"Frothy emotional appeal seldom suffices. The message which can interest and hold these alcoholic people must have depth and weight. In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves, if they are to re-create their lives." Doctors opinion AA book.
That depth and weight came from working the 12 steps. The man who brought me into AA was 6 months sober. My group was 1 year old. Nobody knew enough to tell anybody anything. We just followed the AA book instructions. That class of 1988 is still sober.
