Jim P. Leads a Step 1 Study Through the 12 and 12

About This Speaker Tape

Jim P. chairs the first meeting of a new Sunday night 12 and 12 study group in Orlando. He provides AA history context — how the 12 and 12 was written by Bill W. thirteen years after the Big Book, drawing on Ed Webster's essays from The Little Red Book, and how Bill had to convince Dr. Bob that the Traditions would keep AA alive.

The group reads through the foreword and Step One of the 12 and 12 together, with members sharing powerfully. Jim explains the phenomenon of craving, the allergy and obsession, and that the word 'sponsor' never appears in the Big Book. Multiple members share raw first-step experiences: Ann on the honesty required to admit powerlessness over an inanimate object; Jeff on coming to AA just to get a paper signed and discovering he was a real alcoholic; Hugh on faking it for sixteen years until he drank again because he never got rigorously honest; and Ashley on planning her whole day around the drink at 3:30.

Jim closes with the observation that AA will screw up your drinking if you actually show up.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Jim P. chairs the first meeting of a new Sunday night 12 and 12 study group in Orlando.
• 11:00 He provides AA history context u2014 how the 12 and 12 was written by Bill W. thirteen years after the Big Book, drawing on Ed Webster's essays from The Little Red Book, and how Bill had to convince Dr.
• 22:00 Bob that the Traditions would keep AA alive. The group reads through the foreword and Step One of the 12 and 12 together, with members sharing powerfully.
• 33:00 Jim explains the phenomenon of craving, the allergy and obsession, and that the word 'sponsor' never appears in the Big Book. Multiple members share raw first-step experiences: Ann on the honesty r...
• 44:00 Jim closes with the observation that AA will screw up your drinking if you actually show up.