is actually a textbook, it's not "literature" per se

The Doctors opinion has a description of alcoholism to be gone over by a newcomer (with a sponsor) asking him/herself the questions "Do These apply to me" in order to "Identify" as an alcoholic, without identifying as an alcoholic it's impossible to take the following 11 steps. Step 1 is the only step that idenitifies the problem, the following 11 steps contain the solution, without correctly identifying the problem, the solution is meaningless

Bill's Story contains his journey and shows how he discovered and implemented all 12 steps, they are all listed in his story if read closely, it's there to also help newcomers "identify" as an alcoholic, and to show precisely what he did in order to recover

There is a Solution continues the explanation about alcoholism (to help a newcomer "Identify" as an Alcoholic) even further and "It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done." (in order to recover from alcoholism) There is a Solution offers hope.

More About Alcoholism continues in order to help a newcomer "Identify" as an alcoholic (beginning to see a pattern here? Like alcoholics don't know what's wrong with them and their denial is incredibly deep?) The actual "Step One" is found here (on Page 30) "We learned we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics"

In "We Agnostics" Bill talks about his own journey to find a higher Power, he elaborates on the idea that was introduced in his story about choosing our own concept of a Power greater then ourselves, and then tells in his own words how he did this and has helped others do this, we don't have to choose his concept of a Patriarchial Christian Deity, we are allowed to choose our own provided it makes sense to us (it doesn't need to make sense to anyone else, that is one idea that is sacred in AA is we are each allowed to have our own concept of a Power greater then ourselves)

In "How it Works" everything begins to come together, the pertinant points of The Doctors Opinion, and the first four chapters are summarized, the 12 steps that we WORK (not study, they are ACTIONS we take) and 3 points are made:

Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventure before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:

(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.

(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.

(c) That God could and would if He were sought.

Remembering of course that "God" is a "placeholder" for "God as we understand God" or "Our own concept of a Power greater then ourselves

From here on out there is specific instructions to follow no different then a recipe to make Mom's Chili, literal step by step instructions, go here, do this, get on your knees here, find this person do this do that, write this, be this specific, don't shirk, don't delay, do this at once etc, these step by step instructions are to "force" a "spiritual experience" or in other words "A Personality Change Sufficient to Bring About Recovery From Alcoholism"

 

Step 3 starts after "C God could and would if he were sought" and ends at the bottom of page 63 with "This was only a beginning (our decision) though if honestly and humbly made, an effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once"

Step 4 Starts at the bottom of page 63 with: Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our decision was vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.

and gives specific, step by step instructions on how to do a fourth step. It's not complicated, write these names, say why your pissed, write these fears, say why you are afraid, write down all these people you've shagged, write how you harmed them, take this to your sponsor, you'll complete the grid and discuss them, see where you are at fault

grats, you've just done step 5 contained in pages 72-76

six and seven are 2 paragraphs long, right on page 76

8 and 9 start there on page 76, 8 is easy, since remember step 4?

" Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self- appraisal. Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past.

(funny how the list of people we have resentments towards is the same list as people we have harmed...a pattern? naaa)

step 9 concludes with "The Ninth Step Promises" also known as just "The Promises" on page 84

Step 10 is on pages 84-85

step 11 is on pages 85 to 88

step 12 gets it's own chapter, Chapter 7 "Working With Others"

It's not a poorly written storybook, it's a TEXTBOOK with step by step instruction on how to create a personality change sufficient to allow us to stop drinking without putting a gun in our mouths

PS I do also like (and recomend) reading along with the 12 by 12 as each step is worked, not as a substitute for The Big Book (which it was never intended to be) but as a supplement, it also adds a few things to each step, such as the hidden sexual agenda column in the fourth step, great for uncovering shit you'd much rather blame on that ex and that you'd conveniently "forgotten" and still blamed her for

PSS there is also no substitute for a sponsor, now Sponsorship was with the first 100 but not nearly the way it is in AA today, which was introduced by this fellow named Clarence, his success rates with this new "sponsorship" thing (which he picked up from reading the book ironically enough) made his success rates begger that of the founders of AA, so much so that folks from his neck of the woods thought AA started there....AA does that, picks up stuff from one meeting and it spreads "virally", like reading "How it Works" began in California from a drunk who woke up from a blackout with a copy of the book, decided to start a meeting, didn't know how so someone said "well, here it says "How it works" so they read it, now it's a worldwide tradition