Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid fellowship that was founded in 1935 by Dr. Bob Smith, a New York stockbroker more commonly known as “Dr. Bob”, and Bill Wilson, an Akron physician more commonly known as “Bill W.”. Both men, at one point, were helpless alcoholics. Alcoholics Anonymous’ primary purpose is to help alcoholics to stay sober, and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. The first Alcoholics Anonymous group met in Akron, Ohio, in June of 1935. Prior to Dr. Bob and Bill W. creating Alcoholics Anonymous, both men were in contact with the Oxford Group. The Oxford Group is a mostly non-alcoholic fellowship that emphasizes universal spiritual values in daily living. The literature for The Oxford Group defines the group as being not a religion, for it has “no hierarchy, no temples, no endowments, its workers no salaries, no plans but God’s plan.” The Oxford Groups in America were headed by the Episcopal clergyman, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker. After experiencing this spiritual influence, and with the assistance of a friend named Ebby, Bill W. became sober and maintained his sobriety by working with other addicts. Dr. Bob’s membership with the Oxford Group hadn’t helped him enough to find sobriety at this point in time. …show more content…
Here, the three men made up the “guts” of the first Alcoholics Anonymous group. The second group of alcoholics popped up in New York City, and a third came along in Cleveland around 1939. In early 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous published its first basic textbook, simply titled Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as “The Big Book.” Throughout the years, there have been a total of four editions released. This Big Book contains twelve steps toward physical and spiritual recovery. Those steps are honesty, hope, faith, courage, integrity, willingness, humility, compassion, love, perseverance, spiritual awareness, and