In many AA discussion meetings, a chairperson introduces one topic to start sharing. A clearly defined topic helps newcomers follow the conversation and helps the group remain centered on sobriety. You may hear people call these AA subjects, AA meeting subjects, or AA topics for discussion. The wording changes, but the purpose is similar: give the room a focused place to begin.
If you’re newer to AA and want a quick foundation before jumping into topic meetings, see our guide to AA meaning and how it works.
Many Alcoholics Anonymous meeting topics come from the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, AA slogans, and AA literature. AA has also published suggested topics for discussion meetings that include ideas like discussing the Steps and reading from AA literature.
If your group uses slogans that show up on recovery tokens, this guide breaks down the Unity, Service, Recovery coin meaning in plain language.
Key Takeaways
- Stay focused by using a clear AA meeting topic that helps keep sharing centered on sobriety.
- Choose a format (discussion, Step/Tradition, or literature study) so the meeting flow and expectations are consistent.
- Use proven topics like Steps, Traditions, sponsorship, acceptance, fear, resentment, and gratitude to support steady discussion.
- Keep it beginner-friendly with practical prompts about first meetings, early sobriety routines, and how sponsorship works.
- Use the Big Book for shared language and structured study, and note that page numbers can vary by edition.
- Make topic-picking simple by rotating a list, using a topic jar, or choosing a randomized prompt when needed.
- Chair with clarity by stating the topic, offering one prompt, and keeping the tone respectful and on-topic.
- Support consistency with a stable environment that makes it easier to maintain meeting routines and preparation.
- Get quick answers with FAQs that address common questions about topic meetings, sharing, and meeting etiquette.
Why AA meeting topics matter
A topic does not control what people share, but it can set a direction. Topics can help a meeting avoid drifting into debate, unsolicited advice, or extended side conversations. One twelve-step discussion guide notes that meetings tend to be more helpful when the topic is specific and connected to staying sober, rather than a broad theme that can mean many different things to different people.
How AA meeting topics are usually chosen
Groups handle this differently. Some rotate through Steps or Traditions. Others keep a running list of AA meeting topic ideas and pick one that fits the room.
For more detail on how meetings are typically opened and chaired, see AA’s information about meeting formats.
Meeting formats that use topics
Most “topic meetings” fit into one of these formats:
- Discussion meeting: a single Alcoholics Anonymous topic for discussion is announced, then members share on it.
- Step/Tradition meeting: the topic is a Step or Tradition.
- Big Book or literature study: the topic is a passage, chapter, or concept from AA literature.
Meeting directories often label formats so people can choose what style they want that day.
If you’re also trying to understand AA meeting meaning—including how local groups, central offices, and AA World Services support meetings—this breakdown can make meeting formats and directory labels easier to follow.
For examples of how groups structure speaker, sharing, and Big Book meetings, see these sample AA meeting formats shared by an AA central office.
If you’re attending AA in Central Texas, it helps to understand listing abbreviations—use this guide to AA meeting codes in Austin, TX so you can choose a format that fits.
Choosing the topic without overthinking it
If you need an approach that feels impartial and repeatable, these options are common:
- rotate through a written list
- draw from a “topic jar”
- let the chairperson choose based on the group’s recent discussions
- use a short reading, then ask one open-ended question
The same discussion guide recommends starting with a prompt that invites immediate responses.
For a step-by-step way to turn AA meeting subjects into a focused AA meeting topic, a clear share, and a simple weekly action plan, read our AA meeting subject resources guide.
AA meeting topics list: good topics for AA meetings
Below is an AA meeting topics list that works for many discussion meetings, including options for beginners and long-term members. If you are searching for good AA topics, best AA topics, great AA topics, great AA meeting topics, or interesting topics for AA meetings, it often helps to start with a familiar theme and then narrow it to one clear question.
Core AA discussion topics
These are steady, “back to basics” AA subjects for discussion:
- the Twelve Steps (one Step at a time)
- the Twelve Traditions (one Tradition at a time)
- sponsorship (asking, boundaries, and what to expect)
- service and home group responsibility
- honesty, willingness, and open-mindedness
- anonymity and privacy (including online meetings)
- “one day at a time” and short-term focus
- acceptance and the Serenity Prayer
Many AA meeting topic suggestions also include themes such as gratitude, humility, inventory, forgiveness, and fear.
If your meeting is doing step-based discussion, this overview of the 12 Steps of AA can help frame the week’s topic in plain language.
Practical recovery topics
These AA meeting subjects can lead to concrete sharing and useful takeaways:
- cravings and urges
- triggers and relapse warning signs
- resentment and letting go of anger
- stress, sleep, and daily routines
- boundaries and saying no
- emotional sobriety and mood swings
- handling holidays, travel, or social pressure
A twelve-step discussion guide cautions that vague topics can scatter a meeting, so many groups frame a specific version of the topic (for example, “triggers at work” rather than “work”).
For a more structured approach to topics like triggers and warning signs, these relapse prevention tips can support the discussion with practical, day-to-day ideas.
