Recovery Resources
Alternative 12 Steps Collections Links:
Traditions & 12 Steps-12 Wisdom Steps
BOOKS:
Several sets of alternative 12 steps here: https://abqftaa.org/
https://sites.google.com/site/aspiritualrecovery/literature-pages/spiritual-books
“The Alternative 12 Steps – A Secular Guide to Recovery” first published 1991.
It is available through https://aaagnostica.org/
“Staying Sober Without God (The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism
& Addictions),” by Jeffery Munn, LMFT, 2019
https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism-ebook/dp/B07MBVCS29
“The Little Book, A Collection of Alternative Twelve Steps”
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Collection-Alternative-Steps/dp/0991717406
The Little Book of Alternative 12 Steps: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Collection-Alternative-Steps/dp/1777483212/
“A Freethinker in Alcoholics Anonymous” Paperback – June 1, 2014, by John Lauritsen
available at Amazon.
“A Secular Sobriety” by Dale K. (can find it on Amazon)
https://www.proactive12steps.com/alternative/ (This is one of many sets of secular steps that call themselves either “proactive” or “humanist”)
“Do Tell, Stories by Atheists and Agnostics in AA”
Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994016239 (US)
“One Big Tent” https://store.aagrapevine.org/one-big-tent (secular recovery stories)
“Proactive Twelve Steps for Mindful Recovery”
https://realisticrecovery.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/the-proactive-twelve-steps-for-mindful-
recovery/
“Beyond Belief Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life” by Joe C.
https://aaagnostica.org/beyond-belief-agnostic-musings-for-12-step-life/
“Waiting,” by Marya Hornbacher (“several Secular AA members found it helpful in working the steps without a deity as a higher power”) https://www.hazelden.org/store/item/15270?Waiting
“Alcoholism: Recovery without Religiosity” (https://paganpressbooks.com/jpl/ALK-FREE.HTM
“The Unbroken Brain,” by Maia Szalavitz https://maiasz.com/books/unbroken-brain/
“Stoic 12 Steps” https://stoicrecovery.com/2018/02/04/12-stoic-steps/
“Recovery – Freedom from our Addictions,” by Russell Brand
https://www.proactive12steps.com/humanist-skinner/ (Another humanist 12 steps, this time by B.F. Skinner)
“The Biology of Desire” by Mark Lewis Ph.D. – can be found on www.amazon.com
(true stories of five people who journey into and out of addiction, written by a neuroscientist and former addict himself. Discusses the debate surrounding the disease model of addiction, pros and cons, and the obstructions to the path to recovery. Scientifically accurate but very easy to read.)
“Her Best Kept Secret: Why women drink and how they can regain control”
by Gabrielle Glaser can be found on www.amazon.com
(A short easy read, the title is pretty descriptive. Talks about borderline problem drinking, what’s socially acceptable for men versus women, and some of the differences and how we drink and why. Also discusses the history of women in 12-step programs.)
“Powerless No Longer: Reprogramming your addictive behavior” by Peter W Soderman
can be found on www.amazon.com
(learning how to rewire your own brain, changing the way you think and your habits. Kind of cognitive behavioral therapy based but more of a clear explanation and more details.)
“Inside Rehab: The surprising truth about addiction treatment and how to get help that works”
by Anne M Fletcher can be found on www.amazon.com
(She visited 15 addiction treatment programs and interviewed over 200 client staffers and academics. “Takes a close look at what’s wrong with the industry, highlights what’s working, and shares insights about how the experience could be more effective. Shed lights light on the science based practices that should form the basis of treatment, spotlighting programs implementing those practices.”)
The Artist’s Way (“A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity”), by Julia Cameron
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733588000
“Chatter” (subtitle: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It), by Ethan Cross
– https://www.ethankross.com/chatter/
“Mindfulness Meditation” by Jon Kabat-Zinn https://www.mindfulnesscds.com/
“The Out Run” Amy Liptrot …”The Outrun Amy Liptrot”
“Through the Dark Wood: Finding Meaning in the 2nd half of life” By James Hollis
“Hard to Break: Why Our Brains Make Habits Stick,” by Russell A. Poldrack (“The neuroscience of
why bad habits are so hard to break—and how evidence-based strategies can help us change our
behavior more effectively”)
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits “ (“breaking bad
habits and building good ones”)
– “The Four Agreements,” by Don Miguel-Ruiz
– “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl
– “Self-Compassion,” by Dr. Kristen Neff
– “We’re Not All Egomaniacs” (Adapting the 12 steps for alcoholics with low self-esteem), by Beth Aich
– The “God” Word – https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/p-86-the-god-word-agnostic-
and-atheist-members-in-aa
– “Buddhism Without Beliefs” by Stephen Bachelor: can be found on www.amazon.com
PDF resources:
https://mindremakeproject.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/staying-sober-without-god-workbook.pdf
(Staying Sober Without God, by Jeffrey Munn MSW)
https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/p-87_AAforAlcoholicswithMentalHealthIssues.pdf
(pdf file for alcoholics and their sponsors regard addiction, recovery, and mental health)
https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/chapter-2-neurobiology.pdf
(Neurobiology of addiction)
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/files/Enchiridion.pdf The Works
of Epictetus (including Enchiridion); 31 pages
