12 Step & Recovery Friends discussion
What "non-recovery" book most influenced your recovery?
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Gabrielle
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 01:11PM)
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Oct 18, 2007 12:45AM

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My new book "Out of the Fog" carries the AA message from my own personal walk in life.
Since writing the book, it is amazing how many people that have experienced alcoholism in their family have reached out after reading the story.



The Course is more important to me than the Big Book or the Basic Text (as in NA). The Course actually gave me some sense of permission to enter into the fellowship of the "Great Agnostic Church of America" as I nicknamed 12 steppin long ago. I find more in common between this non-religious Christ-ed text and the 12 step approach to life and recovery than I find in difference. I hope I'm not being a bore but I found your group through I.E. just a moment ago as I am interested in the books and ideas of people who have read the Course or who are reading it now. I am not in AA any longer but in NA so feel free to ostracize me out of this chat room for being a junkie heretic (or whatever AA'ers say about us, I try to stay out of that senseless gossipy confliction of programs; where would NA be without the Grandfather Program but, how is AA full of "more recovery"?)
I am supported in my recovery and given a respite from the sophmoric literature of both 12 step fellowships by this book which has changed my life through the application of its principles in all of my affairs. The sponsors who have had the biggest influence upon me (my current one and the one from my home state of NM) speak as if they study the Course and quite naturally they have not. I trust it. I lost faith in religion long before I lost faith in God. In NA we read in our opening readings, that this is a "spiritual, not religious, progam". Such is the Course, in fact, there is a passage in there about the futility of joining any religion. I believe in the AA lexicon there is the Chapter "We Agnostics". So long and thanx for any feedback, further reading suggestions and, for your recovery. It is always OUR recovery after all.
Charlie
Boulder, CO

Life of Pi
Patel gives 2 stories and asks us to beleive the one that suits us. That is the essence of the 2dn, 3rd, 11th steps.
Patel gives 2 stories and asks us to beleive the one that suits us. That is the essence of the 2dn, 3rd, 11th steps.



Robert Subby's Lost in the Shuffle
Melody Beattie's book on Codependency
Bob Earll's I Got Tired of Pretending
The book I wrote quotes these and lots of other books...it is my story: former binge eater turned psychotherapist shares tools of recovery (which began with the 12 step groups). I love the 12 steps--they changed my life! Oh, my book is Stop Eating Your Heart Out: The 21-Day Program to Free Yourself from Emotional Eating. I tell my personal story of living in the hell of binge eating disorder, finding recovery thru 12 step groups, and then becoming a counselor to work with others.



As Bill sees it has always helped me when I need it quick.


Wally P took the steps in Dr. Bob's living room along with 8 other people.
I was at a teleconference yesterday given by the Sedona BDA group where he explained some of the history of the original development.
I've never been a history buff but this was absolutely fascinating to me.
It's available on Amazon.


Zen and the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentiss
AND the best...
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

I find your experience with The Course to be enlightening and positive. I was slowly reading on the course by was turned away when I read that the original writer felt like she was a channel- or medium. The metaphysical extremity of this turned me away from really practicing the course.

Tolle helped me out of a deep depressive bottom. He doesn't quite do it for me now, but at that time, he really saved my life.

Guide To The Buddhist Path by Sangharakshita
The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyumbomiyrski
The Jewel of Liberation and Awakening is Real by Jack Kornfield
oh, The Four Agreements and The Mastery of Love by don Miguel Ruiz
are all CLASSICS, Must-Reads
Although as many have said "A Course in Miracles and Return to Love by Marian Williamson and I think Wayne Dyer's best was A Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, but as others have said, The Course and Wayne and Marianne were more steeping stones to the Buddha Dharma. I was really into them 20+ years ago, but the lack of path and community were what always kept the New Age/Pop Spirituality from taking roots.
Eckhart Tolle is in a class beyond the aforementioned Pop-Spiritualists. (BTW "Pop-Spiritualists" is just the term that came to mind (and it's apropos, I think.) But that is in No Way a way or attempt to belittle their value or Spiritual Maturity/Level of Spiritual Evolution. I mention why I do not find MOST of those useful books to be Ultimately Satisfying, and that is due to lack of a Supporting Spiritual Community and Clear-Cut Instructions on HOW to attain the Wisdom that they share. Unlike Buddhism, for example, which has the Fundemental Foundation of The 3-Jewels: Buddha (is the ideal to which we strive), Dharma (is the Clear-cut, Precise Instructions on How to become a Buddha) and Sangha (The Spiritual Community. The MahaSangha comprised of All those that Follow the Buddhist Path, & the AryaSangha comprises those that have Attained a Precise Point of Spiritual Evolution, aka Stream-Winning/Stream-Entrant/Breaking the first 3 Fetters, aka Bodhisattvahood, which is VERY real and Absolutely Attainable, and rather empirical in the way one can access one's actual Spiritual Evolution.) These are Essential for Any Spiritual Path, in my Experience.
perks of wallflower really helped me, I identified with the main character Charlie and has a positive message towards getting better and receiving help.


http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-A-Nonbe...
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Col...



1) I regenerate lost brain cells :)
2) I exercise my brain (see #1)
3) I get to leave reality for a time in a healthy way; I call this "meditation."
4) I get to feel good about myself because I've accomplished something positive.
5) I get to feel superior to all the TV addicts who are losing brain cells and only learn whats on the tube. :)


The first book that spoke to me & my addiction is Drinking, a Love Story by Caroline Knapp. My Name is Bill by Susan Cheever. Actually anything by Susan Cheever is helpful for any one who struggles with any type of addiction. And a very unlikely author Mike Tyson wrote Undisputed Truth. His book is very raw and I came away with a whole new respect for him.

That said, my novel, "The Thirteenth Step: Zombie Recovery" has reportedly inspired many people. It addresses the question we all ask ourselves from time to time: Could we live life as a loose garment in a zombie apocalypse? But, really, it is a fun read that's steeped in recovery. Please check it out.

Gabrielle wrote: "Those of us in recovery depend on the Big Book, the 12& 12, etc. Just curious to know what other books helped.. were there any that helped a certain step click? Or that helped influence your "spiri..."

Most only share "Gambling War Stories" or they are only about "Facts & Statistics"....I have received great reviews so far, and all 5 star, which blows me away, but I want others to see the "Dark Side" of a form of fun entertainment that can turn Deadly for some, and Raise Awareness.
Of course writing my book "TRULY" was a "Spiritual & Healing Journey" for me. I also did NOT want to hide behind "Anonymous," so I published in my own name to continue to take "Ownership and Accountability" for my actions, and those who I'd hurt. My life is an open book for all the world to read,.....but that's OK as long as it HELPS OTHERS find help & recovery!
Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon


Dawn
www.docdawn.com