Search the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
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“Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.”
— How It Works, p. 58
Popular passages in the Big Book
The 12 Traditions (Appendix I)
The Twelve Traditions live in the Big Book's Appendix I, “The A.A. Tradition.” The short form is on pages 561–562; the Long Form runs pages 563–566. Search “12 traditions” above to jump to page 563.
The Traditions are governance — organizational and structural principles about money, authority, membership, public relations, and autonomy. They are not about God or a higher power. “Group conscience” means the group's collective decision; the older phrase “a loving God … in our group conscience” means no single person is in charge — not a theological claim.
Tradition Three, Long Form: “Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.” No treatment center, facility, or institution can own or authorize an A.A. group.
Common questions
Which edition of the Big Book does the search cover?
The 4th Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, from the Title Page through the Personal Stories and the appendices. Page numbers match the printed 4th Edition.
Can I search by page number?
Yes. Type a page number like 417, page 83, or a Roman numeral like xxv and the search jumps straight to that page's text. Pages that are blank in the book resolve to the nearest printed page.
Does the search include the 12 Traditions?
Yes. The Twelve Traditions appear in the Big Book's Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition. The short form is on pages 561 to 562 and the Long Form runs pages 563 to 566. Searching "12 traditions" brings up page 563.
Where is Step 12 in the Big Book?
Step 12 is stated on page 60, and it is lived out in the chapter Working With Others, which runs pages 89–103. Searching "step 12" shows the Step text and points to Working With Others, pp. 89–103.
Is it free?
Yes. The search is free, needs no account, and sets no cookies. The search runs in your browser.
This is an independent educational search tool over Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition. It is not official AA literature and not medical advice. Page references are to the printed 4th Edition. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).