The Twelve Steps For Agnostics: How to get happily sober without a belief in God

by Andy F

Second edition release!



Dear Friends,

I am excited to announce that the second edition of "The twelve steps for agnostics" is now available. I have re-edited the content of the book to make it more reader-friendly.

I hope you enjoy the new edition

Andy F

Description

How to get happily sober without a belief in God - A supportive resource for agnostics, atheists and freethinkers in 12 Step recovery: - This interpretation of the 12 steps, offers a simple, practical and highly effective method of working through the steps. I invite you to take this transcendent journey towards contented sobriety. There is no need to become concerned about using God as a higher power.

All that is required is an agnostic-friendly sponsor. I offer a whole chapter about healthy sponsorship boundaries in AA. Despite being an agnostic, the twelve steps enabled me to begin having healthier relationships as a recovering alcoholic. I share helpful ideas that I have learned in my journey towards sobriety. I am excited to share them with you in this book.

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Review for aaforagnostics

"The Twelve Steps for Agnostics is a totally honest, transparent account of Andy's journey from darkness to light, brokenness to wholeness. He recounts how he overcame the many childhood traumas that had led to his illness of addiction and chemical dependency.

Andy's book is an account of his fight back to the health of body, mind and spirit. He found a non-God-centered approach to 12 step recovery in AA. In time, he met an agnostic-friendly sponsor gifted in transmitting the life-changing power of the steps in a way that Andy could fully embrace. It is a truly inspirational read.

I met Andy some 30 years ago. We were both employed at a newly opened 12 step Rehab for drug and alcohol dependency. Andy was a trainee counselor and I worked in reception and admin. The sudden closure of the centre after just 2 years was a blow to both its employees and clients. Many staff members who had relocated were forced to move back to their original homes. As a result, Andy and I lost touch.

I reconnected with Andy three years ago quite by chance. Was it just a coincidence? I don't think so. It has allowed me the privilege of reading "The Twelve Steps for Agnostics" pre-publication. Only then did I become aware of the traumas he had experienced during his dysfunctional upbringing, and his subsequent battle with alcohol and drugs. I now have a far deeper insight into the disease of alcoholism and addiction.

As a daughter of an alcoholic father who succumbed to an early death, I retrained as a counselor. Perhaps with knowledge, I would be able to help another family deal with, or even avoid, the same fate.

Even with academic insight, nothing could have prepared me for witnessing my then-teenage son drifting into addiction. My counseling qualifications did little to enhance my understanding of his behavior or successfully manage it.

The Twelve Steps for Agnostics has given me a rare, and raw, insight into the illness from the sufferer's perspective. This has been of invaluable benefit to my understanding of alcoholism.

This is a 'must read', not only for those desperately seeking a solution to their substance abuse, but for parents, children and relatives faced with understanding the complexities of chemical dependency.

Counselors, psychotherapists and doctors would also benefit from a glimpse into Andy's world of emotional trauma and the multifaceted, most misunderstood disease of alcoholism.

The non-God-centered 12 Step approach that made Andy's recovery possible has been the catalyst driving him to write this inspirational autobiographical account. I know how deeply he wishes that all who read it will find hope, encouragement and healing within its pages."

Sue Price
Acc. Dip. Counseling. UK

306 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2021

About the author

Are you struggling with AA because of the God talk?

You don't need to believe in God to work the 12 Steps — and this book proves it.

The Twelve Steps for Agnostics is a practical, step-by-step guide for atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers who want lasting sobriety without surrendering their beliefs. Written by Andy F., a recovering alcoholic with 29 years of sobriety, this book shows you exactly how he completed all 12 Steps without a belief in God — and how you can too.

• A clear, agnostic-friendly interpretation of all 12 Steps
• A full chapter on finding and working with an agnostic-friendly sponsor
• Guidance on avoiding the "dry drunk" trap and achieving real inner change
• A non-God-centred path to spiritual awakening and lasting contentment

"A truly inspirational read… a must-read not only for those seeking a solution to substance abuse, but for parents, relatives, counselors, and doctors." — AAforAgnostics.com reviewer

29 years sober. No God required.

Reviews

[James]

The 12 Steps have been shown to be one of the most effective treatments of addiction in the last 100 years. In this book alcohol is the focus but any compulsive repetitive behaviour will benefit from the 12 Step programme. From overeating to gambling, even internet addiction, can be tackled.

Central to the 12 Steps has historically been a belief in a higher power which has been a stumbling block for non believers. In this book Andy F tries to interpret from the agnostic point of view.

