Big Book Study 1 and 2

(Key Concepts)

The following is a list of questions that is designed to enable you to take Step 1 and
2 of the AA programme as laid out in the Basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous (The
Big Book). (In this exercise we refer to alcohol and alcoholism, but you can easily
replace these words with whatever addiction that you are dealing with, e.g. cocaine
and addiction.)

In these chapters of the AA Big Book we are told two things: What the problem is –
Powerlessness - and what the solution is - a Power Greater Than Ourselves.
Alcoholism is defined and we are invited to ask ourselves whether or not we agree
with this definition. If we can say that we accept this definition of alcoholism, and
that we can identify with it, then we have completed Step 1. Following this
admission we must make a second admission: that we are beyond human help and
that we need to find a Power Greater Than Ourselves if we hope to recover. This
second admission means we have completed Step 2 and that we are ready to move
on to Step 3.

How It Works

Do I now accept (or am I willing accept) the following:

1. That alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful?

2. That without help it is too much for me?
3. That there is One who has all power – that one is God?
4. Half measures avail me nothing?
5. I need to ask His protection and care with complete abandon?
6. The 3 pertinent ideas: a) that I am an alcoholic and cannot manage my own
life? b) that probably no human power can relieve my alcoholism? c) that God
could and would if He were sought?