Originally published in 1952, this classic book is used by A.A. members and groups around the world. It lays out the principles by which A.A. members recover and by which the fellowship functions. The basic text clarifies the Steps which constitute the A.A. way of life and the Traditions, by which A.A. maintains its unity.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: A Must Own Book for the Recovering Alcoholic! Comment: 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! Customer Rating: Summary: Road to Recovery Comment: 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. Customer Rating: Summary: Twelve Step/Traditions Comment: As always it is good to have these books for our Monday Night Group. I was having trouble ordering them locally so went to Amazon and had them available and priced well. I like the size. They are easier to store in our file cabinet. We give these books to new members of our group. Customer Rating: Summary: Alcoholism--------it's a family disease Comment:
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.
Customer Rating: Summary: Very Misleading Comment: It was common knowledge among the old-timers that Bill never finished--or even attemped to finish--the 9th step: He claimed the statute of limitations ran out... This is somewhat obvious by noting the tense change in his story in the original book--at the time of its writing he did not claim to have made amends--only that he was "supposed to set right the wrongs". He never achieved "the promises", or any regular peace of mind, and spent the remainder of his life chasing many other solutions, including LSD therapy, to battle the terrible depressions he suffered. It's interesting that, in this book, Bill claims that the 6th step "separates the men from the boys", when it is almost always the 9th step that takes that something extra to accomplish (apparently, it was too much for him). Further, note the copyright--the year after Bob died. It is likely that Bill didn't dare print this nonsense while Bob was around. This book is just Bill's thinking, and is not the consensus of the folks that really worked the program, as the original text is. He was a great salesman, but a very poor example of how to live--his sobriety was as a result of essentially living in the meetings, rather than that of leading a spiritual existence. This book is just his neurotic ramblings, and was written for the sole purpose of generating income for him. Too bad it has distracted so many from the original message.