Relationships and rebuilding life
These topics for AA meeting discussion can work well when they stay tied to personal responsibility and sobriety:
- making amends (including living amends)
- rebuilding trust over time
- family dynamics and changing old patterns
- friendships in sobriety
- communication and conflict without drinking
Deep AA topics and unique discussion ideas
If the group wants deeper or more reflective topics, these options are common:
- spiritual awakening and spiritual growth
- Higher Power concepts (“God as you understand”)
- prayer and meditation as practice
- forgiveness (self and others)
- humility versus self-criticism
- fear, control, and letting go
These can be unique AA discussion topics when the chairperson keeps the prompt grounded in daily actions rather than theory.
Fun AA topics and lighter meeting subjects
“Fun AA topics” can still be recovery-focused:
- having fun sober and building new hobbies
- gratitude lists and small wins
- sober celebrations and anniversaries
- building a safe weekend plan
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AA topics for beginners: beginners meeting topics
AA beginners meeting topics usually focus on basics and practical next steps. AA has published suggestions for leading beginners meetings, including covering early AA experience and foundational concepts.
If sponsorship comes up as a topic (or you’re ready to ask someone), here’s a practical guide to find an AA sponsor.
AA also offers guidance for leading beginners meetings, including ways to keep early discussions clear and accessible.
If you’re new to meetings and want the basics first, our guide explains how AA works, including common meeting formats and what to expect.
AA beginners meeting topics that often fit
- what to expect at a first meeting (including “open” vs. “closed”)
- meeting etiquette: cross-talk, time limits, confidentiality
- Steps One, Two, and Three in plain language
- how sponsorship works and how to ask
- common slogans (Keep It Simple, First Things First, Easy Does It)
- what to do between meetings (calls, readings, routines)
Beginner-friendly topic questions
If you need AA discussion topics that are easy to enter, try a question format:
- What helped you come back after your first meeting?
- What does “one day at a time” look like this week?
- What is one situation where you noticed a trigger, and what helped?
- What support do you need before the next meeting?
AA meeting topics from the Big Book with page numbers
Many groups use AA meeting topics from the Big Book because it gives the room shared language. If you use page numbers, note the edition when possible, because pagination can vary by printing.
Big Book chapter meeting topics
The Big Book table of contents can be used as a simple topic plan. For example, listed chapter page ranges include:
- Bill’s Story (pp. 1–16)
- There Is a Solution (pp. 17–29)
- More About Alcoholism (pp. 30–43)
- We Agnostics (pp. 44–57)
- How It Works (pp. 58–71)
- Into Action (pp. 72–88)
- Working With Others (pp. 89–103)
- To Wives (pp. 104–121)
- The Family Afterward (pp. 122–135)
- To Employers (pp. 136–150)
- A Vision for You (pp. 151–164)
A chapter-based topic can be as simple as naming the chapter and asking one question, such as “What stood out to you this week?” or “How did you apply this in real life?”
If your group uses Big Book passages as meeting topics, reviewing them ahead of time can make participation feel easier and more meaningful. Listening to the Big Book in audio form can also help reinforce key ideas between meetings. Our AA audio book guide explains how to use Big Book audio as a simple daily recovery practice.
Big Book topic ideas with page references
Some AA resources list topic words and where they appear in the Big Book. Examples of AA meeting topics from the Big Book with page numbers include:
- Main problem (p. 23)
- Middle-of-the-road (p. 25)
- Deep down / Higher Power (p. 55)
- Spiritual progress (p. 60)
- Resentment (pp. 64–67)
- Watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear (p. 84)
- Ceased fighting anything or anyone—even alcohol (pp. 84–85)
- To be helpful is our only aim (p. 89)
- Give it away to keep it (p. 151)
If you prefer Big Book-based discussion formats, this companion guide breaks down AA topics from the Big Book with page numbers and share prompts: AA meeting topics from the Big Book with page numbers.
AA topics for today: spin-the-wheel and other ways to choose
Groups sometimes want a neutral way to pick from AA meeting topic suggestions. If you see people searching for “AA topics spin the wheel,” they are often looking for a simple randomizer.
Fast topic-picking methods
- use a topic jar
- rotate through a shared list
- use an online “spin the wheel” with saved topics
- pick a Step, Tradition, or slogan at random
- choose a Big Book page number and discuss the main idea
Tips for chairing a topic meeting
Chairing is usually about facilitating the flow, not teaching the room. These practices often help:
- choose a topic that is specific and recovery-related
- offer one prompt, then stop talking
- invite sharing from personal experience rather than advice
- if the meeting drifts, restate the topic and the prompt
A discussion guide notes that broad topics such as “relationships” or “feelings” can mean very different things to different people, so narrowing the topic can improve focus.
How Eudaimonia Recovery Homes Supports AA Meeting Topics
A consistent AA meeting routine can be easier to build when you have stable housing and day-to-day structure. To learn more about structure, accountability, and what day-to-day life looks like in our program, explore our sober living homes overview.
