Bill Wilson Author of the Big Book

The early members of AA were still closely connected to the Oxford Group. Bill continued to have misgivings about their evangelical leanings. He felt that this would prevent too many alcoholics from accepting the help that such a program could offer. Bill had been influenced by a physician called Dr. Silkwood who promoted the idea that alcoholism was a disease and not moral failing. The early members of AA became convinced that it was a disease that could be cured with a spiritual program. In order to make this cure available to more people it was necessary for Alcoholics Anonymous split completely away from the Oxford Group. In 1939, the group released a book called Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than 100 Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism. This later became known as the Big Book. It has become the most successful self-help publication of all time, with over 20 million copies sold. Most of the content was written by Bill, but he did get a great deal of help from the early members of the group. The Big Book describes in detail the program of recovery offered by Alcoholics Anonymous. It is the most important text for this fellowship, and most meetings include a reading from this book. Long-term members of AA will be able to quote chunks of the book from memory. The influence of the Oxford Group on the Twelve Steps is noticeable, but Bill W. did manage to create something that was more appropriate to recovering alcoholics.