:35.819] And thank you for the question.

60:13

[01 00:35.819 – 01:00:36.879] And next is Gus.

60:15

[01 00:36.879 – 01:00:37.719] You can unmute.

60:17

[01 00:37.719 – 01:00:41.379] Hi.

60:18

[01 00:41.379 – 01:00:41.879] I'm Gus.

60:19

[01 00:41.879 – 01:00:42.759] I'm an alcoholic.

60:21

[01 00:42.759 – 01:00:43.899] Good evening, everyone.

60:22

[01 00:43.899 – 01:00:45.519] Good evening, Tim and Mike.

60:25

[01 00:45.519 – 01:00:46.339] Good to see you guys.

60:27

[01 00:46.339 – 01:00:48.619] And hi to my friend Richard in St.

60:31

[01 00:48.619 – 01:00:49.199] Louis.

60:31

[01 00:49.199 – 01:00:50.079] It's good to see you.

60:34

[01 00:50.079 – 01:01:00.579] Um, my question is, I, I popped in a little late, so I may have missed this if you said it, um, but I'm curious to know about the,

60:46

[01 01:00.579 – 01:01:06.259] um, the number of, of books printed for each printing.

60:51

[01 01:06.259 – 01:01:11.359] I know there's, there's some piece of paper floating around that has 5,000 as-

60:56

[01 01:11.521 – 01:01:13.661] A pretty regular number for each printing.

60:59

[01 01:13.661 – 01:01:16.341] I wonder if y- wondering if you can add some more color to that.

61:06

[01 01:16.341 – 01:01:27.660] Well, you know, it's very difficult because, you know, the, the numbers are released through AA, and, uh, I've never seen any exact this

61:16

[01 01:27.660 – 01:01:33.521] is exactly what we got and this is what we paid for kind of ledger to back it up.

61:24

[01 01:33.521 – 01:01:42.681] So a lot of, a, a, a lot of the, the, uh, criteria we have to go with is, is like I was saying about the seventh printing.

61:35

[01 01:42.681 – 01:01:53.731] AA claimed that there were 5,000 printed in January of 1945, and in February of 1945 they printed 20,000

61:42

[01 01:53.731 – 01:01:54.201] eighth printing.

61:43

[01 01:54.201 – 01:01:55.961] It doesn't even make sense.

61:46

[01 01:55.961 – 01:02:00.601] So we know for a fact that some of those numbers were inflated.

61:51

[01 02:00.601 – 01:02:09.981] Now, like the first printing we know is about 4,780 books, maybe 4,782 books were printed, okay?

61:58

[01 02:09.981 – 01:02:11.361] Because they were running ...

62:00

[01 02:11.361 – 01:02:17.701] And, see, that's been documented, but the rest of it is just, you know, 5,000, 5,000, 5- 20,000, 25.

62:06

[01 02:17.701 – 01:02:25.851] So it's difficult to know, other than, you know, some 300,000 before the end of August of, of 1954.

62:14

[01 02:25.851 – 01:02:28.361] I believe that was the number.

62:16

[01 02:28.361 – 01:02:31.621] Thank you, Gus.

62:18

[01 02:31.621 – 01:02:33.441] And next is Sandy.

62:20

[01 02:33.441 – 01:02:34.101] You can unmute.

62:22

[01 02:34.101 – 01:02:39.101] You're muted.

62:23

[01 02:39.101 – 01:02:39.541] Yeah.

62:24

[01 02:39.541 – 01:02:40.861] There I am.

62:25

[01 02:40.861 – 01:02:41.741] I'm unmuted.

62:27

[01 02:41.741 – 01:02:42.611] There you are.

62:28

[01 02:42.611 – 01:02:43.521] All right.

62:29

[01 02:43.521 – 01:02:44.781] Oh, thanks again, Mike.

62:31

[01 02:44.781 – 01:02:47.061] I always enjoy these weekly shows.

