Early AA Was Urgent and Direct

🕰️ The Context: Early AA Was Urgent and Direct

In the 1930s and ’40s, the AA program was still evolving. The Twelve Steps hadn’t even been formally written yet. Instead, they followed a Six-Step program rooted in Oxford Group principles. The idea was simple: get the newcomer to a spiritual awakening fast, because their life might literally depend on it.

🧑‍⚕️ Dr. Bob’s Famous One-Session Sponsorship

In the Big Book story “He Sold Himself Short”, a man named Earl T. describes how Dr. Bob took him through all six steps in one afternoon:

“We spent three or four hours formally going through the Six-Step program as it was at that time... At the moral inventory, he brought up some of my bad personality traits... We went over these at great length, and then he finally asked me if I wanted these defects of character removed... We both knelt at his desk and prayed.”

This included:

• Admitting powerlessness

• Surrendering to a Higher Power

• Moral inventory and confession

• Making restitution plans

• Committing to help others

By the end of that session, Earl had not only taken the steps—he was already planning to start a group in Chicago.

⚡ Why It Worked

• Desperation: Many newcomers were at rock bottom and ready to change now.

• Simplicity: The early program was less formal and more action-oriented.

• Spiritual urgency: They believed recovery required a rapid spiritual shift, not months of contemplation.