This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. This audiobook presents the complete, unabridged 1955 Second Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous—including the full basic text (pages 1–164) —line by line, alongside modern commentary designed to help any listener understand and apply the Twelve Steps. The original Big Book text is in the public domain, and this is a zero-profit project for the author.
The commentary never rewrites or modernises the Big Book. Instead, it follows each paragraph closely, offering clear, practical reflections that help listeners navigate the religious language, moral tone, and 1930s cultural framing without losing the depth of AA’s message. It speaks equally to believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who has struggled to interpret the Steps through the original wording.
Jude Barnes explores how the Big Book’s historical limitations—especially in the chapter We Agnostics—can create barriers for newcomers, and shows how the programme still works even where the argumentation falters. The aim is not to replace the Big Book but to open it up, offering a path into the Twelve Steps for those who have felt excluded, confused, or put off by the language.
This edition is for anyone who wants to take the Steps but isn’t sure what they truly mean; for those who sense power in the Big Book but can’t easily access it; for newcomers who want guidance; and for long-time members revisiting the text from a new angle. Nothing is summarised or altered—every line of the original is preserved, followed by commentary to help listeners understand the intention, meaning, and practical application.
Whether you’re approaching the Big Book for the first time or returning with new eyes, this audiobook offers a clear, inclusive route into the foundational text of recovery.
