Step 1

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

161 readings, newest first · read straight through on one page

  1. Why do I drink? Why do I drink too much?15 October 2026
  2. Devil ex machina17 May 2026
  3. The fallacy of agency8 May 2026
  4. The failure of other methods6 May 2026
  5. Hitting bottom15 March 2026
  6. Compulsion26 February 2026
  7. Insanity vs compulsion9 February 2026
  8. Ground–consequent vs cause–effect8 February 2026
  9. Grounds22 January 2026
  10. Four causes1 December 2025
  11. Force17 November 2025
  12. Insanity3 October 2025
  13. Step One: one idea19 August 2025
  14. Off to the circus17 July 2025
  15. The unstoppability of the spree10 July 2025
  16. Runaway train7 July 2025
  17. Potential versus true4 July 2025
  18. The Happening21 June 2025
  19. Trojan Horse20 June 2025
  20. Camden Town18 June 2025
  21. Spirit > Reason > Impulse7 June 2025
  22. Insanity5 June 2025
  23. No mental defence3 June 2025
  24. Baffled9 May 2025
  25. Defence8 March 2025
  26. Against my will14 January 2025
  27. Smashed29 November 2024
  28. The page 44 'or'9 November 2024
  29. A talk on the basics of AA ...3 November 2024
  30. Smashed3 November 2024
  31. Dimmer switch24 October 2024
  32. Being drunk through23 October 2024
  33. Twisted fire starter22 October 2024
  34. Not a cloud on the horizon7 October 2024
  35. Playing the tape forward, etc.3 October 2024
  36. Hammers, jaywalkers, and Bill24 September 2024
  37. Number one offender23 September 2024
  38. Re-potting the potted14 September 2024
  39. Full throttle25 August 2024
  40. Double-edge sword16 August 2024
  41. Pop Quiz10 August 2024
  42. Being incompetent is not part of alcoholism4 August 2024
  43. Uphill struggle: What is insanity?18 July 2024
  44. Withdrawals16 July 2024
  45. Mental obsession15 July 2024
  46. Physical craving15 July 2024
  47. Open wide24 May 2024
  48. I drank because29 April 2024
  49. "Could not manage"25 February 2024
  50. Twelve & Twelve, Step One, Paragraphs 3–512 August 2023
  51. Twelve & Twelve, Step One, Paragraph 212 August 2023
  52. Twelve & Twelve, Step One, Paragraph 18 August 2023
  53. The first three Steps in outline6 June 2023
  54. Step One in the 12 x 12: a summary18 March 2023
  55. Why alcoholics drink18 October 2022
  56. Nonsense12 October 2022
  57. I drank because ...10 October 2022
  58. Al-Anon insanity28 September 2022
  59. Step Zero: The now and forever deal22 September 2022
  60. Insanity21 September 2022
  61. Falling through the ice18 September 2022
  62. Physical craving18 September 2022
  63. How do slips happen?15 September 2022
  64. Spiritual malady: Part of Step One?10 September 2022
  65. The certain type of hard drinker10 September 2022
  66. Insanity23 July 2022
  67. Sober a while and screwed?23 June 2022
  68. Step 01 - AA and other addictions23 June 2022
  69. Big Book quotations on Step One3 June 2022
  70. Step One: a shocking prospect28 May 2022
  71. Step One from the outside28 May 2022
  72. A mini-Step One crib-sheet22 May 2022
  73. Retreading Step One26 April 2022
  74. There is no why15 April 2022
  75. 'I drank because [fill in the blank]'9 April 2022
  76. Step One and Step Six15 March 2022
  77. Similarities, not differences3 March 2022
  78. A spiritual solution9 February 2022
  79. On purpose or powerless8 February 2022
  80. I drank because ...10 January 2022
  81. "I drank because of how it made me feel"28 November 2021
  82. Slips and roots18 September 2021
  83. The lifeboat18 September 2021
  84. Choice18 September 2021
  85. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde24 August 2021
  86. Conflict about drinking12 July 2021
  87. Is insanity part of Step One?12 June 2021
  88. Is it a cop-out?17 May 2021
  89. I knew I was alcoholic ...17 May 2021
