Collective Voice

Before there was a Tradition Two, A.A.'s first members wrote their book and named it the way a group decides: together, by vote. Bill W. wrote in 1946 (A.A. pamphlet P-17, p. 41) that the Big Book "was the product of thousands of hours of discussion. It truly represented the collective voice, heart and conscience of those of us who had pioneered the first four years of A.A." Collective means shared by all of them. Even the title went to the members (p. 42): "Thinking up titles and voting upon them at meetings became one of our main activities." The Akron and New York groups voted, and a narrow majority chose a different name, The Way Out. It changed only when a member found twelve books already had that title, and Alcoholics Anonymous became the first choice. The book that carries the message was not one man's work handed down. It was a group conscience on paper. The Long Form, printed seven years after the book, names the same authority (Big Book, p. 563): "For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience." Today a group's readings and format are sometimes picked by whoever hosts the room. Test it tonight: ask whether your group voted on what is read aloud at your meeting.