Eudaimonia Recovery Homes offers sober living homes and apartments in multiple locations, and the program describes placing residences in areas that are close to recovery meetings and other practical needs. This can support people who want to attend topic meetings regularly and keep momentum with AA discussion topics over time.
Eudaimonia also describes recovery-focused community living and peer support, which may give residents more chances to talk through AA meeting topic ideas before they share in a group. In some locations, the program notes accountability features such as house management and regular drug and alcohol testing, which can help residents maintain routines that support reading, reflection, and preparation for meetings.
The organization also states that it offers practical supports like employment assistance, volunteer placement, and educational planning, which can reduce stressors that sometimes pull attention away from recovery participation.
With fewer competing pressures, residents may find it more manageable to stay engaged with meeting subjects, whether they are beginner-focused topics or Big Book-based discussions. The program also describes a phased approach intended to help people build a foundation in sobriety and move toward independent living, which can align well with making AA meetings part of a long-term routine.
Other Sober Living Locations
AA Meeting Topics FAQs
What are some good topics for AA meetings?
Many AA meeting topics come from AA literature and core program themes, such as the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, and passages read from AA materials. AA also publishes suggested topics for discussion meetings, including using AA slogans and readings to start conversation. For a meeting chair, the most workable topics are specific, recovery-focused, and easy for both newcomers and long-timers to enter.
What is a great topic for an AA meeting?
A “great” AA meeting topic is usually one that invites personal experience rather than debate. Topics like acceptance, resentment, fear, honesty, willingness, gratitude, sponsorship, and living one day at a time tend to produce clear, experience-based sharing. Choosing one focused prompt (instead of a broad theme) often helps the meeting stay on track.
What is a topic meeting?
A topic meeting is a discussion-style meeting where the chairperson introduces one subject, and members share their own experience related to that subject. In practice, the “topic” can be a Step, a Tradition, a slogan, or a short passage from AA literature. The goal is usually to create a shared starting point, not to limit what anyone can share.
Can you just turn up to AA?
In many places, yes—people can attend AA without an appointment or sign-up, and it is common for newcomers to simply show up. If you feel comfortable, letting someone know it is your first meeting may help you understand the format and what to expect. Meeting types vary, so checking whether the meeting is open or closed can also be useful.
Do you have to say your name in AA?
No one is typically required to share personal details, and many meetings use first names only to support anonymity. Some groups invite newcomers to introduce themselves, but participation is generally voluntary. If you prefer, you can attend quietly and learn the flow before speaking.
Do you have to talk at an AA meeting?
In most meetings, sharing is voluntary, and it is acceptable to listen until you feel ready. Many people attend their first few meetings without speaking, especially if they are anxious or unsure of the format. Over time, people often share when they feel safer and more comfortable.
What do you talk about at AA meetings?
AA meetings often center on how drinking affected members, what actions they took to stop, and what helps them stay sober today. In topic meetings, people share personal experience related to a specific AA discussion topic, such as a Step, a Tradition, or a recovery principle. Many groups aim to keep sharing practical and connected to sobriety.
What can I say in a AA meeting?
Many people share what brought them to AA, what early sobriety has been like, and what support they are looking for. If the meeting has a topic, it is typical to connect your experience to that topic without giving advice to others. If you are unsure what to say, listening is also a valid way to participate
What should you not say in AA?
AA groups commonly emphasize privacy and anonymity, so sharing another person’s identity or story outside the meeting is generally discouraged. Many meetings also avoid “cross-talk,” which can include responding directly to someone with advice or criticism during sharing. Group norms vary, so it helps to follow the chair’s opening guidelines and the meeting’s general tone.
How do you start a topic for a meeting?
Many chairs start by naming the topic, reading a short quote or passage, and asking one clear question that encourages personal experience. A focused prompt (for example, “What does acceptance look like this week?”) can be easier for the room to follow than a broad theme. If you are chairing regularly, rotating through a set list of AA meeting topic ideas can reduce decision fatigue.
What do you say when chairing AA meetings?
Chairs often open with a brief welcome, a short reading, and a statement of the meeting format, then introduce the AA meeting topic. The chair’s role is usually to keep time, protect the meeting’s tone, and support a respectful flow of sharing. If a group has a standard format, following that structure can help the meeting feel consistent and safe.
What is the most important step in AA?
People answer this differently based on where they are in recovery, but many members place strong emphasis on Step One because it frames the need for change and support. In discussion meetings, groups sometimes explore why specific Steps feel especially relevant at different times. If your meeting is mixed, the most practical approach is to treat this as a sharing topic rather than a debate.
How many times a week should you go to AA?
There is no universal number that fits everyone, and meeting attendance patterns often vary by person and by stage of recovery. Some people attend frequently early on to build routine and connection, then adjust over time. If you are unsure, trying different meeting formats (discussion, Step, Big Book study) can help you find what supports you best.
What is the role of the group leader in AA?
In many meetings, the chairperson (or secretary) helps start the meeting, explains the format, introduces the topic, and keeps the discussion moving respectfully. The role is usually more about facilitation than instruction. In topic meetings, this includes selecting a recovery-centered subject and offering a simple prompt to begin sharing.
