Comparing “Foreword to First Edition” to the original manuscript for our Basic Text

Comparison Format

— Colors appear here only and are —
— not used in the actual comparisons. —

 Words above brackets are from the pre-publication version. 
< Bracketed copy is from our Basic Text as it reads today. >

~  Format Examples  ~
       Rarely have we                                         
     < RARELY HAVE WE > seen a person fail who has thoroughly 
              directions                                      
followed our <   path   >...                                  

~         ~         ~
 Now we think you can take it!                                
<  —     —     —     —     —  >  Here are the steps we took...

~         ~         ~
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our   
    —   —                          —    —    —    —       
< conscious > contact with God < as we understood Him >...

~         ~         ~

FOREWORD < TO FIRST EDITION >

< This is the Foreword as it appeared in the >

< first printing of the first edition in 1939 >

       We, of                                                 
     < WE, OF > Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one       
hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly     
hopeless state of mind and body.  To show other alcoholics    
   PRECISELY HOW THEY CAN RECOVER                             
< precisely how we have recovered > is the main purpose of    
                           think                              
this book.  For them, we < hope > these pages will prove so   

convincing that no further authentication will be necessary.  
      hope                                                    
We < think > this account of our experiences will help        

everyone to better understand the alcoholic.  Many do not     
 yet                         he                               
<   > comprehend that < the alcoholic > is a very sick person.
                                   new          living        
And besides, we are sure that our <   > way of < life > has   
its advantages for all.                                       

     It is important that we remain anonymous because         
                            ,                                 
we are too few, at present < > to handle the overwhelming     
                                   will                       
number of personal appeals which < may > result from          

this publication.  Being mostly business or professional      
                         well                                 
folk < , > we could not <    > carry on our occupations       
                                     clearly                  
in such an event.  We would like it <       > understood      
                                         only, so that        
that our alcoholic work is an avocation < .           >       
  when                                                        
< When > writing or speaking publicly about alcoholism,       

we urge each of our Fellowship to omit his personal           
                                        A Member              
name, designating himself instead as "< a member > of         
Alcoholics Anonymous."                                        

     Very earnestly we ask the press also, to observe this    
request, for otherwise we shall be greatly handicapped.       

     We are not an organization in the conventional           

(glimpse of the original ‘working manuscript’ for these two pages)

                                        nor                   
sense of the word.  There are no fees < or > dues             
whatsoever.  The only requirement for membership is an        
honest desire to stop drinking.  We are not allied with       
any particular faith, sect or denomination, nor do we         
oppose anyone.  We simply wish to be helpful to those         
who are afflicted.                                            

     We shall be interested to hear from those who are        
getting results from this book, particularly from those       
who have commenced work with other alcoholics.  We            
   shall try            contact                               
< should like > to < be helpful to > such cases.              

     Inquiry by scientific, medical, and religious societies  
will be welcomed.                                             

     (This multilith volume will be sent upon receipt         
     <                                                >       
 of $3.50, and the printed book will be mailed, at no         
<                                                    >        
 additional cost, as soon as published.)                      
<                                       >                     

                                  ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS < . >  

e-aa discussion of Foreword to First Edition