  90. Q: I drink too much and too often but I haven't had any consequences. Do I need to stop?30 April 2021
  91. Q: What makes us not want to stop when we've had our first drink?30 April 2021
  92. How do I know I'm an alcoholic?18 April 2021
  93. What does the dash mean?16 March 2021
  94. Step One: where are the quotations in the Big Book?6 March 2021
  95. Steps One to Three in a nutshell30 January 2021
  96. Unmanageability is not unhappiness, disorganisation, or incompetence5 January 2021
  97. The runaway trains10 October 2020
  98. Taking Al-Anons etc. through the Big Book24 May 2020
  99. Step One4 May 2020
  100. The solution to alcoholism1 May 2020
  101. How too much information obscures the relevant truth26 January 2020
  102. Step One in brief22 December 2019
  103. An Al-Anon exercise for getting back on track18 December 2019
  104. To drink is to die21 March 2019
  105. Step One19 March 2019
  106. The way out27 November 2018
  107. The car won't start19 November 2018
  108. Step One5 November 2018
  109. Mental states preceding ...18 July 2018
  110. Step One, whatever your problem (revised 15 July)14 July 2018
  111. Elusive4 July 2018
  112. Al-Anon and boundaries2 July 2018
  113. 'I drank on ...'2 July 2018
  114. The physical allergy16 June 2018
  115. Active addiction27 April 2018
  116. We admitted that our lives had become unmanageable7 March 2018
  117. Step One20 February 2018
  118. It's not working!19 February 2018
  119. It's not about the consequences4 January 2018
  120. The only step you can complete perfectly ...2 December 2017
  121. But I only lose control sometimes!9 November 2017
  122. Craving, obsession, and preoccupation15 April 2017
  123. How do you know if you're close to a drink?21 December 2016
  124. Admitted we were powerless ...27 November 2016
  125. The first three Steps for the purposes of ad hoc inventory31 October 2016
  126. Fatal progression13 October 2016
  127. Chapter 3—Considerations—SA-adjusted version10 August 2016
  128. Chapter 2—Considerations—SA-adjusted version10 August 2016
  129. The Doctor's Opinion—Considerations—SA-adjusted version10 August 2016
  130. Washed out to sea21 July 2016
  131. What is unmanageability? A simple summary25 February 2016
  132. Augen zu und durch27 October 2015
  133. Do I have choices now?16 August 2015
  134. The phenomenon of craving9 August 2015
  135. What if I don't want to stop?27 July 2015
  136. Are you a gambling man?26 June 2015
  137. Step One: keeping it simple26 June 2015
  138. Hard drinker or real alcoholic?31 May 2014
  139. Step One in Al-Anon26 May 2014
  140. The first three Steps on problems other than alcohol28 December 2013
  141. The failure of self-knowledge15 September 2013
  142. What we learn from Jim's story13 September 2013
  143. Do alcoholics choose to drink?9 October 2012
  144. Absolute surrender17 February 2012
  145. Jim vs the pamphlet8 November 2011
  146. "I drank on ..."7 June 2011
  147. More About Alcoholism (considerations)27 February 2011
  148. What is unmanageability?1 December 2010
  149. You will take the first drink, and you won't be able to go to meetings29 November 2010
  150. The supreme sacrifice16 November 2010
  151. Chapter Two: There Is A Solution (Considerations)5 July 2010
  152. Not-So-Merry-Go-Rounds, Labyrinths, and Chess with the Devil11 June 2010
  153. Camels, Gardens, and Ruby Slippers8 June 2010
  154. Cannot or will not?21 May 2010
  155. An exercise for re-approaching Step Four29 April 2010
  156. The Sistine Chapel, cardboard boxes, and great persuaders15 April 2010
  157. "I don't miss it at all. Feel better. Work better. Having a better time."12 April 2010
  158. Alcoholism in 100 words5 April 2010
  159. Splinters, Rabbit Holes, and Wonderland3 April 2010
  160. The Race6 February 2010
  161. The real New Year's Day1 January 2010