Alcoholics Anonymous of Mississippi

Assembly: 2nd Quarter

The Literature Committee had a very productive meeting discussing plans for AA literature awareness, availability, and distribution among home groups and districts and analyzing the 2026 Agenda Items.  Members shared ideas such as providing workshops with information on AA literature and incorporating more AA literature into group meetings. The majority of the literature committee’s discussion was on the agenda items with the committee analyzing Agenda Items A-I.  The Annual Review of Recovery Literature Matrix (Item A) was discussed, and the committee agreed that the Literature Matrix is a valuable tracking tool that makes the analysis of AA literature distribution more efficient.  (Item B) Review Content Format of the Literature Kit and Workbook was examined by the literature committee with concern regarding the format of the Literature Workbook. The majority agreed that the workbook be formatted into a less outdated manner that was easier to navigate and comprehend.  It was decided that the Literature Kit is a beneficial resource for AA members.  The agenda item to Review Progress Report on the Development of the Fourth Edition of the Book Alcoholicos Anonimos-Spanish (Item C) was analyzed by the literature committee, and the main concerns were low sales of previous editions and the cost of printing a Fourth Edition.  There was much discussion on (Item D) Review Draft of the Fifth Edition of the Book Alcoholics Anonymous especially concerning the removal of 30 out of 42 stories and replacing them with updated stories. The majority felt that it would be more prudent to simply add fewer new stories and keep the old ones.  A new forward and updated preface along with updates to expand on existing ideas in Appendices III, V, and VI were viewed by the literature committee as acceptable.  The need for a more anonymity conscience jacketless cover was also discussed as a Proposed Agenda Item (PAI), and the committee felt that this should be considered.  Review Progress on the Update to the book Living Sober (Item E) was examined by the literature committee with a decision that considering the fact Living Sober has tremendous sales an updated version beginning with chapters 10, 14, and 16 would be acceptable.  (Item F) Progress Report on the Development of a Plain Language Big Book Amendment Process was discussed with support for a more efficient process for receiving, considering, and responding to suggestions for changes especially utilizing a visual representation of the process.  Review Progress Report of Subcommittee Exploring the Needs of Spanish-Speaking Members for Tools to Access the Big Book (Item G) provided information on a draft survey to access the need for additional tools for Spanish-speaking AA members, and the literature committee agreed that a survey would be beneficial in accessing the need.  (Item H) Review Progress Report on the Development of a Pamphlet for the Asian and Asian-American Alcoholic was considered with the main concern of the committee being the cost of continually writing new pamphlets. Points were also made for the attraction pamphlets provide for so many alcoholics.  Consider Publishing the Personal Stories from the Fourth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous not Included in the Draft Fifth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (Item I) was reviewed by the literature committee with a suggestion that the sales of Experience, Strength, and Hope should be considered before publishing another book of removed stories. Also, it was suggested that the old stories be left in the Fifth Edition and fewer new stories be added.  Overall, the literature committee reviewed and discussed Literature Agenda Items (A-I) with due diligence and commitment.

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