The Wartime Big Book Debacle: The Curious Case of the 7th & 8th Printings

The Wartime Big Book Debacle

The Curious Case of the 7th & 8th Printings

During World War II, even something as unassuming as a book was subject to wartime sacrifice.

The United States government imposed strict regulations on publishing, limiting the size and weight of books in an effort to conserve paper for the war. Publishers across the country were forced to adapt—but for Alcoholics Anonymous, this created an unexpected and fascinating chapter in the history of its foundational text.

By this time, Alcoholics Anonymous had already earned its now-famous nickname: “The Big Book.” The name itself was no accident. Bill Wilson and Hank Parkhurst reportedly wanted the book to appear substantial—worthy of its then-hefty $3.50 price tag. To justify that cost, the early printings used thicker paper and generous margins, physically enlarging the book beyond what the text alone required.

But wartime realities would soon challenge that identity.

The 7th Printing: A Mysterious Misstep

In January 1945, AA began production of the 7th printing of the First Edition, intending to comply with government mandates by reducing the book’s size.

Curiously, that didn’t happen.

Despite the intention—and even an “Important Notice” printed inside explaining the need to shrink the book due to wartime regulations—the 7th printing remained essentially unchanged in size.

Why?

No definitive explanation has ever surfaced. What we do know is that the 7th printing was produced in extremely limited numbers, with estimates ranging from 300 to 500 copies—a dramatic drop compared to the roughly 5,000 copies typical of earlier printings.

For collectors and historians, this raises an intriguing possibility:

the 7th printing may represent a transitional failure—a moment where intention and execution didn’t align, and the presses simply hadn’t yet been adjusted.

The 8th Printing: The Smallest Big Book Ever Made

Whatever caused the delay, it was quickly corrected.

On February 12, 1945, Alcoholics Anonymous released the 8th printing, and this time, the changes were unmistakable.

The book was significantly reduced in size, making it the smallest of all 16 printings of the First Edition Big Book.

For the first—and only—time, the “Big Book” wasn’t particularly big at all.

This printing stands as a direct physical reflection of wartime America: constrained resources, enforced efficiency, and adaptation under pressure. It’s one of the rare instances where global events visibly shaped the form of AA’s most important text.

A Return to Form

After the war ended, those restrictions were lifted.

With the 9th printing, the book returned to its more familiar, larger format—restoring the physical presence that had helped define it from the beginning.

Why This Matters

For collectors, the 7th and 8th printings represent more than just variations in size—they capture a moment when history pressed directly into the pages of the Big Book.

• The 7th printing is rare, puzzling, and imperfect—a snapshot of transition.

• The 8th printing is deliberate, compliant, and unique—the smallest Big Book ever produced.

Together, they tell a story of adaptation, scarcity, and resilience—not unlike the story within the book itself.