Richmond Walker
Twenty-Four Hours a Day written by Richmond Walker is a book that offers daily
thoughts, meditations and prayers to help recovering alcoholics. It is often referred to as
“the little black book.” It is based on the book “God Calling.”
Why was the 24 Hour book was not published by A.A.?
This is from the 1954 General Service Conference Final Report (page 22):
“The Conference was asked to consider the offer of the publisher who wished to give to A.A.
Publishing, Inc. publication rights to the booklet, "Twenty-Four Hours a Day."
A two-page letter from the publisher, favoring this proposal and answering certain objections to the
proposal, was read to the Conference. The letter noted that current net profit from sales of the booklet
is about $5,300 annually. Requests that A.A. Publishing, Inc. undertake publication of the booklet
have been received from many areas, largely as the result of suggestions by the present publisher, it
was reported.
Comment by the Delegates indicated they felt it unwise to set a precedent in the case of this booklet
and expressed fear that A.A. Publishing "would be flooded with similar requests" if it did so. The
Delegate from the state in which the booklet is published said it was the consensus of his group and
of his area that the proposal not be approved.
Following full discussion of the proposal, the Conference adopted a resolution that publication rights
to ''Twenty-Four Hours a Day" not be accepted and further asked that the publisher be thanked for his
offer.”
The decision of the 1954 Conference was reaffirmed 18 years later by the
1972 Conference.