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John P. from Tuscaloosa, AL on 10/18/1964

John P. from Tuscaloosa, AL on 10/18/1964

Big Book Story Authors
February 15, 2025

The Professor and the Paradox

A paradox is an apparently contradictory statement that may nevertheless be true. AA is full of paradoxes (there are six direct references to them in the BB and the 12&12). John P. picks up on four of these. First, that we surrender to win: we admit our powerlessness over alcohol and this frees us from its power over us. Second, that we give away to keep: we give our sobriety away through service and this helps to keep us sober. Third, that we suffer to get well: suffering brings us to our bottom, and our common suffering brings us together in recovery. Fourth, that we die to live: through a spiritual awakening the old self gradually dies out and is reborn to a life that is happy, joyous, and free.

John got sober in February 1949. His story, “The Professor and the Paradox,” first appeared in the 2nd edition of the Big Book in 1955. He published an update in the A.A. Grapevine of July, 1967 whose title, “Miraculous Is the Word,” suggests why the apparently contradictory can nevertheless be true.

 

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  • Speakers
    • Daily Featured Speakers
    • AA – Alcoholics Anonymous
      • The Best of Bill Wilson
      • Conferences
      • Online Conferences
      • Area Conventions
      • State Conventions
      • International Conventions
        • 1950 Cleveland
        • 1955 St. Louis
        • 1960 Long Beach CA
        • 1965 Toronto
        • 1970 Miami
        • 1975 Denver
        • 1980 New Orleans LA
        • 1985 Montreal
        • 1990 Seattle
        • 1995 San Diego
        • 1998 Florida
        • 2000 Minneapolis, MN
        • 2005 Toronto
      • Global Languages
        • Polish Speaking
        • Finnish Speaking
        • Japanese Speaking
        • French Speaking
        • Portuguese Speaking
        • Italian Speaking
        • German Speaking
        • Farsi Speaking
      • Popular Speakers
      • Individual Speakers
      • AA Pioneers
      • Big Book Story Authors
      • Young People in AA
      • AA Workshops
    • Al-Anon (AFG)
    • CA – Cocaine Anonymous
      • Hell and Back
      • CA World Conventions
    • NA – Narcotics Anonymous
    • HA – Heroin Anonymous
    • ACA – Adult Children of Alcoholics
    • CoDA – Co-Dependents Anonymous
    • SA – Sexaholics Anonymous
    • OA – Overeaters Anonymous
    • AE – Addictive Eaters Anonymous
    • Women in Recovery
    • Libraries
      • Dicobe Media Library
      • Altadena Tape Library
      • Meeting Audio Libraries
        • AA Comes of Age Book Study
        • Big Book Comes Alive Step Study Workshop
        • Box of Chocolates
        • Buckingham Group
        • Camberwell Group
        • Growing In Understanding
        • Serenity Improvement Group
        • Traditions Workshop with Nancy K
  • RS History Meetings
  • History
    • Reel to Reel Recordings
    • History Blogs
    • History Workshops
  • More
    • Topics
      • Meditation
      • Emotional Sobriety
      • Fear
      • Gratitude
      • Working With Others
    • Authors
      • Featured Authors
    • Blog
      • Recovery Blog
      • Guest Stories
      • Lifestyles
      • Recommended Readings – Articles and Books
    • Our Story: Preserving the Voices of Recovery
    • Contact
    • US States
      • California
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