As Bill Sees It: The A.A. Way of Life...Selected Writings of A.A.'s Co-Founder

by Bill Wilson

From Foreword:
This volume includes several hundred excerpts from our literature, touching nearly every aspect of A.A.'s way of life. It is felt that this material may become an aid to individual meditation and a stimulant to group discussion, and may well lead to a still wider reading of all our literature.
~ Bill W., April 1967

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Addiction, Spirituality, Inspirational, Health

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1967

Reviews

[Jason Bickford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bill Wilson never got sober or even worked a program. He switched his drug of choice from booze to unfamiliar women in early recovery. He was a self centered 13th stepper. He also enjoyed a nice sobriety break while tripping on LSD so much his wife and Dr. Bob had to perform an intervention. That is why I take little stock in Bill's thoughts on the program he plagiarized outright from the Oxford Group. AA's grounding in Christianity and its dogmatic requirement to commune with a God also known in the Twelve Steps as Him with a capital H, while celebrating the end of thinking (they make this clear in the chapter to the agnostics before the meat and potatoes of the main text even begins), is why practical thinking non believers and Bill Wilson biographers alike can't stomach this stuff for very long. Though the idea that men actually talking about their problems could help said problems was probably revolutionary in the 30's when this was first published. Two stars for that and effort."Spontaneous recovery" or just plain growing up and not being drug dependent anymore happens statistically more often than folks getting even a one year coin. AA has the worst sucess rate in all of medicine at maybe 3-4%. This is denied or ignored by folks in AA, a program so obviously in denial about it's impotence and religiosity it's comical. I love how you folks tell me a higher power can be a door knob or a tree or whatever I want when your 12 steps plainly point out that God is a Him, and you need to ask him favors. I also like how your supposed to be ready to have your imperfections removed by God. How's that one coming along? Perfect yet? Wake up- it's the people who help keep other people sober, not a higher power. It's about people helping others . When Bill W. rushed into that church in Akron 80 years ago he wanted a priest not because he wanted communion with a higher power, he wanted privacy and discretion. So he was turned to a doctor, a man of science and practical thought. They talked, Bill didn't drink, and AA was born. It had nothing to do with God at that church in that phone booth, it was about people helping people. That's what works in AA, not watered down Christianity. People. Like Soilent Green, it's made from people. That's why even the devout religious cant pray away their alcoholism, they need to talk to real people too . Think about it.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it twice a week @ my AA meeting in Florence, MA!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of a daily reader for me. Bill, one of the founders of AA, was a very smart man & thought long & deeply about various aspects of the program & recovery. Each page deals with a separate subject; quickly & consisely, but with an in depth knowledge that makes me think long & hard about his points. If you're a member of AA, NA or most other 12 Step programs, it's worth reading, but I'd suggest as a page a day.

[Marisa Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"As Bill Sees It" is a great book to put in another person's hand to keep by their reading table at all times!r If you are sponsoring, or encouraging another alcoholic/addict, there are small sections you can email, or even text, as a daily thought. I love this little book.

[Chris Gager · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just picked this one up at my AA meeting. I try to be open about Bill's writing knowing that there's a lot of good stuff in there(mixed in with the dubious and outright crap). I especially dislike his pushing of soft-core religion. It's unnecessary and disrespectful but I suppose it was not so easy to understand that back in the day. True believers tend to have bad boundaries. We'll see...

[J. Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an alcoholic, (meaning, I never drink, not that I'm in denial about alcoholism) but I find great insights in this little book. I appreciate any writing that helps build up the spirit and destroy the ego.

[Ted Guglielmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of short spiritual essays and thoughts that I read almost daily. keeps me right sized and grounded.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good if you're in aa.

[Erika Peterson]

If it wasn't for Bill, I wouldn't be sober today. He wasn't perfect, but no one is. I don't judge. People who do should take their own inventory.

[Michael Olear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of what life is about no matter what your inclinations and behaviors are.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Bill Sees It: The A. A. Way of Life ...Selected Writings of the A. A.'s Co-Founder by Alcoholics Anonymous World Service (1967)

[Jo-jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to pray for guidance and see where it opens. It's usually what I need to read or meditate on.

[Mary-jeanne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We use this book at our meetings every week. Great little wisp-its of wisdom for daily living.

[Lee Asch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff for people in recovery.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Musings and meditations from the founder of AA.