The Little Book: A Collection of Alternative 12 Steps

The Steps are our tools of recovery. While a bad craftsman may blame his tools, a master craftsman celebrates his, keeping them clean and sharp--and is always ready to try a new tool to get the job done.I grew up in the fifties thinking that a typical American push-saw was the only way to cut wood - and it worked. But the first time I used a Japanese razor-edged pull-saw, it blew me away. What a wonderful new idea - new to me - from across the world!So it was for me when I read the variations of the Steps in this little gem of a book.Take Step 7: "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings" in AA's Big Book. Over the years I've tried really hard to get this to work, but for me the idea of a divine hand reaching down from the clouds and plucking out the bad bits just worked less and less. In The Little Book I find, as just some examples that appeal to me personally, "Work honestly, humbly and courageously to develop our assets and to release our personal shortcomings." In another set of Steps there is "Humbly began the process of deep change, so we could overcome our weakness." Any yet again, "With the assistance of others, and our own firm resolve, we transformed unskillful aspects of ourselves and cultivated positive ones." Now these are translations of the original intent that I can get a grip on.I mention Step 7 because it is a hot button for me; it was depressing me. With these ideas I can get it restarted and find new ways to tackle the job. Just like that first cut I made with a Japanese saw. But all the Steps are here in the book, with the same wide range of interpretations.Roger includes interpretations of each step by four well qualified and thoughtful authors, which gives a nice background and idea-starters for all the newer variations. There is also an excellent essay on where the Steps came from in the first place--from the cultural and religious background of Bill W. and the original AAs through to the arguments that took place over their final form, the place of God in them, and what this means for agnostics and atheists.I found this little book useful, refreshing and enlightening. I really recommend it for anyone wanting a new view of the Steps - especially to any agnostic, who, like me, just can't see the point of getting sore knees over it.

Excellent! This book offers support to those who wish to work the 12-step process within their fellowship but who can't or don't want to convert to an entirely different faith.It's short, easy to digest, and gets straight to the point. Loved the historical review of the 12 steps and how they were developed. It's especially helpful to see versions of the 12 steps that are centered on a spirituality that is not anthropomorphic.Essential reading for sponsors who want to broaden their own view or offer help to someone with a different view of spirituality and psychological healing.Thank you to the authors and contributors who made this book possible.

What a gift, after years of struggling with the clearly Christian concepts of the 12 steps, this collection of modern interpretations gives people of science the support needed to recover from addiction.

if you are an alcoholic but struggle with AA's emphasis on a Higher Power (more specifically God) this book presents alternative approaches which still work within the context of the 12 steps. Some are quite radical but others are a more moderate approach to distinguishing between religion and spirituality.

This book and its author have been inspirational for those looking for more personalized 12 steps. The commonalities among these steps from many different recovery programs show the continued relevance of "the Steps" today.The steps were meant to be suggestions only. This book has many other suggestions with the same import as the originals, but having more currency now. Six of the 12 steps in the "Big Book" mentioned a theistic higher power that seems out of date now. Recovery does not need any specific belief system to work. Recovery simply needs belief in yourself and working with others.The "Little Book" has become a staple in my home group's literature.

This book is a quick read and gives some excellent alternative perspectives to the 12 steps. It helped me find a way to approach certain steps that I have been having trouble embracing.

This book doesn't have much to say. I expected some discussion about the revisions.

Excellent book! While SMART Recovery is my preferred method of recovery, I wanted to give 12-step one more chance to be palatable. This book does it! There are many ways to think of the steps and many of them really sang with me while others give me sour face. I feel as if I could deal w a 12 step meeting with this book's help when SMART isn't available. Thanks for this!

Very well written and invaluable to many who have difficulty with the god concept.

Excellent book illustrating a number of different versions of the standard 12-step program, allowing for it to be a considerable value (I believe) to a wider audience. It will certainly appeal to those who struggle with the Higher Power concept, for instance.

very good book

It is a little tresure, a great daily reference. I would highly recommend itHelen

Augment other 12 step spiritual exercises.