The Big Book Was a Flop at First - When AA’s foundational text, Alcoholics Anonymous (aka the Big Book), was published in 1939, it sold so poorly that early members feared bankruptcy. Only 5,000 copies moved in the first year, but a 1941 Saturday Evening Post article turned it into a bestseller overnight. Coffee Is AA’s Unofficial Mascot - AA meetings are synonymous with bottomless coffee pots, but this started because early members needed something to replace booze during long, late-night talks. Some groups jokingly call it “the 13th step” for how much it fuels recovery chats. The Serenity Prayer Wasn’t Original - AA popularized the Serenity Prayer (“God, grant me the serenity…”), but it was written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s. Bill Wilson stumbled across it in a newspaper and thought it was perfect for AA’s spiritual vibe. AA’s Founders Were Stock Market Gamblers - Bill Wilson, AA’s co-founder, was a Wall Street stockbroker who lost everything in the 1929 crash, partly due to his drinking. His hustle to “fix drunks” mirrored his speculative past, but this time, it paid off in sobriety. The Oxford Group Roots Were Wild - AA evolved from the Oxford Group, a Christian movement that held “house parties” where people confessed sins publicly. AA ditched the religious dogma but kept the confessional vibe, turning it into the 12 Steps. AA Meetings Have Secret Codes - If you see a sign for a “Friends of Bill W.” meeting at a hotel or cruise ship, it’s code for an AA gathering. It’s a discreet nod to co-founder Bill Wilson, letting members find each other without outing themselves. The 12 Steps Inspired Countless Spinoffs - AA’s 12-Step model was so successful that it birthed over 200 offshoots, from Narcotics Anonymous to Overeaters Anonymous and even Clutterers Anonymous. It’s like AA accidentally franchised recovery. AA’s Anonymity Sparked a Media Frenzy - In the 1940s, AA’s strict anonymity frustrated reporters who wanted names. When Cleveland’s first AA group grew from 20 to 500 members after a 1939 newspaper story, the media learned anonymity was AA’s secret sauce, not a gimmick. Sister Ignatia Was AA’s Unsung Hero - Sister Ignatia, a nun at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, worked with Dr. Bob to treat 5,000 alcoholics in the 1940s. She gave out “sacred heart” medallions to sober patients, starting AA’s tradition of sobriety coins. AA’s Global Reach Includes Antarctica - AA has over 120,000 groups in 180 countries, including meetings at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Recovering alcoholics in the frozen tundra prove there’s nowhere too remote for a meeting.