https://www.naadac.org/assets/2416/whitewlcloudw2008_recovery_capital_a_primer.pdf
(“Recovery Capital” defined as in focusing on recovery in 4 arenas: personal, family, community,
and culture – excellent 11 pages; 2008) – summarized in part in Dr. Ray Baker’s SRG presentation
on May 21, 2022 )
SRG Video Presentations
https://youtu.be/fTETj3PdRaI Staying Sober Without God (Jeffery Munn, LMFT, author of: “Staying
Sober Without God, The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism”)
May 29, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atw57HxtBlU “Recovery Capital”
by Dr. Ray Baker, addiction medicine specialist, audio only
May 21, 2022 (for details on the origin and specifics of “Recovery Capital,” please review:
https://www.naadac.org/assets/2416/whitewlcloudw2008_recovery_capital_a_primer.pdf
YouTube suggestions on “addiction and recovery:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmjjxdDwOIc by Dr. Steven Melemis, MD PhD (Learn the stages of relapse and how to recognize the early warning signs of relapse; learn coping skills to prevent relapse in the future)
https://youtu.be/zYphZvRHm6Y “Update on the Neuroscience of Addiction and Recovery”
by Dr. Kevin McCauley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwQhKFMxmDY “Hack your brain” – neuroscientist
Andrew Huberman, interviewed by Rich Roll
PODCASTS:
– https://beyondbeliefsobriety.com/podcast/episode-166-adverse-childhood-experiences-and-
addiction/
– https://srgrecovery.org/explaining-intergenerational-trauma/
WEBSITES recommended by SRG attendees:
– www.verywellmind.com/what-is-compassion-5207366
– https://ifs-institute.com/nobadparts (Internal Family system model for healing trauma)
– https://www.dawnfarm.org/ various recovery topics
– https://wisdomcenter.uchicago.edu/news/discussions/wise-mind-how-logical-reasoning-can-
help-manage-emotions (how logical reasoning can help manage emotions, June 2020)
– https://philosophyasawayoflife.medium.com/book-review-the-stoic-challenge-by-william-
irvine-3b273435e5fb (“The Stoic Challenge,” by William Irvine, “the philosophers guide to
becoming tougher, calmer, and more resilient”
– https://7summitpathways.com/blog/how-to-get-out-of-a-depressive-episode/
– https://www.selinamankarlsson.ch/80-a-friend-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime/ “people
come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one
it is, you will know what to do for each person.” (author unknown)
– https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/heinrich-harrer-2/seven-years-in-
tibet-3/ ( 7 years in Tibet, by Heinrich Harrer)
– https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-in-men.htm
– https://goodmenproject.com/good-for-the-soul-2/strength-humility-comes-gift-serenity-bbab/
– https://secularrecovery.online/
– https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-in-men.htm
– https://www.thefix.com/living-sober/sobriety-mind-and-body
– https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/addiction/recovery-addiction#rebuilding-life
– https://www.synergyetherapy.com/blog/
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwZcPwlRRcc Addiction Neuroscience 101 (23 minutes)
– https://www.samharris.org/ (neuroscientist, philosopher, NY Times best selling author, host of
the “Making Sense Podcast” and creator of the “Waking Up” app)
– https://dynamic.wakingup.com/ (Sam Harris)
– https://www.practicallysane.org/blog/why-a-higher-power-isnt-enough-to-stay-sober
– https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatheism Apatheism is the attitude of apathy towards the existence
or non-existence of God(s). It is more of an attitude rather than a belief, claim, or belief system
Healing from Trauma: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/ by Tara Brach, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The acronym RAIN is an easy-to-remember tool for practicing mindfulness and compassion using the following four steps:
Recognize what is happening (roots of understanding)
Allow life to be just as it is (grounds of love)
Investigate with gentle attention (deepens understanding)
Nurture (awakens love)
After the RAIN (realizing freedom from narrow identity)
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Life “pearls” not directly related to 12-steps or recover to life and living healthy and well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBuIGBCF9jc
by Admiral McRaven, Commencement Speech July 27, 2018. about “If you want to change the world…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRsaxXrjk3w
Subject: Is the Catholic Church a force for Good in the world?” At the Intelligence Squared Debate in
2009; this is Christopher Higgins’ opening statement in its entirety.
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Secular AA quotes heard in Traditional and Secular AA meetings: (known authors are referenced)
– Anne Dillard: “How we spend our days are how we spend our lives.”
– Shame vs. Guilt: Shame is “I’m bad;” Guilt is “What I did was bad”
– “If I protect my serenity, I protect my sobriety”
– “If protect my sobriety, I protect my serenity”
– “Don’t let your original reaction become your final judgement” (in the book “The Beginners
Guide to Stoicism,” by Matthew Van Natta (Optimize joy, overcome obstacles–discover
the calm of stoicism Being a stoic means embracing positivity and self-control through the
ability to accept the uncertainty of outcomes)
– “Ideas are good, plans are better, execution is best “(paraphrase from direct quote of: “Ideas are
easy. Execution is everything,” by John Doerr)
– The 4 biggest roadblocks to sobriety: (heard on a traditional AA speaker tape)
– Health
– Wealth
– Youth
– Brains
– “The 2 most important days of your life: 1. the day you were born, and 2. the day you figure out why.”
(Mark Twain)
