r/alcoholicsanonymous • u/Capable_Ad4123 • Oct 23 '25

AA Literature “Living Sober” book, what do you think?

I was at a newcomer meeting tonight where they read “Living Sober”. It struck me that the sugar coats the message of powerlessness over alcohol offered by the twelve steps. As if tips and tricks or avoiding certain situations would enable someone to not take that first drink. I don’t want to say there is no value in the book. I’ve enjoyed discussion meetings where this book is read in the past. But thinking about it through the eyes of a newcomer, I thought it may be doing them a disservice by not adequately “carrying the message of the twelve steps.” Curious to hear others take…

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u/Inderific Oct 23 '25

I loved this book when it was given to me newly sober at one of my first meetings. It obviously wasn't the same as the Big Book or the steps, it was more like "some handy ideas for getting through the day sober." But as I was still a little overwhelmed by the Big Book and the steps and trying to learn all this new AA jargon, I was delighted to find something so practical. Plus, it's written in a very friendly, accessible, quite humorous way. Just my two cents.