Conference Approved Literature (CAL)
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. publishes books, pamphlets, service materials, and a monthly magazine, The Forum. Most Al-Anon and Alateen meetings offer complimentary literature to newcomers, and offer books and pamphlets for sale. This list includes a few of the many titles that are available online along with many other books that have helped thousands of alcoholic families.
How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics (B-22) Al-Anon’s basic book is ideal for sharing widely with newcomers as a way of “paying our gratitude forward.
(B-33) Members share their challenges with all aspects of intimacy–physical, emotional, and spiritual–in all relationships affected by the family illness of alcoholism.
Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses
(B-29) will prove useful for thought-provoking individual reading as well as stimulating group discussions. It shares the experiences of hundreds of members as we explore how Al-Anon principles have helped us to acknowledge, understand, and accept the losses we have experienced as a result of someone else’s alcoholism. The book covers a wide range of topics including death, financial ruin, abandoned dreams, and vanished self-esteem. With the help of Al-Anon Family Groups we can begin to heal and to live life more fully.
Discovering Choices Al-Anon’s latest book explores the many facets of our recovery in relationships. Drawing on the experience, strength, and hope of hundreds of members, it sheds light on how alcoholism has affected many different types of relationships in many different ways. It also shares why various Al-Anon tools have been helpful in improving our relationships or our attitudes about them.
Daily Readers
Hope for Today (B-27)Daily sharings from Al-Anon’s adult children members are for anyone who wants to grow in acceptance, compassion, and understanding.
Courage to Change (B16) More daily inspiration from a fresh, diverse perspective. Insightful reflections reveal surprisingly simple things that can transform lives.
One Day At A Time (B-6) An Al-Anon classic! Inspirational readings relate Al-Anon philosophy
Other Books and Pamphlets
In All Our Affairs: Making Crisis Work for You
Facing difficult situations, members reveal how they applied specific Al-Anon principles. Includes overcoming problems with abuse, death, infidelity, and more.
The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage
Can Al-Anon help your relationship? Explore the problems of alcoholism in marriage, and includes tips for applying the Twelve Steps to relationships.
From Survival to Recovery: Growing up in an Alcoholic Home
Al-Anon adult children tell their stories — with pathos and humor, with courage and rigorous honesty — revealing the pain, recovering the past, and renewing the hope for all of us.
Lois Remembers Lois W., a co-founder of Al-Anon recalls the eventful years before and after the founding of AA and Al-Anon.
Paths To Recovery – Al-Anon’s Steps, Traditions, and Concepts Al-Anon’s Steps, Traditions, and Concepts Shares love, compassion and challenge; the experience, strength and hope of Al-Anon members’ personal growth experiences worldwide. Long awaited and asked for — at last, an in depth study of Al-Anon’s three legacies, the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts.
How to Order
The quickest way to obtain Al-Anon literature is at your nearest Al-Anon Family Group meeting. Titles are available AT COST. Popular titles are usually available at every meeting, or can be ordered through the group secretary.
You can also order Al-Anon/Alateen literature and materials on-line or contact WSO at (757) 563-1600 for a catalog or download an order form (S-16)
Literature can be ordered directly from Georgia Al-Anon Central Services by downloading an order form.
Why CAL Materials?
Please note that Al-Anon uses only literature approved by the Al-Anon Family Groups World Service Conference at Al-Anon meetings and functions. This Conference Approved Literature (CAL) contains readings written by and selected by participants in the Al-Anon program, which are designed to follow the principles of Al-Anon. These principles include the concept of neutrality and respect for the personal beliefs of individuals in the Al-Anon program.
Key Al-Anon literature topics and materials include:
- How to use and understand The Al-Anon Family Groups program
- Learning about the effects of alcohol on the alcoholic and other people
- How to recover from the effects of someone else’s drinking
- Marriage and alcoholism
- How to improve our lives through emotional and spiritual growth (non-religious materials)
- How teenagers can improve their lives when affected by someone else’s drinking
- How people attending Al-Anon meetings can help to improve Al-Anon