Twelve Steps for You: Let Our Creator, A.A. History, and the Big Book Be Your Guide

In 12 Step groups, there is a constant stream of questions: How do I take the 12 Steps? How do I work those Steps? How do people practice the 10th, 11th, and 12th Steps? The questions have gone on for decades, and 12 Step guides abound. Yet there have seldom been simple, complete answers.

Author Dick B. has devoted 13 years to researching the roots of Alcoholics Anonymous, its Big Book, its Twelve Steps, and the history of how each developed. The result is this group of simple instructions based on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous, the contributions of its founders, and the writings and teachings of its predecessors.

In just a few pages, you will learn what the "Twelve" ideas were in the mind of their writer - Bill Wilson. You will learn how they developed from the 7 practices of the pioneers in Akron. You will see the various ways in which Wilson later phrased the "six steps" he said were representative of the word-of-mouth program used before the Big Book was published. Far more important, you will see the Step ideas described in the journal kept by Dr. Bob's wife Anne Smith, in the teachings and writings of Bill's spiritual mentor Rev. Sam Shoemaker, Jr., Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in New York, and in the life changing program of the Oxford Group, from which A.A. sprang. Most importantly, you'll see where in the Bible the ideas can be found in the Bible - from which all the basic ideas of A.A. and the Twelve Steps were.

For the first time in many decades, you can see how to take the 12 Steps in accordance with the instructions of A.A.'s Big Book, how to understand each step in terms of its varied historical root, and how you can know the meaning and purpose of each Step once you see how the fit into the basic, original program of A.A. which involved "finding God," "reliance on the Creator," "establishing a relationship with God," and practicing the principles of the Bible as they found their way into the principles of 12 Step programs.

Long needed, this simple tool meets requests from clergy, sponsors, counselors, therapists, facilitators, and those wanting accurate, helpful guidance as to the steps from the Bible, A.A.'s Founders, and A.A.'s Big Book. Writer Dick B. is a hands-on recovered AA. He's long been sober and active in the program, gone to many Big Book Seminars, attended thousands of meetings and conferences, conducted many AA history programs, and sponsored almost 100 men and women in their recovery. He knows the questions. He's researched the answers. He's utilized them in helping hundreds of newcomers. And here he presents them for you.