Foundation Literature
These books are the powerful base of our recovery—gentle guideposts many of us reach for when we’re brand new or needing grounding.
📘The Big Book
The foundational text of AA—stories, principles, and the Steps.
📖 Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions
Deeper insights into the Steps and Traditions of AA.
📗 Living Sober
Practical advice for living without alcohol—one day at a time.
🗓 Daily Reflections
Practical advice for living without alcohol—one day at a time.
🔍Big Book Dictionary
Compliments the Big Book with definitions of words from when the book was written.
🅱️ As Bill Sees It
Practical advice for living without alcohol—one day at a time.
📗 Came to Believe
Member stories reflecting spiritual awakenings.
📗 AA Comes of Age
The story of how AA started, grew, and matured as a fellowship.
📗 Dr Bob & the Good Oldtimers
A biography of AA co-founder Dr. Bob, with insights into the early days of the program.
📗 AA Literature Listing
A complete compilation on AA.org of all literature provided by AAWS.
SERVICE
Literature for group, area and world service.
📗Group Handbook
This guide tells how a group works most effectively, how a new group can be started, and how each group can be linked to A.A. as a whole.
📗Structure of Group Service
How AA groups connect through districts, areas, and the General Service Conference to support unity and carry the message.
📗AA Service Manual
A full guide to our service structure through our twelve concepts.
📗AA Fact Sheet
Key information about Alcoholics Anonymous.
📗AA Around the Globe
How A.A. functions in different countries.
📗Member’s Eye View
What a group is and how it works.
📗AA Terms of Use
Important information on the use of A.A. materials.
📗AA FAQ
Clearing up doubts, lifting confusion, and helping newcomers (and members alike) feel more at home.
AA Pamphlets
These AA pamphlets are short, focused, and speak to different needs—whether you’re just arriving or deepening your understanding. Take a look around.
🆕 A Newcomer Asks
Answers to common questions for those new to AA.
🙏🏼 A Brief Guide to AA
Answers to common questions for those new to AA.
👓 AA At A Glance
Answers to common questions for those new to AA.
Women Focused
Tailored to the female alcoholic.
🌈 LGBTQ+ in AA
Experience from AA members who identify as LGBTQ+.
👩🏻 Women in AA
Stories from women who found sobriety through AA.
🕊 Many Paths to Spirituality
A pamphlet for those with diverse spiritual beliefs or none at all.
New to AA
Essential information to start with.
💧This Is A.A.
Introductory overview of A.A., who we are, and how we recover.
✨ Is AA for You?
Short quiz to help you decide if AA might help.
🌿 A Newcomer Asks
Simple Q&A about your first days in AA.
🛟 Do You Think You’re Different?
Stories of people who thought AA wasn’t for them.
Identity & Experience
Stories of love, truth, and belonging.
✊🏽 AA for the Black and African American Alcoholic
Culturally relevant voices in recovery.
🪶 AA for the Indigenous People
Traditions, identity, and healing — personal stories from Native members embracing sobriety in their own cultural context.
🧒 Young People and AA
It’s never too early to find recovery.
👶 Too Young?
Stories of teens and young adults who stopped drinking early and never looked back.
💼 AA for the Older Alcoholic
You’re never too old to get sober.
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ Alcoholics in AA
Stories of love, truth, and belonging
🤰 AA for the Alcoholic with Special Needs
Supports for those with medical, hearing, or mobility needs.
Special Situations
AA experience in different life circumstances.
🚔 It Sure Beats Sitting in a Cell
How AA works inside correctional settings.
🏥 AA in Treatment Settings
How AA cooperates with rehabs, clinics, and sober living — and supports folks during and after treatment.
🧑⚕️ AA as a Resource for the Healthcare Professional
Explaining AA to therapists, doctors, and more.
🌉 Bridging the Gap
Explains how AA helps newcomers leaving treatment, detox, or incarceration feel connected and supported.
