Holly M. – Big Book Study – The Metaphysical Hernia of Advanced Approaches – 1975

About This Speaker Tape

Holly M. maps out the wreckage of a life spent in a fog, from the insanity of the morning drink that the stomach refuses to keep down to the cycle of pawning a watch that barely ran on Jewish holidays. She traces her path to sobriety through a haunting radio story called 'The Glass Crutch' and a contentious relationship with four exacting sponsors.

Holly dismantles her own arrogance by aligning the 12 Steps with the Beatitudes, viewing the Fourth Step as a necessary 'emptying out' of pride and resentment, akin to the prodigal son in a pig pen. The tape also features Paul M., who recounts his time as a WWII pilot who accidentally shot down two US Navy planes, and Bill C., who reflects on his descent from a Boston attorney to sleeping on the Boston C.. The narrative culminates in a collective commitment to the program's simplicity over intellectualism.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Holly Martin begins by describing the disorientation of waking up not knowing if it is 6 AM or 6 PM.
• 4:15 Holly describes the 'insanity' of the morning drink and the battle with her own stomach.
• 7:30 The story of 'The Glass Crutch' radio program and the mental obsession that followed.
• 11:00 Laughter: Holly discusses her friction with her four sponsors and the 'silly' questions they asked her.
• 945 Holly connects the 12 Steps to the Beatitudes, focusing on Step 1 and being 'poor in spirit'.
• 21:00 The Fourth Step as a process of 'emptying out' decay, using the metaphor of a decaying tooth.
• 26:30 Holly discusses the fear of rejection and the necessity of making amends to become a peacemaker.
• 31:00 Paul Martin introduces himself as a 'young alcoholic in an old container' and jokes about his sobriety date.
• 36:00 Paul recounts his WWII flight training and the two US Navy planes he shot down.
• 42:00 Paul discusses the 'metaphysical hernia' of over-intellectualizing the program.
• 50:00 Paul emphasizes the importance of continuing work with the 12 Steps over psychotherapy.
• 55:00 Bill Coogan reflects on his history of homelessness on the Boston Common and pays tribute to Bill W. and Dr. Bob.