62:34

[01 02:47.061 – 01:02:57.261] And, uh, just a little, uh, uh, aside for those that can't afford, probably most of us, a, uh, first printing of the first edition, the story

62:46

[01 02:57.261 – 01:03:02.441] Lone Endeavor is in Experience, Strength, and Hope, and it's, it's well worth the read.

62:52

[01 03:02.441 – 01:03:05.281] So just, that was just a, an observation.

62:56

[01 03:05.281 – 01:03:06.361] Thanks, Mike.

62:57

[01 03:06.361 – 01:03:07.461] Thank you.

62:58

[01 03:07.461 – 01:03:17.681] And, you know, AA did reproduce the first edition, I think celebrating 75 years of the book, and I think they're available for a, a nominal

63:09

[01 03:17.681 – 01:03:19.531] fee from AAWS.

63:10

[01 03:19.531 – 01:03:29.641] And if you don't have one, um, definitely worth, uh, investing the 20 bucks or whatever to get it just to be able to read the stories that were in

63:22

[01 03:29.641 – 01:03:31.261] the back of the first printing.

63:25

[01 03:31.261 – 01:03:33.941] Thank you for sharing that.

63:28

[01 03:33.941 – 01:03:37.061] Thank you, Sandy.

63:29

[01 03:37.061 – 01:03:43.761] And, yes, I'm pretty sure that I've boughten one of the reproduction books from aa.org for, like, $3.

63:37

[01 03:43.761 – 01:03:48.981] So, um, next question is Gary.

63:40

[01 03:48.981 – 01:03:49.581] You can unmute.

63:41

[01 03:49.581 – 01:03:53.441] Uh, Bill.

63:43

[01 03:53.441 – 01:03:58.221] You can remember my, uh, sponsor Bill Roop, um, Mike.

63:47

[01 03:58.221 – 01:04:08.541] And when he came into the program in 1957, he was given a second edition, but he was also given the original

63:56

[01 04:08.541 – 01:04:17.421] three paragraphs at the end of Our Southern Friend, which were, of course, were removed, uh, when the story went into the second edition.

64:06

[01 04:17.421 – 01:04:27.881] And of course, the only place you can see those three paragraphs are in the first edition, which is a good advertisement for why somebody should get a first edition

64:19

[01 04:27.881 – 01:04:30.741] reprint if they can't afford the real thing.

64:22

[01 04:30.741 – 01:04:40.770] But did you realize, I, I didn't realize this until two days ago, that actually that 15 paragraphs were removed from that story from going from the first

64:34

[01 04:40.770 – 01:04:49.581] edition to the second, and so therefore you really don't read the story of Our Southern Friend until you have a first edition.

64:43

[01 04:49.581 – 01:04:51.061] Do- were you aware of that?

64:46

[01 04:51.061 – 01:04:51.851] No.

64:47

[01 04:51.851 – 01:04:52.781] No.

64:48

[01 04:52.781 – 01:04:54.050] But I, I wasn't.

64:50

[01 04:54.050 – 01:05:04.301] And 15 paragraph- and incidentally, people have gone into a such great lengths, and if you're, if you're interested, I can send you a document which has all of the removals

65:02

[01 05:04.301 – 01:05:05.521] documented.

65:03

[01 05:05.521 – 01:05:15.061] Um- Well, listen, if you share that with Tim, uh, if anybody wants that, all they gotta do is, uh, send us a note to info@recoveryspeakers.

65:15

[01 05:15.061 – 01:05:16.781] We'll be happy to send it out, Gary.

65:18

[01 05:16.781 – 01:05:17.381] Okay.

65:19

[01 05:17.381 – 01:05:18.961] I'll be happy to send it to Tim.

65:23

[01 05:18.961 – 01:05:20.761] That'd be fantastic.

65:24

[01 05:20.761 – 01:05:21.501] Okay.

65:25

[01 05:21.501 – 01:05:24.281] And thank you.

65:27

[01 05:24.281 – 01:05:27.001] Thank you, Gary.

65:28

[01 05:27.001 – 01:05:29.861] And any other questions tonight?

65:31

[01 05:29.861 – 01:05:39.501] Um- All right All right.