This is a well written intense and comprehensive book which goes into meticulous and practical detail. I would recommend it to psychiatrists, psychologists and addiction centre specialists in particular but anyone with a keen interest in addiction and the 12 Steps will appreciate it. 

Full disclosure. I've tried my best to write an impartial review but I must disclose I know and am friends with the author. 

[Mary]

Exciting Find for Practice

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I often refer clients to AA and Alanon. Many already are participating. The complaint (resistance) heard most often is about having to believe in God. Even though the program welcomes all, and in recent years even has meetings specifically for agnostics and atheists, the 12 steps are the 12 steps. Meaning the client HAS to accept something in the spiritual nature. This book takes the time to peel back ALL the layers of what makes this program work. For everyone. The research involved is impressive. Thorough. A treasure is found in chapter 18: letter from Carl Jung to Bill Wilson. I will be recommending this book to peers and to clients. With the advice that it is meant to be consumed in small doses. Like a nourishing meal. Digest sections in multiple sittings. Really the book goes beyond helping the addict find spiritual strength from within, it’s discoveries can open sober eyes. It will certainly give me additional tools to help my clients.

[Dee Griffin]

Good, not great … worth my time

The author’s 12 Step journey is long lived and real. Best was he remained agnostic throughout his journey … but it seemed he stretched to disconnect “God” (as an intervening deity) in his recovery and, at least in the book, didn’t have a good discription of “spiritual / spirituality (and as used in context of his views). Getting ostracized in meetings (AA, NA, OA) for not marching to the “God” drum beat is real and he didn’t off much help to us.

The variation in his sponsors approach to the Steps was a valuable part of the book.

[Mashtech Web]

A thoughtful and refreshing perspective
I really enjoyed The Twelve Steps for Agnostics. It offers an interesting perspective on sobriety, belief, and finding a meaningful path without requiring a belief in God. The writing is accessible and thought-provoking, and I appreciated the way it encourages readers to think about recovery on their own terms. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in alternative approaches to the twelve-step journey.

[Nora Kate]

This is a thoughtful and refreshing approach to the Twelve Steps. I really appreciated how the author presents recovery from an agnostic perspective without making the process feel complicated or inaccessible. The emphasis on practical change, healthier relationships, and finding contentment in sobriety makes this a genuinely useful resource.

[Loya]

What I appreciated most about this book is that it acknowledges something many recovery resources don't always address: not everyone connects with a traditional concept of God. The author's agnostic perspective makes the Twelve Steps feel much more approachable for atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers who still want to explore what the program can offer.

[Elliot Harper]

An encouraging and compassionate look at recovery. I liked the author's willingness to approach the Twelve Steps from a different perspective while still respecting the value of the program. The book offers practical ideas rather than simply presenting abstract concepts, which makes it particularly accessible.

[Maya Bennett]

A genuinely interesting perspective on the Twelve Steps. The book demonstrates that recovery doesn't necessarily require someone to abandon their personal worldview. I found the agnostic interpretation particularly valuable because it creates space for questioning, reflection, and personal growth while keeping sobriety at the center.

[Caleb Morgan]

I especially appreciated the attention given to sponsorship and healthy boundaries. That's an important part of recovery that doesn't always receive enough attention. Combined with the author's broader interpretation of the Twelve Steps, it makes this feel like a practical guide rather than simply another discussion about sobriety.

[Sophie Whitmore]

There is something particularly meaningful about reading a recovery perspective shaped by personal experience. The author's journey gives the ideas a sense of authenticity, especially when discussing relationships and the process of becoming more content in sobriety. I think many readers will find something relatable here.

[Nathan Brooks]

One of the strongest aspects of this book is its inclusive approach. It doesn't suggest that someone has to adopt a particular religious belief in order to take recovery seriously. Instead, it opens up the conversation around what the Twelve Steps can mean for people with different beliefs. That's an important perspective and one that many readers will appreciate.

[Clara Hughes]

I liked the straightforward way the author approaches the subject. The Twelve Steps can sometimes seem overwhelming, particularly for someone encountering them for the first time. This interpretation makes them feel more approachable while offering practical ways to think about recovery and personal change.

[Owen Fletcher]

This book gave me a different way of looking at the Twelve Steps. Rather than treating spirituality as something that has to fit one particular definition, the author encourages readers to consider the principles from an agnostic perspective. It's thoughtful, open-minded, and likely to resonate with readers who have struggled to reconcile recovery with their own beliefs.

[Amelia Carter]

A valuable resource for anyone looking for an alternative perspective on Twelve Step recovery. I appreciated the combination of personal experience, practical guidance, and the author's focus on healthier relationships and contented sobriety. Most importantly, the book shows that recovery can be explored without requiring readers to compromise their personal beliefs.