Living the Twelve Traditions in Today's World: Principles Over Personality

Living the Twelve Traditions in Today's World: Principles Over Personality

Living the Twelve Traditions in Today's World: Principles Over Personality

Living the Twelve Traditions in Today's World: Principles Over Personality

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Overview

A gripping exploration of the history of the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and their relevance and applicability today.

A gripping exploration of the history of the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and their relevance and applicability today. Today, almost everywhere you turn, celebrity misadventures with alcohol and drug use, overdoses, and relapses are splashed across the headlines. Popular starlets are "doing time" in rehab for theft and misconduct. Yesterday's heroes congregate before the camera for a Twelve-Step meeting or a therapy session. Although this state of media attention has made the public increasingly aware of the dangers of drinking and drugging, what does this mean for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and similar 12-Step programs that were founded on such Traditions as anonymity and not drawing the AA name into public controversy? In Living AA's 12 Traditions in Today's World, seasoned writer and AA historian Mel B. uses transcripts of speeches by Bill W. and original documents chronicling the development of the 12 Traditions to examine their importance to the survival, integrity, and success of AA and other 12-Step organizations. Popular speaker and archivist Mike F. then looks at the relevance of each of the Traditions in the twenty-first century—their importance for recovering people's ongoing sobriety and for the future of the Fellowship.Together, Mel B. and Mike F. explore what aspects of the Traditions hold strong and what have been overlooked or have even evolved since they were formally adopted at the First International AA Convention in 1950. In the end, they find strength and hope in a radical organizational model and culture born from a lasting concept: principles over personalities.Mel B. is a long-time AA member and the author of many classic recovery titles, including My Search for Bill W., Walk in Dry Places, New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Miracle, and Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W.Mike Fitzpatrick is one of the leading archivists and historians specializing in the development of the Twelve Step movement. He has worked with authors and movie producers, providing material for their work, and is the co-author of 1,000 Years of Sobriety.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781616491963
Publisher: Hazelden Publishing
Publication date: 06/08/2012
Series: Legacy 12
Pages: 240
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.18(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

Mel B. is a long-time AA member and the author of many classic recovery titles, including My Search for Bill W., Walk in Dry Places, New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Miracle, and Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W.Michael Fitzpatrick is one of the leading archivists and historians specializing in the development of the Twelve Step movement. He has worked with authors and movie producers, providing material for their work, and is the co-author of 1,000 Years of Sobriety.

Table of Contents

Foreword William L. White ix

Guide to the Audio CD xv

Introduction 1

1 Our Common Welfare 11

2 One Ultimate Authority 21

3 No Barriers to Entry 31

4 Group Autonomy 49

5 Why the Shoemaker Should Stick to His Last 65

6 Stability through Sacrifice 79

7 Paying Our Own Way 99

8 Freely Ye Have Received, Freely Give 115

9 An Anarchy That Works 129

10 Staying Out of the Fray 141

11 Anonymity: A Key to AA's Survival 153

12 Principles Before Personalities 171

Epilogue: The Need for the Traditions Today and Tomorrow 185

Appendices

A Bill W's April 1946 A.A. Grapevine Article "Twelve Suggested Points for A.A. Tradition" 193

B The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (Short Form) 201

C The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (Long Form) 205

D The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 211

Notes 213

About the Authors 219

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