The Steps We Took: A Teacher of the Twelve Steps Shares His Experience, Strength, and Hope With All Those Recovering from Addictions, All Who Want T

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely unnecessary
Review: As a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over twenty years, I'm always looking for some additional insights on working the twelve steps--especially for helping new sponsees taking the steps for the first time. I've listened to Joe and Charlie's Big Book study tapes many times over the years and always hear something new and valuable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this written interpretation and find it a noteworthy resource for someone new to sponsorship.

Rating:
Summary: Do we really need As Joe Sees It?
Review: Great book! The twelve steps in someone else's words has been very helpful to me in thinking about the steps in new ways. From reading, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of what each step meant to me and through that was directed to refresh and enhance my step work.

Rating:
Summary: It's all good
Review: I find it amusing that anyone would criticize this book, but of course part of true recovery is learning to stop looking for the bad in the good. It's sad, though, to think that one person's need to find fault in this beautiful book might prevent someone from finding the healing that lies here.

One of the slogans of any 12-step program is "Take what you life and leave the rest," and there's certainly a lot to like in this book. It contains profound words that create a deep and long lasting healing.

I found this book in my 19th year of sobriety in AA and 15th year in Al-Anon. It changed my life in ways the Big Book and the 12 by 12 never managed to. I use it with Sponsees because it provides an insightful, inspiring and illuminating view of the steps. I believe that a dynamic recovery means doing the steps over and over again and this book certainly facilitates that.

Another book I highly recommend is "Expect a Miracle" by Kathy Freston. It's new and you can get it at Amazon. This is an equally powerful book if you're ready for it!

Rating:
Summary: An easy "How to do it" workbook for the 12 Steps
Review: I was fortunate to have had a chance to hear Joe McQ on tape in 1990, while I was in India. The contents of those tapes (which are largly reproduced in this book), changed my life forever. In this book, using clear, simple and understandable terms, Joe translates the spiritual essence of the Steps into an extremely do-able set of practical instructions, which; if followed precisely, will ensure a life free from the ravages of one's particular addiction. With plenty of worksheets and visually pleasing graphics, the process is fluid and gently guides the student along the well-worn path of the steps, to the oft-achieved destination of freedom and sobriety. I strongly recommend this book to people who are getting "stuck" in "listless" sobriety, and even more so for those who are unable to stay sober, inspite of attendance at meetings, and repeated visits ot detox's/centers. May I humbly suggest that you buy a Big Book, Joe's Book and get a Sponsor who has worked these steps and is familiar with the "program"? With grattitude and good wishes.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely unnecessary
Review: Just follow the instructions in the Big Book. Theirs is not a helpful approach, and you are likely to get off track with the basic objectives of the AA program. Much of this is trite, some is dead wrong and a lot of it just has little to do with the Steps but a lot to do with their opinions and religious views. That's my experience after watching people struggle with the Joe and Charlie material over my 19 years of sobriety.

Rating:
Summary: Best Step Book Ever
Review: My name is Rita H and I just celebrated 17 years in the program.

I found the "The Steps We Took" in my 8th year. It is the best explaination of the steps I have ever read. My whole program took on a new dynamic after I started to apply the principals as stated in this book.

TSWT is a TRUE companion book to the Big Book. Someone finally wrote down the directions on how to work the steps.

I have purcahsed at least 25 copies of this book in the last 10 years. I also sponsor right out of it. I now have the confidence to "carry the message" without reservation. I use it to sponsor co-dependants and ACAs as well.

One day I plan to go to a Big Book Seminar and thank Joe McQ in person. His book and his thoughts on the program has given me a life of recovery filled with quality and dignity.