Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

"Like many serious AAs, I was handed a copy of this book, along with the 24 hour book and the Big Book, when I entered a 30 day treatment program. Then, like most AAs, I was pointed to the Big Book, and not much else. I was told not to read the Bible, not to read religious literature, and in fact not to read anything but the Big Book God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century. For a while I followed directions, but I was working with newcomers, and I needed to know how to take them through the Twelve Steps. So I turned to this Twelve and Twelve for more help. But I didn't get it. Compare Twelve Steps for You: Take the Twelve Steps with the Big Book, A.A. History, and the Good Book at Your Side.Many in A.A. just won't read this book. Many, like myself, read it but find it represents the third of three A.A. stages--the first being the original Christian Fellowship program in Akron that produced a documented 75% success rate When Early AAs Were Cured and Why, Third Edition; the second being the program with the Twelve Steps and instructions for taking them, that Bill Wilson produced in 1939Real Twelve Step Fellowship History. Then, after a dozen years of deep depression, Bill started writing again. In this book, he enlisted the editorial assistance of two Jesuit priests, Father John C. Ford and Father Ed Dowling. Ford was dedicated to getting rid of any appearance of Oxford Group influence. Roman Catholic expressions for sin were inserted. But the most difficult pill was Bill's statement that you could make your AA group your "higher power." Compare The Golden Text of A.A.: God, the Pioneers, and Real Spirituality (Why It Worked-- A.A. History Series). Unfortunately, some AAs and recovery people were soon off to the races with higher powers that could be door knobs, light bulbs, Somebody, the Big Dipper, and other absurd names for a deity. Finally, many years later, I am able to swallow this latecomer book as an essay, not a doctrinal requirement. It has some good writing. And I still refer to it to get Bill's good remarks about such steps as the First Step. If, however, you are persuaded of the importance of the Bible as the source of A.A.'s basic ideas, then this book is not one that will help your progress The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (Bridge Builders Edition)"
~ Written on 2008-08-16

"Part of working the program is literature - the twelve steps and traditions book is wonderful - practical and very helpful. I listen to a step workshop on CD that you can get from glennkaudio.com named Lila R. - her workshop is based from this book. "
~ Written on 2008-08-15

"This is a must own book for anyone who is in recovery - one day at a time from alcoholism. Every house should own this as part of your library and reading a bit of it daily. Your healthy sobriety depends on it.

Sobriety seems very difficult at times, but it passes when you have your structure in place.

It is soooo worth it!

Merna

Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!"
~ Written on 2008-06-20

"This book has a wealth of knowledge in it based on recovery from chemical dependecy and alcoholism. Its detailed view of the twelve steps and twelve traditions can be applied to any problem that anyone faces in there journey thru life. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to find the road to recovery from any life altering addiction or chemical dependency. "
~ Written on 2008-06-11

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This Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book is core for living -----and for living with our families. The hidden (and usually not talked-about in meetings) problem, though, is that more than 80% of A.A.'ers go home to a still-drinking spouse/child/elderly parent. Learning how to deal with all that is often critical to helping to maintain a sober and more sane daily life. The million-selling Getting Them Sober: You Can Help! (Getting Them Sober) book (endorsed by 'dear Abby' and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale) gives literally hundreds of practical and effective ideas on just how to do that.


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~ Written on 2008-02-18