Bill W. at the 4th NCC Spring Conference – 1951

About This Speaker Tape

1934, a drying-out hospital: Bill W. collapsed here, beginning the movement's fragile early days and the discovery of the 'divine paradox' of finding strength in weakness. He maps out the sequence of events from a chance encounter with a sober friend in a Brooklyn kitchen to the 'hot flash' of a spiritual experience that nearly led him to try and 'hot flash' every drunk in New York.

The narrative shifts to Akron where he and Dr. Bob S. forged a partnership based on mutual need and the subsequent struggle to fund the movement.

Bill W. recounts his failed attempts to solicit the R. family and the 'Orthodox' faction of early members who feared that money and professionalism would kill the spirit of the work eventually leading to the self-funded publication of the Big Book in 1939.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening reflections on gratitude and the movement as a 'cathedral of the spirit'.
• 2:30 Bill W. describes hitting bottom in a 1934 drying-out hospital and the 'divine paradox'.
• 5:15 The meeting in the Brooklyn kitchen with a sober friend; discussion of the 'simple formula' of honesty and amends.
• 9:45 Laughter: Bill W. recounts getting drunk on the way to the hospital to be cured.
• 13:20 Description of the 'great white light' spiritual experience and the release from obsession.
• 18:10 The 'hot flash' era and the realization that the movement must be based on one alcoholic talking to another.
• 22:40 Arrival in Akron and the first meeting with Dr. Bob S.
• 27:15 The story of the first 'man on the bed' and his transition from hopelessness to liberation.
• 32:00 The 1937 meeting in the S. living room to analyze the statistical success of the method.
• 36:40 The debate between the 'promoters' and the 'Orthodox' regarding funding and the Big Book.
• 42:10 The surreal experience of meeting with Mr. R.'s associates in a private boardroom.
• 51:00 The struggle to fund the book and the eventual self-funding by alcoholics in 1939.