By Alex M. Author of Design for Living: Daily Meditations on the 12 Steps of A.A. for Atheists and Agnostics The first two paragraphs of “We Agnostics” say that being alcoholic I have an illness “which only a spiritual experience will conquer,” and that I have only two alternatives: to … Continue reading
AA’s Step Twelve: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. By Paul W. Prelude To any unbiased reader, the Big Book’s elaboration on “Working with Others” makes crystal clear … Continue reading
“If something is true, no amount of wishful thinking will change it.” (Richard Dawkins) Conversely, “If something is false, no amount of wishful thinking will change it.” By Paul W. Introduction Chapter 5 of the Big Book, misleadingly titled “How it Works,” is an introduction to the Twelve Steps themselves … Continue reading
Review By Linda Farris Kurtz Many readers will recognize Katherine Ketcham’s name from the sixteen books she has co-authored with other writers: Under the Influence with James Milam and The Spirituality of Imperfection with Ernest Kurtz to name but two. The Only Life I Could Save: A Memoir is Kathy’s … Continue reading
An unexamined life is not worth living. Plato’s Apology Part Two: Step Four (Pages 64 – 71) By Paul W. Prelude As life-J so aptly points out in his November 23, 2017 article, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants?, the Big Book should be shelved and used only as a … Continue reading
To reason effectively, we must have a feeling for the truth. Sam Harris, The Moral Landscape Part One: How It Works and Steps One through Three (Pages 58 – 63) By Paul W. Prelude This paper is not a revision or a rewrite of the first three pages of Chapter … Continue reading
By Paul W. To begin, let’s define “critique.” It is a critical examination or discussion; an examination of the merits or faults of a literary work. In my critiques of the Big Book, I focus on its faults. My critiques are intended to stimulate thought and discussion, especially from those … Continue reading
A Review by Thomas B. According to Forbes Magazine, some 85 books are published in the US every hour. That’s hundreds of thousands of new titles each year — 744,600 to be precise, plus another 2,040 every four years during leap year! I spent an hour or so Googling memoirs, … Continue reading
By life-j Following up after Standing on the Shoulders of Giants? in this article I would like to open an in-depth critique of the Big Book’s logical fallacies. I have to confess I’m not as sharp as I used to be, so bear with me. Hopefully I get to at … Continue reading
Translating the Big Book into secular language, one day at a time: A review of Daily Reprieve: A.A. for Atheists & Agnostics (2017) By Joe C. “No one knows for certain whether God is or isn’t, so being asked to make that Hobson’s choice is pointless…” This is a portion … Continue reading
Recovery Rising: A Retrospective of Addiction Treatment and Recovery Advocacy by William L. White Review by Linda Farris Kurtz, MSW, DPA, Emeritus Professor, Eastern Michigan University School of Social Work I first met Bill White on October 6, 1995 when he arrived at our house to meet with Ernie to … Continue reading