The 20 Most Misunderstood, Misinterpreted, Mistakes: Of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

By Danny Falcone

After traveling the world doing workshops on the steps and Big Book studies for over twenty years, Danny has realized how many people have no real understanding of the program of recovery. The national recovery rate of 15 percent success is a far cry from the statistics of 75 percent presented in the Big Book. This book outlines the most common mistakes and misunderstandings that happen daily with the recovering population. If you want a new understanding of the 12-Step Program, this book is a must-read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504982405

Danny Falcone

Danny is a sober active member of Alcoholics Anonymous & Cocaine Anonymous since 11/21/91. He is a well-known circuit speaker and has traveled all over the world for the past 20 years. Danny speaks at conventions and does workshops for thousands of people each year. His passion for recovery and the Big Book is well known throughout the AA world. Danny is also a published author of four fiction novels. His books are available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

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© 2016 Danny Falcone. All rights reserved.

Danny Falcone

P.O. Box 2393

Tarpon Springs Fl 34688

727-534-2098

[e-mail]

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/22/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8241-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8239-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8240-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016903345

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE

WHAT IS SOBRIETY

CHAPTER TWO

THE 36 LEGACIES

CHAPTER THREE

THREE PARTS OF RECOVERY

CHAPTER FOUR

TEXTBOOK

CHAPTER FIVE

DISEASE CONCEPT

CHAPTER SIX

SLOGANS

CHAPTER SEVEN

PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER EIGHT

STEP ONE

CHAPTER NINE

STEP TWO

CHAPTER TEN

HOW IT WORKS

CHAPTER ELEVEN

STEP THREE

CHAPTER TWELVE

STEP FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

STEP FIVE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

STEPS SIX & SEVEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

STEP EIGHT

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

STEP NINE

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

STEP TEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

STEP ELEVEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

STEP TWELVE

CHAPTER TWENTY

AA ETIQUETTE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would first like to set the record straight and let you know I do not represent Alcoholics Anonymous. I am not speaking or sharing on AA’s behalf. Everything I write in this book is my prospective. Throughout the book I use passages directly from the Big Book and a few from the Twelve and Twelve. The comments and the interpretations are my own. I use the AA books to back up my perspec tive.

There have been many people along the way that have played a huge part in my sobriety. These people are my friends and heroes. They are true examples of the power and love of God and the influence and affection that Alcoholics Anonymous can have on people. I will just acknowledge a few that I have learned from and respect. Thanks to all of you and so many others.

Don P. / Jerry W. / Joe K. / Dave K. / Tom B. / Earl H. / Mickey B. / Don C. / John M. / Ralph W. / Leon S. / Terry M./ Julie B. / Tom B. / Clancy I.

A special shout out to my daughters and granddaughters…

Parts of this book are copied from the Big Book and Twelve & Twelve of Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank you AA…

INTRODUCTION

H ello, my name is Danny and I’m an alcoholic, a real alcoholic. My sobriety date is 11/21/91. That may not impress you but it still impresses the heck out of me! Anyway, to the point of this book. I’m sure many will disagree or have some negative comments. You are entitled to your opinion and that is fine with me. Likewise I am entitled to mine, hence this book. Its purpose is so I can sell millions of copies and become rich and famous (that’s just so the haters and naysayers will have something in this book they can agree with).

Truth is after well over twenty years of doing workshops and private book studies all over the world not to mention sponsorship I have come to realize that most people in the rooms have only a slight understanding of our program. That’s not to say they aren’t sober but the message most people pass on will kill a real alcoholic rather than help them on what should be a true spiritual awakening.

Every one of the mistakes I cover are backed up by what our literature says. People like to say there are many ways to interpret the book and that may be true to a degree but when your interpretation starts taking on a meaning that cannot be backed up by the words in our book you are off base. Your interpretation must be consistent with the standard of the text. That’s what a text book is for – to teach you something. In other words I back each of my statements up with the actual text from the literature and that’s what we do every page of this book.

I am a firm believer that the directions to work the steps are found in the Big Book but I also believe that there is useful information that will help explain what we are trying to do in the Twelve & Twelve. We work the steps out of the Big Book but we get some assistance and understanding from the Twelve & Twelve especially in steps four, six, seven and eleven.

I understand that it is difficult to look at your sobriety and have questioned the way you have done this process. After all you’re sober and life is good so you must be right about the program. This is not about right and wrong. It’s about trying something different, isn’t that what recovery is all about. By the way when I say something different I’m actually talking about the directions as they are written. If you are sober then you should have an open mind to look at anything, take what you need and leave the rest.

That’s my hope for you with this book. That your experience will be a positive force and you will be more equipped to help others down the road. If you read this book and apply the directions in your life, sobriety will take on a new meaning. Based on my experience it is safe to say that the great majority of you have never worked the steps the way they are truly intended to be. I promise that if you do this you will have a brand new experience with recovery and will wonder why you never saw this before.

The focus of this book is not about how to work the steps but rather the mistakes and misunderstandings people have and do with the steps.

I invite you to take this journey with me in the greatest program that man has ever been given – Alcoholics Anonymous!!!

Here’s a little prayer to help keep an open mind and take this journey. I truly believe it will help you regardless of where you’re at in your sobriety. Use this prayer each time you use this book or each time you start the Steps.

THE SET ASIDE PRAYER

God please allow me to set aside everything I think I know about recovery, the Steps, the Big Book, the Program, about myself an especially about you God so that I may study with a truly open mind and get a new understanding about recovery, the Steps, the Big Book, the Program, about myself an especially about you God…

CHAPTER ONE

WHAT IS SOBRIETY

W hen someone comes to the rooms what is it that they are looking for? We would presume they want sobriety, most anyway. They say things like I liked what you shared or I want what you have. My typical reply to that one is How do you know what I have? I may have a rash.

The conversation that ensues may often times sound like this;

Newcomer: "You know what I mean. I want this"

Me: "Want what?"

Newcomer: "You know, I want it".

Me: "It, what is it?"

Newcomer: "Sobriety. I want sobriety".

Me: "Oh, and what is sobriety to you?"

At this point the befuddled look comes over them as they search the data in their brain to explain SOBRIETY.

Newcomer: "Well I’m not really sure?"

Me: "Then how can you be so positive that you want what you are not even sure what it is that you want?"

My point being that each person should be able to define what it is they are searching for. I ask them to define sobriety and share with them what my definition of that is. They are welcome to use mine or whatever they come up with is fine. My definition is; Sobriety is an alcohol and drug free state of being characterized by freedom and happiness. Years ago old Tom B. taught me that and it was huge.

I now have a goal to work towards. At this point it would be helpful to note that people like us usually mix up two words; Action and Activity. To me action is a continuous purposeful movement always towards a goal, activity is not! Activity is the hamster on the wheel going nowhere fast swearing he’s going somewhere.

Knowing this