Powerfully Recovered!: A Confirmed 12 Stepper Challenges the Movement

by Anne Wayman

Book Overview

In this ground breaking book, Anne Wayman, clean and sober for almost 25 years and with multiple works published by Hazelden, explores two myths that grown up in the 12 Step movement: never-ending recovery, and perpetual powerlessness.

Convinced that the 12 Steps offer the best chance for lasting recovery, she challenges the movement to acknowledge the fear behind the myths, and let them go so that the Program can reach its full potential.

Working...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581128762
• ISBN13: 9781581128765
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Universal Publishers
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Best I've read on the subject

The title hooked me - a "confirmed 12 stepper challenges the movement". I am a confirmed 12 stepper, too. After 5 years i can tell you that I have taken no more powerful action in my life than entering recovery (AA). And maybe it is just a natural phase of development to start looking a little more critically at the program and how I can continue to progress.So, I have read just about every book on the subject. SOme books are so anti-AA that it reads like one big resentful self-pitying indulgence. This book had a much more balanced view; more respectful of what AA does accomplish. I felt validated to read some ideas that I agreed with but never felt comfortable saying out loud. The truth is - I DO feel recovered. I understand that I cannot drink alcohol and I understand the importance of nurturing my sobriety and i will continue to do that. Attending AA still nurtures my sobriety so I stll go to meetings. I feel free, though. In recent months, I admitted to myself that I felt "addicted" to meetings. It had become more of a social club for me than a necessity. I also suspected that I was having needs met through meetings that could be met through interaction with friends and family. In a weird sort of way, AA was helping me to isolate. So, I cut back on meetings. It was hard at first, but I stuck with it. Sure enough, I can report a differnt sort of balance in my life. I seek out others to connect with - a conversation with a co-worker, a call to my mother to see how she is, that sort of thing. Emotional connecting needs can be met more than one way.And I still enjoy the meetings I do attend.Like lots of other people, I have job stress, parenting stress and world peace stress.... but I am more stable than I ever dared hope possible. Recovery is a miracle. This book helped to confirm that for me.

Buy this book!

Anne Wayman has written an important book. Powerfully Recovered! surprised me so much that I had to read it twice. I was expecting a rehashing of the same old recovery issues. What I found was a truly challenging discussion of issues addressing the very core effectiveness of 12 Step programs to carry the message of recovery to women and minorities.Anne's book helped me understand how the myths of personal powerlessness and never-ending recovery were holding me back.This is a great book and a must-read for everyone who wants to increase their own personal recovery program and effectiveness as a sponsor of others.

The persistent myths are over

Anne Wayman explodes the myths of powerlessness and endless recovering-ness that are part of 12-Step fellowship banter, but never were "Program". Indeed, it is Wayman who clarifies some of the differences between "fellowship" and "Program". The former has gone astray into a nonsensical obsession with powerlessness over everything, and it shows in the 12-Step groups in the form of depression and weaknesses. Empowerment for men and women should be what recovery is all about, and Anne Wayman's book will help people, as it has helped me. No more the myth of powerlessness for me; I didn't buy it when I joined NA, and I don't buy it now. Thanks to Anne Wayman, I no longer feel alone and I have a clear exegetical basis for my gut feelings and personal commitment to gaining more strength and joy in my life.

A psychologist's opinion

Excellent! I intend to assign Powerfully Recovered to my "permanent" 12 stepper clients. In very different words, we say much the same thing. As a psychologist I speak about "taking personal power" and "responsibility for the self", or "getting at the stuff underlying addiction." Your well articulated account with it's references to The Big Book and clarification of the founders' intent is just what my 12 steppers need to hear, written in their own language.This book is a gem!Dr. Irene ...

SHE DARES TO SAY WHAT A LOT OF US ARE THINKING!

The Fellowship and Program of Alcoholics Anynonomous saved my life. I have been clean and sober for over nineteen years. I have, however, noticed a change in the "Fellowship" (meetings) over the past few years, and the author is right on the mark. Her criticicism of the program is constructive and well-though out. It is not "change for change sake" thinking. She goes into great detail to explain why some things need to be changed to reflect the times and attitudes of the membership. I whole-heartedly agree with her philosophy of do the program, recover, and get on with the life you missed out on while in an alcoholic haze. A great read and a real page-turner. I read it in one sitting. Thanks for telling it like it is and how it could be Anne!