If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a basement meeting room drinking lukewarm coffee, you’ve probably heard of Joe and Charlie. They weren’t the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous—that was Bill and Bob—but many old-timers will tell you it took Joe McQuany and Charlie Parmley to actually make the Big Book make sense. When it comes to Joe and Charlie Step 4, their interpretation changed the game for thousands of people who were staring at a blank notebook, paralyzed by the idea of a "searching and fearless moral inventory."
Let's be honest. Step 4 is the one everyone dreads. It’s the hurdle where people "balk." You’re told to look at every resentment, every fear, and every "shady" thing you’ve ever done. It feels like signing up for a root canal without the Novocaine.
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But Joe and Charlie had a way of stripping away the mystery. They didn't see Step 4 as a way to beat yourself up. To them, it was a "commercial inventory." They used the analogy of a business owner: if you don’t know what’s on your shelves, you don’t know why you’re going broke. You’ve got to find the "damaged goods" so you can get rid of them.
The Famous Three-Column (and Fourth Column) Approach
Most people get stuck because they try to write their life story like a Russian novel. Joe and Charlie argued that the Big Book actually gives you a very specific grid. It’s not about flowery prose; it’s about data.
They broke it down by looking at the specific instructions on pages 64 through 71 of the Big Book. Essentially, you aren't just venting; you're looking for patterns.
- The Resentment List: You start with who you’re mad at. People, institutions, or even "principles" like the government or the church.
- The Cause: Why are you mad? Did they steal your money? Did they lie about you?
- The Affects: This is where it gets interesting. Joe and Charlie emphasized how these resentments hit our "basic instincts." Does it threaten your security? Your self-esteem? Your sex relations?
Then comes the "big one"—the fourth column. This is where most people want to close the book and go home. You have to look at your part. Joe and Charlie were firm on this: even if the other person was 99% wrong, you look at your 1%. Were you selfish? Dishonest? Self-seeking? Frightened?
Why the "Basic Instincts" Matter
Joe and Charlie spent a lot of time talking about why we act out. They argued that God gave us instincts for a reason—to survive, to procreate, to have some level of social standing. But for the alcoholic, these instincts have gone "off the rails."
Think of it like a heater in a house. You need it to stay warm (an instinct), but if the thermostat breaks, the house catches fire.
In their workshop, they explained that when our self-esteem or our "pocketbook" is threatened, we react with resentment. By identifying which instinct is being poked, we start to see why we’ve been acting like a crazy person for twenty years. It’s not just that "John is a jerk." It’s that "John threatened my job, which made me feel insecure, which made me lash out."
It’s Not About Being a "Bad Person"
One of the biggest misconceptions about Joe and Charlie Step 4 is that it’s a list of your sins. It isn't. Honestly, "sin" is a heavy word that carries a lot of baggage.
Joe and Charlie framed it as "finding the flaws in our make-up." They often talked about how we’ve been "spiritually sick." If you have the flu, you don't apologize for sneezing. You just acknowledge you’re sick and try to get the medicine. Step 4 is the diagnostic test.
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They frequently pointed out that if we don't do this, we'll keep drinking. Why? Because the "spiritual malady" (the resentment and fear) will eventually become so painful that the only "solution" our brain knows is a bottle.
The Fear and Sex Inventories
People often forget that Joe and Charlie didn't stop at resentments. They followed the Big Book’s lead into the Fear Inventory and the Sex Conduct list.
With fear, they suggested we list every single thing we’re afraid of—from "not having enough money" to "dying alone." Then, we ask why we have those fears. Usually, it’s because we’re trying to rely on our own limited power instead of a Higher Power.
The sex inventory is even more misunderstood. It’s not a "tell-all" of every encounter. It’s a review of our conduct. Where were we selfish? Did we hurt people? Did we create "unjustifiable jealousy"? The goal here is to create a "sane and sound ideal" for future relationships, not to wallow in shame.
Real-World Action Steps for Your Inventory
If you’re actually sitting down to do this right now, here is how you can apply the Joe and Charlie method without losing your mind:
- Buy a notebook and draw columns: Don't just write a diary. Use the grid. Column 1 (Who), Column 2 (Why), Column 3 (What part of me was hit), Column 4 (My part).
- Set a timer: Spend 30 minutes a day. Don't try to do it all in one sitting or you’ll get "inventory fatigue" and start making things up just to finish.
- Focus on the "Big Rocks": You don't need to list the guy who cut you off in traffic in 1994 unless you're still thinking about it today. Start with the people who still make your blood boil.
- Be honest about "My Part": This isn't about blaming yourself for being abused or cheated on. It’s about looking at your reaction and your motives. Were you dishonest to cover your tracks? Were you "self-seeking" in the relationship?
- Listen to the tapes: You can find the Joe and Charlie "Big Book Comes Alive" recordings for free on various apps and websites. Hearing their voices—their humor and their thick Southern accents—makes the process feel a lot less like a trial and a lot more like a conversation with two wise uncles.
The reality is that Joe and Charlie Step 4 isn't just about getting sober; it's about getting free. By the time you finish, you usually realize that the "monsters" in your past aren't quite as big as you thought they were once you see them on paper.
Next Steps
If you feel stuck, find a copy of the "Joe and Charlie" worksheets online. They provide a clear, visual layout of the columns described in the Big Book. Once you have your resentment list started, move directly into the "Why" and "Affects" columns before tackling "My Part" to ensure you don't get bogged down in self-judgment too early.