What is Reddit's opinion of Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

"AA meetings are like bars — each one is different . . . , " - This, lol, so true! Some groups are insufferable, others wonderful. I used to hate AA. I used to hate God too, even though I was agnostic; that's typical alcoholic thinking for ya.

I thought the AA steps were useless exercises to keep drunks dry long enough for them to sober up, busy work. I tried, believe me, I tried to control my drinking, for years after the fun went away, always saying, "I won't do that again, oh boy, no sir! I’ll just drink beer, uh huh.” Except, that didn’t work, I’d finally had enough and my ass dragged me into an AA meeting; I was beat down, exhausted, petrified, at wits end.

The desire to drink abated once I started writing down all the ways my life had been “directed” by alcohol. The funny thing is, we have convenient memories, so once I started writing I began remembering more, a lot more, and then a slow realization, like the slow break of a cool spring dawn burning off the fog, crept over me, and puff, the desire to drink stopped, because now there it was, printed on paper: facts, undeniable, indisputable, concrete facts in black and white, sans serif, plain as day.

That simple step of writing I learned in the program, and had I not done that, I would’ve never sobered up, for the longest I lasted “white knuckling” it was 10 days.

Had I not sobered up at that point in my life I would have lost my Son, and from there it would’ve spiraled, I guarantee. So, my sobriety comes first, daily, the rest will fall into place, I have faith in that.

The steps are simply life tools. Don’t chunk the proverbial baby out with the bath bathwater: find a group that works for you and avoid the Karen’s. You’ll find some great friends with a lot in common.

Also, “Breathing Under Water” by Richard Rohr helped me immensely, cannot recommend him enough:

https://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Under-Water-Spirituality-Twelve/dp/1616361573

Good luck.

https://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Under-Water-Spirituality-Twelve/dp/1616361573

Can’t say enough about this book. I never knew spirituality and religion were different.

Every meeting is different, find one that fits. You will find life-long friends and learn a lot about yourself. This book helped me tremendously in understanding what the AA program offers, I cannot recommend it enough:

https://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Under-Water-Spirituality-Twelve/dp/1616361573

Also, pick up some early books by James Lee Burke from a used bookstore, as you will discover an immense amount of time in early sobriety. Reading helped a lot.