Literature at the Crossroads

Literature at the Crossroads

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? Alcoholics Alive! offers a front-row seat as Shank and Wayne chew over how Alcoholics Anonymous literature is being reshaped – and what that might mean for people trying to get and stay sober. Aimed at recovered and recovering AA members who care about the programme’s roots, this chat feels like sitting in on a sharp but good‑humoured group conscience.

They start with a classic Big Book reading – “Abandon yourself to God as you understand God… join us” – and use it as a yardstick for everything that follows: does the literature still point straight at a spiritual solution and freedom from the obsession to drink?

From there, they run through the upcoming General Service Conference literature agenda: the draft Fifth Edition of the Big Book, changes to Living Sober, the plain‑language Big Book, and new pamphlets aimed at specific groups. You’ll hear real concern about what they call “literature sprawl” – extra books, pamphlets and processes that may or may not help the next alcoholic.

They question why much‑loved stories like “He Sold Himself Short” and “Another Chance” might be dropped while more specialised material is proposed. As one of them puts it bluntly: “Leave the book alone. Leave it the way it is.

Let’s go help some Alcoholics.” The tone stays light, with plenty of jokes about AA slogans in their Meeting Shrapnel segment – lines like “I woke up this morning with a clear head and a dry bed” and “You can’t be hateful and grateful at the same time” get affectionately dismantled.

If you care about AA’s message, group conscience, and how literature shapes recovery, this episode gives you plenty to think about – and might nudge you to ask: what should my delegate really hear from me before the next conference?