Big Book Study

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #11

Good morning all!

We're at Page 30 - Chapter 3, "More (Truth) About Alcoholism". This
is where we will discuss--in depth--the state of mind that preceeds
the first drink.

Let's take the time to examine what "insanity" means in this
context: less than whole; not necessarily crazy, but rather an
inability to see the truth in life. "Sanity" on the other hand means
with a complete or whole mind -- an ability to see the truth in life.

"No person likes to think that he is bodily or mentally different
from his fellows." This is a truth most of us had been unwilling to
accept. Now here is the real insanity: "The idea that somehow,
someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great
obsession of every abnormal drinker." This is the great lie that we
pursue; this is the mental obsession. To accomplish this we try a
myriad of different formulas with the same result. An inability to
see the truth in life? - you bet! "The persistence of this illusion
(untruth) is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity
or death."

Next paragraph - "The delusion (untruth) that we are like other
people, or presently may be, has to be smashed." Non-alcoholics
don't break out in handcuffs when they drink. They are able to
metabolize alcohol where the alcoholic can't.

On pages 32 to 43, four examples of the state of mind that preceeds
the first drink will be illustrated. Bill's writing style is one
where the same point will be made repeatedly to reinforce that
idea. It is important to note that he is spending an entire chapter
on Step 2's insanity. It is very important that we understand the
state of mind that precedes the first drink - the insanity of
alcoholism.

Paragraph 2, page 32 - Example #1 is "A Man of Thirty." The points
Bill brings up are these: "Once he started he had no control
whatever." Using will power he quit but here was the insane
idea: "Then he fell victim to the belief which practically every
alcoholic has - that his long period of sobriety and self-discipline
had qualified him to drink as other men." This man was dead by
the next paragraph.

At paragraph 1 on page 33 Bill utilizes his other literary device -
he summarizes: (this is the "Pickle theory") ...once an alcoholic,
always an alcoholic. "Commencing to drink after a period of
sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever. If we are planning
to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any
lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol." You can
make a pickle out of a cucumber but the process cannot be reversed.

Page 34, paragraph 2 - Here is the paragraph which discusses the
efficacy of using willpower to stop drinking. The cunning, baffling
and powerful nature of our disease usually torpedoes any effort
based on willpower.

In our next post, we will start out with the second of the four
examples "Jim the Car Salesman" and we'll begin on page 35 -
paragraph 2.

Have a great day!

Jim