The Other Bible

A glimpse into the making of the "Big Book," the bible of Alcoholics Anonymous, can now be revealed thanks to a newly released early manuscript. Since its release in 1939, the Big Book has sold over 27 million copies, been translated into more than 50 languages and spawned dozens of 12-step programs covering everything from gambling and overeating to drugs and debt. As it turns out, the original manuscript was given quite a peer review by an estimated 400 editors, doctors, psychiatrists and trusted associates of AA cofounders Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. The most contentious parts of the Big Book draft seemed to focus on the spiritual aspect: how to deal with God and religion, which were seen as intrinsic parts of the program's recovery process. The newly released manuscript, edits and all, is called The Book that Started it All.