Originally published in 1939, when A.A. membership numbered about one hundred, "Alcoholics Anonymous" has steadily grown in readership. By the time the second edition appeared in 1955, membership had reached over 150,000, and the "Big Book," A.A. members' fond title for their basic text, had reached a distribution of more than 300,000. At the time of the third edition, in March 1976, the worldwide membership of A.A. was estimated at 1,000,000 or more. Copies of "Alcoholics Anonymous" in circulation exceeded 1,450,000. In 1995, the General Service Conference approved the recommendation: "The first 164 pages of the Big Book, 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' the preface, the forewords, 'The doctor's opinion,' 'Doctor Bob's nightmare' and the appendices remain as is." The section of personal stories was updated with new stories in the second and third editions in order to reflect the wider age range and different life experiences of alcoholics over the years since 1935, when Bill W. met Dr. Bob and the message of A.A. was born. As Bill W. wrote in a 1953 letter: "The story section of the Big Book is far more important than most of us think. It is our principal means of identifying with the reader outside A.A.; it is the written equivalent of hearing speakers at an A.A. meeting; it is our show window of results." Continuing this policy, the fourth edition includes twenty-four new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in A.A. during the early years of the 21st century. Seventeen stories are retained from the third edition, including the "Pioneers of A.A." section, which helps the reader remian linked to A.A.'s historic roots, and shows how early members applied this simple but profound program that helps alcoholics get sober today. Approximately 21 million copies of the first three editions of "Alcoholics Anonymous" have been distributed. It is expected that the new fourth edition will play its part in passing on A.A.'s basic m essage of recovery. This fourth edition has been approved by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, in the hope that many more may be led toward recovery by reading its explanation of the A.A. program and its varied examples of personal experiecnes which demonstrate that the A.A. progrma works. - Cover.