Twelve Secular Steps: An Addiction Recovery Guide

by Bill W.

The first crisis is an honest admission that my addiction is real, and it’s out of control. The next crisis then hits: what am I going to do about it? One solution is to use the support and experience of fellow addicts and alcoholics who have successfully recovered in 12 Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. Yet the traditional Steps and approved literature may prove problematic, for they have seen little evolution since their evangelical origins in the 1930s. This guide features adaptations grounded in a science-based understanding of both addiction and the recovery process. The best indicator of success is not how confidently we proclaim “God will do this” or “I got this”. The best indicator is the willingness to show up and actively work on recovery with a “little help from my friends”.
In 12 Step programs we respect anonymity and use our first name and the first initial of our last name, and I assure you that the author name, Bill W (PhD), comes from my real name. It is not be confused with Bill Wilson, an AA Co-founder who actively wrote nearly a century ago and died 50 years ago. I made this distinction clear in the book and on this Amazon page, and I now make it clear in this description as well. I wish everyone the best in their recovery!

Genres: Addiction

118 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2018

Reviews

[Tarunay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed framework for non spiritual people to attain sobriety and not leave the 12 step program owing to repulsion towards the constant reference to a 'higher power'.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 15 years as an atheist in recovery, it was nice to see the steps and the program written down more or less exactly as it’s worked for me.

[Jonny Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.

[Diane Freed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, easy to read book! Fluid, comprehensive twelve step guide to sobriety. I recommend adding this book to your library, as well as sharing with anyone facing an addiction struggle.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear, concise guide for We Agnostics.

[‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Soroush Torkian · Rating 5 out of 5]

For in-depth book notes and reviews, click here


At first, I thought the 12 steps is just a group of cult-like groups that were created to sway people away from addiction and towards some religious belief. But this book proved that it doesn’t have to be. As long as one “stops kidding themselves” and realize they hit rock bottom, only then will they start to reflect on their past and make small incremental agreements with themselves to eventually leave from the Maslow physiological need for the drug, to the more higher level pyramid aspects like belonging and showing love. I especially enjoyed how this book emphasized having sponsors or in my own terms, accountability partners to help you along the journey. The social network of people who have the same goal can really help boost each other up in the process!

There are a lot of inventories or journaling tasks that this book provides. You probably don’t even need to be an addict to do them, but if there’s something that you think you do too much, that you “feel better” doing it despite it not actually giving you good results, perhaps elements of this book can be used to change your unwanted behaviour, and not merely addictions.

I wonder how many Users Anonymous groups have adapted the more secular approach to recovery?

[David Campos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good review the steps

The second chapter about the biology of addiction is very powerful, easy and complete, I recommend strongly that. The others chapters about the steps have many tools and are very usefull.

[William]

Great chapter on biology of addiction, but I also found the explanations of why 12 step programs work very interesting. Good information that was well written.