The Nicolette Group’s Hardline Approach to the Real Alcoholic – Kesting C.

About This Speaker Tape

The Little Red Book and Nicollet Groups Long-range Sponsorship - 2025

The history of the Little Red Book unfolds as a map of the early friction between inclusive and exclusive recovery. Kesting C. traces the book's origin from the beginner's classes of the Nicolette Group in Minneapolis where a hardline book-centric approach demanded that only 'real alcoholics' be admitted. Through letters to Bobby B. and the endorsement of Dr. Bob the narrative reveals a time when sponsorship was an experimental art often bordering on indoctrination. The talk centers on a lost essay from the 1950 printing on 'Working With Others,' which argues for a unified orthodox interpretation of the Big Book to prevent 'AA headaches.' From the 'can openers' of early pamphlets to the 'voluntary musts' of later editions the tape captures the tension between the rigid mechanics of sobriety and the humility required to keep the door ajar for the next person.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction by Tim and overview of upcoming speakers.
• 10:15 The story of Pat C. and his use of a stolen library card to read the Big Book.
• 22:40 Discussion of the split between the Alano Club and the Nicolette Group over membership criteria.
• 32:10 The 'real alcoholic' philosophy and the Nicolette Group's strict approach to 'indoctrination' via step classes.
• 41:20 Audio clip: Ed W. speaking in 1965 about the Big Book as the supreme authority.
• 55:15 Detailed reading of the lost 1950 essay on 'Working With Others' and the necessity of orthodox sponsorship.
• 1:10:12 Audio clip: Ed W. in 1962 discussing the 'working mechanics' of the steps.
• 1:25:40 Closing remarks from Ed W. (1965) on the honest effort to succeed and the door to recovery remaining ajar.
• 1:32:15 Q&A session: Discussion on Bobby B.'s relationship with the Minneapolis pioneers.
• 1:42:10 Discussion on why the Little Red Book was never officially sanctioned by AA.