Big Book Word Study is an independent, unofficial companion site for readers studying Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly called the Big Book.
The purpose of this site is simple: to help readers slow down, look at important words, and better understand how recovery language is used in the Big Book.
This site is especially focused on the front matter, The Doctor’s Opinion, and the first 164 pages of the Big Book. These are the pages many readers return to again and again in study, meetings, sponsorship, and personal recovery.
Why this site exists
Some words in the Big Book are familiar, but not always simple.
Words like allergy, craving, resentment, humility, sanity, power, inventory, amends, shame, surrender, and usefulness can carry older meanings, recovery meanings, spiritual meanings, and practical meanings.
Sometimes a reader knows the word but misses the depth.
Sometimes a newcomer hears a word in a meeting and is not sure what people mean.
Sometimes an older word can sound strange, harsh, religious, medical, or outdated until it is studied more carefully.
Big Book Word Study is meant to help with that.
Each word study gives plain-English meaning, older meaning, recovery context, common misunderstandings, study notes, Big Book page references, and related words.
How to use this site
This website works best with a copy of the Big Book in your hand.
The word studies are not meant to replace the Big Book. They are meant to help you return to it with more clarity.
A good way to use the site is:
Read the word study.
Open the Big Book to the page references.
Read the surrounding passage.
Notice how the word or idea is being used.
Compare related words.
Talk it over with a sponsor, trusted recovery friend, group, or spiritual adviser when appropriate.
The goal is not to win arguments about words. The goal is to understand, apply, and grow.
Page references
Page references on this site refer to the printed Fourth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, commonly called the Big Book.
Digital versions, large-print editions, the Plain Language Big Book, translations, and other formats may display pages differently.
When this site gives a page reference, it is meant as a study aid. The best practice is to read the surrounding passage in context rather than lifting a single line or word out by itself.
Independent and unofficial
Big Book Word Study is independent and unofficial.
It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or any AA service body.
This site does not reproduce or replace the Big Book. It is designed as a companion resource for readers who already have access to a copy of the book.
A note about tone
This site tries to be careful, respectful, and useful.
Recovery words can touch painful parts of life: guilt, shame, fear, harm, resentment, dishonesty, selfishness, grief, faith, God, and repair.
The goal here is not to shame anyone, argue with anyone, or speak for AA as a whole.
The goal is to help readers study words honestly and thoughtfully, with the Big Book open.
Support this site
Big Book Word Study is free to use.
This independent site takes time to maintain. Optional support helps with hosting, research, and future word studies.