The Books that got me Sober

[NewTestamentChristian]

I’d like to provide a list of the books that helped me get sober. In them I was pointed to a program of recovery that really works if you work it.

• The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s always a good start to look at people that have the same problem that you do. The Big Book shed light on my drinking and substance abuse problem and opened me up to the idea of the twelve steps not just as a way to stop drinking but to be an entirely new person. The instructions for making a moral inventory outlined in the book are simple but very much needed. I talk about it with people who aren't even alcoholic.

• The Bible, of course. I pay special attention to the Sermon on the Mount as found in the gospels (cofounder of AA Dr. Bob Smith said that this is the underlying philosophy of the fellowship), the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, James (early AA was almost called “The James Club”), 1 Corinthians 13, Job, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Proverbs, Sirach, and Wisdom. Many ideas of AA come directly from the Bible; When Bill Wilson outlined the program he immediately thought of the twelve apostles and thus produced the twelve steps. When asked about the meaning of a common slogan in AA, “First things first,” by someone Dr. Bob responded “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Another slogan, “Faith without works is dead,” is directly from the Epistle of James (James 2:26). Even referring to God as “Him” in step three suggests faith in the biblical god. Personally, unless otherwise stated, when you’re in recovery and you talk about your Higher Power I like to think most people are discussing the biblical god whether they know it or not.

• Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (commonly called “The Twelve and Twelve”). A good guide for each step and an excellent breakdown of each tradition as found in the program. For example, tradition three is “The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking” and the chapter gets into detail about it. The chapter on step eleven regarding prayer and meditation also includes the Prayer of St. Francis.

• Twenty-Four Hours a Day. A daily devotional for people in AA for every day of the year. Each day is comprised of a thought to reflect on, a meditation to read, and a prayer. Before the Twelve and Twelve was published some people would say that they got sober off two books: The Big Book and Twenty-Four Hours a Day. I read this every day and don’t miss.

• The Philokalia (meaning “Love of the Beautiful” in Greek). A collection of writings from Christian monks dated from the 4th century to the 15th century. While I have not read it in its entirety (it is a BIG anthology), selected writings about prayer and dealing with negative thoughts has deepened my spiritual life.

• The writings of Stoic philosophers. Stoicism is all about controlling your emotions and striving to live life in harmony with virtue. Meditations by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is perhaps my favorite book. Seneca’s letters and essays (On Anger, On the Shortness of Life, On Peace of Mind, The Moral Letters) also are worth the read. Epictetus, the most pious of the Stoics, has a lot to say about the dichotomy of control amongst other things in his Discourses and Handbook.