Welcome to Decoding the Big Book, a special limited series of the Sober Friends podcast.

Researched and sourced from writing the big book by William Sheaberg, the purpose of each episode is to provide context and history for each chapter of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, followed by a

reading of the chapter from the fourth edition. Each section is marked by chapters, so feel

free to skip ahead to what you're interested in and leave the rest. There is a solution. is the second chapter Bill wrote when he started the big book.

In this chapter, he concludes that the real problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind,

rather than in his body.

The alcoholic has no idea why he took that first drink,

and this complete lapse of common sense and willpower can only be explained by admitting

that he suffers from some form of temporary insanity. The real problem for the alcoholic

isn't his drinking, but rather his thinking, specifically during the moment just before he takes

the first drink. Fortunately, there is a solution. Bill explains that taking certain actions,

including self-searching, leveling of pride, and confession of sins is necessary. He admits that no one likes the idea of doing this. Bill reaffirms

that alcoholism is a disease, as discussed in the doctor's opinion. He talks about how doctors and

family can have a hard time breaking through to a problem drinker, but an ex-problem drinker,

who has found the solution in the book can

break through where others cannot. And there is a solution. Bill spells out the purpose of the book

to answer the question of how and why we recovered from the hopeless condition of alcoholism.

He seeks to have the reader identify as one of two kinds of drinkers,

the moderate take it or leave it kind,

and the heavy drinker who may have health problems but can still moderate or stop.

The real alcoholic is different.

Bill had a huge problem in how to write this chapter and what to

...