|
''Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism'' (generally known as The Big Book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition) is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Bill W. but with one chapter, "To Employers" written by Henry Parkhurst.〔 It is the originator of the seminal "twelve-step method" widely used to treat many addictions, from alcoholism and heroin addiction to marijuana addiction, as well as overeating, sex addiction, gambling addiction, with a strong spiritual and social emphasis. It is one of the best-selling books of all time, having sold 30 million copies.〔(Akron Beacon Journal ) on ''The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book'': While the title of the book is actually Alcoholics Anonymous, the members of AA refer to it as the Big Book. This is the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous, AA's text on how to stay sober. "And this year is also the 70th anniversary of the publication of A.A.'s Big Book, which has sold nearly 30 million copies since 1939." (11 June 2009)〕〔(Twelve Step Programs Worldwide ) about "Alcoholics Anonymous", the book affectionately known as "The Big Book". The 25 millionth copy of the Big Book was published in 2005, and about 1 million copies are sold each year. This means that as at 2010 there have been about 30 million copies sold, ranking it high on the list of best-selling books ever. More impressive still, it has sold this many copies even though it is available free online in English, Spanish and French - links provided."〕 In 2011, ''Time'' magazine placed the book on its list of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923, the beginning of the magazine. In 2012, the Library of Congress designated it as one of 88 "Books that Shaped America." 〔http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/books-that-shaped-america/〕 ==History== Bill W. at one time was a successful Wall Street businessman, but his career was in shambles because of his chronic alcoholism.〔“Alcoholics Anonymous Over 70 Years of Growth,” Alcoholics Anonymous, accessed 28 March 2013, ()〕 In 1934 Bill W. was invited by his friend and drinking buddy Ebby T. to join the Oxford Group, a spiritual movement based on the “Four Absolutes” of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love. Bill W. met Dr. Bob in May 1935, and the men shared their stories with one another. The two began to work on how to best approach alcoholics and began trying to help men recover from alcoholism. The idea for the book developed at least as early as 1937 when Bill W. and Dr. Bob realized their system had helped over 40 men stay sober for more than 2 years. The book was meant to carry their message far and wide. Wilson started writing the book in 1938 〔Galanter, p. 503〕 with the financial support of Charles B. Towns (1862–1947), an expert on alcoholism and drug addiction who was a supporter and creditor of Alcoholics Anonymous and lent Wilson $2500 ($41,870 in 2014 dollar values).〔Inflation Calculator: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl〕〔Alcoholics Anonymous, p.196〕 The Big Book was originally published in 1939 by AA founders Bill W. and Dr. Bob. The book serves as the basic text of AA. There has been a series of reprints and revisions, as well as translations into dozens of languages.〔()〕 The second edition (1955) consisted of 1,150,000 copies. The book is published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. and is available through AA offices and meetings, as well as through booksellers. The 4th Edition (2001) is also freely available online.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Big Book Online Fourth Edition )〕 Marty Mann (1904–1980) wrote the chapter "Women Suffer Too" in the second through fourth editions of the Big Book. U.S. President Richard Nixon received the millionth copy of the book,〔(Alcoholics Anonymous Founder’s House Is a Self-Help Landmark ) New York Times, July 6, 2007.〕 while the 25-millionth copy of the Big Book was presented to Jill Brown, warden of San Quentin State Prison, at the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to commemorate the first prison meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous taking place at San Quentin in 1941.〔http://www.aa.org/lang/en/press.cfm?thisyear=2010-01-01&PressID=1 25 Millionth Alcoholics Anonymous 'Big Book' To be Given in Gratitude to Warden of San Quentin〕 The thirty-millionth copy of the book was presented to the American Medical Association in 2010, which declared alcoholism as an illness in 1956.〔http://www.aa.org/lang/en/press.cfm?PressID=19&thisyear=2012-01-01〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|