65:33

[01 05:39.501 – 01:05:41.001] Bob, you can unmute.

65:35

[01 05:41.001 – 01:05:42.741] Yeah.

65:36

[01 05:42.741 – 01:05:53.041] I hate to double-dip or triple-dip, but did, is there any reason that you know of as to why they moved the doctor's opinion from page one to the Roman numeral

65:49

[01 05:53.041 – 01:05:53.701] pages?

65:50

[01 05:53.701 – 01:06:03.901] I, I, you know, I think that there's probably an answer to that that might be better than this, but I do think that they wanted to maintain

66:02

[01 06:03.901 – 01:06:07.741] the integrity of the book written by alcoholics.

66:05

[01 06:07.741 – 01:06:18.061] So they s- you know, they changed it, probably had 150 votes on it, and finally argued enough that they decided that they would

66:15

[01 06:18.061 – 01:06:23.761] make Bill's story start at page one and doctor's opinion use the, uh, Roman numerals.

66:21

[01 06:23.761 – 01:06:31.301] But honestly, other than, uh, speculation and things that I've heard, um, I don't have documentation for that.

66:29

[01 06:31.301 – 01:06:33.161] Gary might or one of the other guys.

66:33

[01 06:33.161 – 01:06:36.021] Thank you, though.

66:34

[01 06:36.021 – 01:06:36.861] Great question.

66:36

[01 06:36.861 – 01:06:38.021] Yeah.

66:36

[01 06:38.021 – 01:06:38.921] Thank you, Bob.

66:38

[01 06:38.921 – 01:06:42.541] And next question is Kelly.

66:41

[01 06:42.541 – 01:06:43.581] You can unmute.

66:42

[01 06:43.581 – 01:06:44.761] Kelly.

66:43

[01 06:44.761 – 01:06:49.081] Oh, can you hear me?

66:45

[01 06:49.081 – 01:06:49.881] Yeah.

66:46

[01 06:49.881 – 01:06:50.481] Okay.

66:47

[01 06:50.481 – 01:06:51.101] Hi.

66:48

[01 06:51.101 – 01:06:52.101] Kelly, alcoholic.

66:49

[01 06:52.101 – 01:06:54.641] Love your presentation, Mike.

66:51

[01 06:54.641 – 01:07:01.121] Um, I missed, I didn't catch where you said they repeated the line, where there was a line repeated.

66:59

[01 07:01.121 – 01:07:04.361] Was that only in the first printing of the first edition on a certain page?

67:06

[01 07:04.361 – 01:07:05.261] Yes.

67:06

[01 07:05.261 – 01:07:08.181] And it was page two- 60-something.

67:09

[01 07:08.181 – 01:07:09.561] Tim?

67:10

[01 07:09.561 – 01:07:18.301] Page 234 of only the first printing, 1939, the line was repeated.

67:15

[01 07:18.301 – 01:07:21.821] Mine, mine of course is a second printing, and I wasn't in ...

67:20

[01 07:21.821 – 01:07:24.040] and I turned it on my- It's nothing.

67:23

[01 07:24.040 – 01:07:28.661] Well, Kelly, perhaps you have to put a first printing on your wish list.

67:30

[01 07:28.661 – 01:07:29.921] I know.

67:31

[01 07:29.921 – 01:07:31.501] I have.

67:32

[01 07:31.501 – 01:07:34.361] Tha- thanks for joining us tonight.

67:35

[01 07:34.361 – 01:07:37.241] It's great to see you.

67:37

[01 07:37.241 – 01:07:39.641] All right.

67:38

[01 07:39.641 – 01:07:43.921] It looks like that is it for questions, so we will go ahead and wrap it up this evening.

67:47

[01 07:43.921 – 01:07:49.921] And, uh, just a reminder, everyone, please join us again next week for a conversation with a long-timer.

67:54

[01 07:49.921 – 01:07:54.781] And, uh, now I will allow everyone to unmute and thank Mike.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

First Editions presented by Mike F – 2025-03-18

First Editions presented by Mike F – 2025-03-18

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