Inc. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services 
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age 
A brief history of a unique movement

A.A. co-founder Bill W. tells the story of the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous from its make-or-break beginnings in New York and Akron in the early 1930s to its spread across the country and overseas in the years that followed. A wealth of personal accounts and anecdotes portray the dramatic power of the A.A. Twelve Step program of recovery — unique not only in its approach to treating alcoholism but also in its spiritual impact and social influence.

Bill recounts the evolution of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts for World Service — those principles and practices that protect A.A.s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service — and how in 1955 the responsibility for these were passed on by the founding members to the Fellowship (A.A.’s membership at large). In closing chapters of
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, early ‘friends of A.A., ‘ including the influential Dr. Silkworth and Father Ed Dowling, share their perspectives. Includes 16 pages of archival photographs.

For those interested in the history of A.A. and how it has withstood the test of time,
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age offers on the growth of this ground-breaking movement.


Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age has been approved by the General Service Conference.

About the author

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.) is the corporate publishing arm of Alcoholics Anonymous, a worldwide fellowship that today numbers over two million individuals recovering from alcoholism. Best known as the publisher of the ‘Big Book, ‘ A.A.W.S.’s mission is to carry the message of recovery from alcoholism through print, ebooks, audio books, video, PSAs and more.