Big Book Study – Searcy W. – The 60th Anniversary Of The Big Book – 1999

About This Speaker Tape

This speaker, Circe, stands up to share her story, emphasizing that her sobriety—now spanning 53 years—is a point of pride, not just a marker of time. She grounds the fellowship's purpose in the shared admission of powerlessness over alcohol. Her journey weaves through West T. farms, oil fields, and the gradual slide into compulsive drinking, marked by entertaining and travel

. The turning point is a moment of clarity after hitting bottom, leading her to AA. She recounts the foundational work of the program, from the Oxford G. to the development of the 12 Traditions

. The core message remains: the solution is the experience of the 12 Steps, not just knowing them.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction and statement of sobriety length.
• 0:25 Mention of the primary purpose: 'Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help somebody else stay sober.'
• 1:15 Discussion of the Big Book's importance, referencing Rockefeller's refusal to fund it.
• 3:25 Laughter: The story of Red Hill being put in a casket and waking up.
• 12:30 The speaker describes the initial struggle, noting the 'four horses, terror, bewilderment, frustration, and despair.'
• 16:00 The speaker recounts the moment of clarity after hitting bottom, leading to AA.
• 21:00 The speaker details the early AA experience, noting the group's collective realization of the program's power.
• 35:00 The speaker reads the 'early promises,' listing specific physical and emotional improvements.