🧠 AA for Alcoholics with Mental Health Issues
Courageous and honest reflections from those living with both mental illness and alcoholism. Yes — both can recover.
💊 The AA Member – Medications & Other Drugs
Balancing medical care and sobriety: how members navigate prescriptions, mental health, and honesty with professionals.
❗Problems Other Than Alcohol
A.A.’s perspective on co‐occurring issues, mental health, etc.
Programs & Principles
Explore the 12 Steps, Traditions, and how AA works.
🖼️ The Twelve Steps Illustrated
Visual explanation of the 12 Steps.
📜 The Twelve Traditions Illustrated
Beautiful visual guide to how AA groups function.
🧭Understanding Anonymity
Why anonymity matters in AA.
🫱🏼🫲🏼FAQ’s About AA
Everything you’ve wanted to ask – answered.
✨ The “God” Word
Experience, strength, and hope from agnostic and atheist members who find recovery in AA.
Relationships & Sponsorship
How we support one another in sobriety
💞 Questions & Answers on Sponsorship
What a sponsor is — and how it works.
🧑🤝🧑 The AA Group
What a healthy AA group looks like and how it serves.
💬 Speaking at Non-AA Meetings
When AA members share their story outside the rooms.
👥 Is There an Alcoholic in Your Life?
Gentle info for friends, family, or loved ones unsure how to help someone who drinks too much.
👥 AA On the Internet
Gentle info for friends, family, or loved ones unsure how to help someone who drinks too much.
Even More
AA Essentials
Core readings, information and reflections that ground us in the heart of the program and are often shared and read at meetings.
📜 How It Works
An excerpt from Chapter 5 of the Big Book, often read at the start of AA meetings.
🔆 AA Preamble️©️
A short statement explaining what AA is—and what it is not. Often read at the beginning of meetings.
🥃 Who’s an alcoholic?
Chapter 3 of the Big Book, More About Alcoholism, which helps many of us identify with the disease and our experience.
🌈 The 9th Step Promises
(Big Book pages 83–84)
The beautiful “If we are painstaking…” paragraph — often read toward the end of meetings.
✨We Agnostics
Thoughtful discussion on spirituality and how AA fits those who question or don’t believe.
🕯 A Vision for You
Final chapter in the Big Book — a hopeful outlook on recovery and shared freedom.
🖼️Just For Today
A calming meditation card offering simple daily intentions — one small thought at a time.
A calming meditation card offering simple daily intentions — one small thought at a time.
🍇Grapevine
The international journal of AA, featuring personal stories of recovery written by it’s members.
📼Joe & Charlie Speaker Tapes (YouTube)
A practical and useful book study by two unforgettable examples.
🙏🏼The Serenity Prayer
God, Grant me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
AA Safety Card
Key safety guidelines for meetings and interactions.
AA Anonymity Card
Reminders of anonymity in A.A. contexts.
Anonymity Online & Digital Media
How anonymity applies in digital spaces.
Safety & Our Common Welfare
Safety is an important issue within A.A. — one that all groups and members
can address.
Box 459
Notes from the General Service Office of AA
The Four Absolutes
Basic principles: honesty, purity, unselfishness, love.
Acceptance
Understanding “acceptance” as a spiritual principle.
Who Me?
Addressing denial and self‐questioning in early recovery.
Guide To Serenity
Few small suggestions to ground yourself.
15 Points For An Alcoholic
Insights into characteristics or challenges common in alcoholism.
Misunderstandings, Misconceptions & Myths
Clarifying misconceptions about A.A.
Emotional Maturity
Growth in emotional and spiritual maturity through the program.
The 12 Steps Illustrated
A visual representation of the Steps for clarity.
The 12 Traditions Illustrated
A visual representation of the Traditions for understanding.
Is AA Right For You?
Helps someone decide if A.A. is right for them.
13 Steps To Alcoholism-12 Steps to Recovery
Contrast between continuing alcoholism and recovery path.
The Bedevilments
A.A.’s perspective on co‐occurring issues, mental health, etc.