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The Language of the Heart—Bill W.'s Grapevine Writings
Publication of The Language of the Heart brings together for the first time virtually every article written for the AA Grapevine by Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Though several of his articles are available in reprint form, whether as pamphlets, AA books, or in later issues of the magazine, they have never before been published in one volume.
In June 1944, the Grapevine was established as a local newsletter through the individual efforts of six New York City AA's who were concerned about what seemed to be "a lack of understanding" among groups in the metropolitan area. Mailed by the six editors to all known groups in the U.S. and Canada, and sent free to AA's in the World War II armed forces, the Grapevine soon caught on nationally. In 1945, by vote of the groups, it became the principal journal of the Fellowship as a whole, and since the January 1949 issue it has been known as the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.
From the first issue of the eight-page newsletter, Bill W. was a prolific contributor, an enthusiastic advocate, and for many years a consulting editor. In spite of a grueling travel schedule and a copious correspondence, Bill could never find enough time to respond to all the many and varied demands of a Fellowship that was still in the process of formation, and in the Grapevine he discovered an ideal vehicle of communication with the members and groups who clamored for his insights and experience. In more than 150 articles, written over a span of twenty-six years, Bill documented the painstaking process of trial and error that resulted in AA's spiritual principles of Recovery, Unity, and Service, and articulated his vision of what the Fellowship could become.
When the current Grapevine editors began to consider ways of grouping Bill's articles in logical segments, it seemed at first a Herculean task — yet in the end it was not. Largely because of Bill's own highly focused way of thinking and working, the articles virtually fell into place. They are arranged chronologically in three Parts, according to the primary AA concerns Bill was thinking and writing about during each period of time. They are further subdivided by major and minor subject matter within each Part. Brief introductions to Parts One, Two, and Three outline the major events and trends in AA that impelled Bill to emphasize a particular aspect of AA life, and in a few cases, an introductory sentence or two sets the context for a specific article. Toward the end appear a group of memorial articles (written in appreciation for several nonalcoholic friends of AA, as well as for Dr. Bob and for Bill D., AA Number Three), and an Appendix containing seven articles in which Bill reflected on the Grapevine itself.
While the intent is to make available the whole body of Bill's Grapevine writings, a few omissions have been made because of length. His series of articles on the Traditions, written in 1952 and 1953 and later reprinted in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, is readily accessible in that book and thus is not repeated here: similarly, two excerpts from AA Comes of Age that were reprinted as Grapevine articles have not been included, and one article that appeared twice in the Grapevine appears only once here. All of Bill's very brief (about half a page each) Christmas and Thanksgiving greetings to the Fellowship have been cut, with the exception of the December 1970 Christmas message, his last Grapevine piece. And finally, a few brief items (short memorial tributes to General Service Office staff and an announcement that the General Service Office was moving to a new location) have also been omitted. For more information visit us at AAGrapevine.org.
In June 1944, the Grapevine was established as a local newsletter through the individual efforts of six New York City AA's who were concerned about what seemed to be "a lack of understanding" among groups in the metropolitan area. Mailed by the six editors to all known groups in the U.S. and Canada, and sent free to AA's in the World War II armed forces, the Grapevine soon caught on nationally. In 1945, by vote of the groups, it became the principal journal of the Fellowship as a whole, and since the January 1949 issue it has been known as the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.
From the first issue of the eight-page newsletter, Bill W. was a prolific contributor, an enthusiastic advocate, and for many years a consulting editor. In spite of a grueling travel schedule and a copious correspondence, Bill could never find enough time to respond to all the many and varied demands of a Fellowship that was still in the process of formation, and in the Grapevine he discovered an ideal vehicle of communication with the members and groups who clamored for his insights and experience. In more than 150 articles, written over a span of twenty-six years, Bill documented the painstaking process of trial and error that resulted in AA's spiritual principles of Recovery, Unity, and Service, and articulated his vision of what the Fellowship could become.
When the current Grapevine editors began to consider ways of grouping Bill's articles in logical segments, it seemed at first a Herculean task — yet in the end it was not. Largely because of Bill's own highly focused way of thinking and working, the articles virtually fell into place. They are arranged chronologically in three Parts, according to the primary AA concerns Bill was thinking and writing about during each period of time. They are further subdivided by major and minor subject matter within each Part. Brief introductions to Parts One, Two, and Three outline the major events and trends in AA that impelled Bill to emphasize a particular aspect of AA life, and in a few cases, an introductory sentence or two sets the context for a specific article. Toward the end appear a group of memorial articles (written in appreciation for several nonalcoholic friends of AA, as well as for Dr. Bob and for Bill D., AA Number Three), and an Appendix containing seven articles in which Bill reflected on the Grapevine itself.
While the intent is to make available the whole body of Bill's Grapevine writings, a few omissions have been made because of length. His series of articles on the Traditions, written in 1952 and 1953 and later reprinted in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, is readily accessible in that book and thus is not repeated here: similarly, two excerpts from AA Comes of Age that were reprinted as Grapevine articles have not been included, and one article that appeared twice in the Grapevine appears only once here. All of Bill's very brief (about half a page each) Christmas and Thanksgiving greetings to the Fellowship have been cut, with the exception of the December 1970 Christmas message, his last Grapevine piece. And finally, a few brief items (short memorial tributes to General Service Office staff and an announcement that the General Service Office was moving to a new location) have also been omitted. For more information visit us at AAGrapevine.org.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2025
Adquirí información muy valiosa, datos muy interesantes que sin duda me servirán para desarrollarme mejor dentro de la agrupación. Lo más importante es que es una base que siempre estará disponible de ahora en adelante para cualquier consulta. Lo leo por segunda ocasión . Inicio el 24 de Dic 2024 y acabo 3 de ene 2025
January 2, 2020
This book gives a good history of AA and some of the challenges it faced in its early days.
September 19, 2022
4.5 -- too many insights and gems of wisdom that can guide the individual, that can steer the individual groups and inform the program on the macro level for it to be a 4, but it does not quite measure up to the masterpiece of its predecessors. This speaks more to the quality of its predecessors than it does to this collection of writings.
June 11, 2021
This volume presents Grapevine articles culled from a 25 year span and it is quite repetitious. It contains more about the 12 Traditions and AA administration than I ever needed to know. But there are also some buried diamonds in these pages for the AA "miner" who is willing to do the digging.
December 21, 2020
Kinda boring. Bill's story gave me unrealistic expectations about the rest, spiritual experience, love, money, sleep, and recovery.
August 13, 2022
It was nice to learn more about the history of Alcoholics Anonymous through Bill W.'s writings in the monthly publication of The Grapevine from its inception in June 1944
March 27, 2023
Outstanding reading for recovering alcoholics.
July 5, 2023
Good source of history
It took me awhile, but good AA read. I know there is a lot more out there. So pass it on
It took me awhile, but good AA read. I know there is a lot more out there. So pass it on
June 1, 2025
ok if you are interested in history of AA
October 19, 2023
I read it as part of a women’s meeting and. It. Would. Not. End. Maybe if I had 10+ years instead of 3, but I couldn’t get into Bill’s ramblings. It was torture.
October 8, 2021
Incredible that this book’s contents date back to the 1930s, and it is still so relevant. I enjoyed reading this from both the historical perspective and the spiritual side of how just a few people can change society.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews