This story's author, Esther E., got sober in Texas in 1941 and was inspired to seek help from AA’s relatively new General Service Office in New York after reading Jack Alexander’s seminal article about Alcoholics Anonymous published in the Saturday Evening Post. A week after she wrote to the GSO, she received literature and a referral to a local sober member of AA who could help her. But, as she related in a 1953 speech, it was the personal handwritten letter from Ruth Hock, the non-alcoholic secretary at the General Service Office, that gave her the most hope that AA could work.

In her 19 years of sobriety, until her death in 1960, Esther’s service work helped establish the Houston Group, as well as AA groups in Dallas, Fort Worth, New Orleans, and San Antonio. In 1953, one of her fellow members summed up the importance of her involvement in the Program by saying, “Esther was the catalyst that made AA work…, I don’t think the opportunity exists now for any one person to be as influential in establishing AA as Esther.” Written in the early 1950's, this story was printed only in the Second and Third Editions, so it may be heard as "brand new' by many listeners.

Howard L, sober since January 1, 1988, presents this inspired reading of the Alcoholics Anonymous and encourages listeners to revisit earlier podcast episodes that feature the main chapters and stories in the First & Second Editions. Enjoy listening on our website, BigBookPodcast.com, or download and subscribe to the podcast for free at Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you have a minute, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Also join our facebook group, Big Book Podcast Listeners, where you can share your thoughts and experiences with fellow listeners.