Back To Basics - The Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners Meetings "Here are the steps we took..." in Four One Hour Sessions

I have used this book multiple times in my program and it has worked for me more than once. Wally is the foremost expert on AA and probably the step of any living person.

I am grateful that Wally P. wrote this book. I had the pleasure of meeting Clarence Snyder (home brewmeister) in 1982. I was a scared newcomer and I hardly knew the way this program works. He expanded on Dr. Bob's sponsorship style. It was simple to understand. A written list of the old "steps" is on page 262 of the 4th edition Big Book. They were used universally prior to Bill Wilson's book, known as the 12x12. While I understand the critics who say this isn't "Conference Approved", I believe that AA as a whole could benefit from the use of this book because of the wealth of information, the history of AA, and the utter simplicity of a 4 session jolt. There are people who have taken this outline along with the Big Book and have started working with others within weeks of coming into the program. At first, I was skeptical. I always am with new concepts. I found nothing in the B2B book that ran at odds to the Big Book. As it's said, "...nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail". This is useful and thorough. I am buying a second copy to replace the one I gave away.

This books and a specific group using this book is what finally got me sober. I have seen it work for others too. This book and its suggested approach cut to the core of getting the work needed to become sober done. No where in this book or in any of the B2B meetings I have attended do they suggest a cure or that you are done with the 12 Steps in a month. The key for me was getting thru the steps all the way in a short time. Too much time is spent dragging the steps out. Any fear of not doing them correctly or too quickly was nonsense for me. Using this book and the B2B meetings I learned more about the Steps and actually doing them in a month than I had in several prior sobriety attempts. B2B is a great starter to get someone INTO AA, not as a replacement for AA. In my humble opinion, far too many AA groups have endless "open discussion" meetings that do not focus on actually doing the work needed to get sober. B2B gets you involved, working and progressing quickly, and it clearly outlines that success comes from working the Steps again, and again, and again and again until it becomes second nature and a way of life. I am a die-hard AA member and love the program. I used B2B as a supplement to AA and it worked for me. As for the negative reviews, read them carefully. One writer states that they "will not allow" sponsee's near B2B, while others attack this book and its approach simply because it is NOT AA approved. What I hear in the negative reviews are fearful, uncentered egos bashing something just because it is "not ours" and if you used "that" you are "not one of us" and that makes you less. Read the book, take what you need and leave the rest. I would also recommend "A New Earth" by Tolle. AA meetings, the fellowship, B2B and the understanding of human nature from A New Earth all contributed to me getting sober after nearly 40 years of drinking.

In modern times where the message of the 12 step program has been diluted and commandeered by for-profit entities, this book is a pivotal pillar in preserving the authentic program and steps of the program. It is extremely in depth and provides a simple guide to taking someone through the steps and giving you the authentic history of the program. It is a must buy for any one in the 12 step program.

This is an excellent book to take newcomers through and get them through the steps quickly. I have taken over a hundred people through these steps over many years and I highly recommend it. After this, of course we dig in the big book

I have been attending AA meetings since the late 1980s. Generally what you find in most meetings is people telling war stories about past misadventures and whining about their current personal problems, and very little is mentioned about the program of recovery and the solution to the obsessive thinking the alcoholic and addict suffer from. In 2017 I was introduced to the Back to Basics meeting at a local Alano Club, and to attend you must go through the steps, which is the very process that alleviates the mental illness dubbed "alcoholism." It has been the absolute most helpful meeting I have ever attended in the 35 plus years I have attended AA meetings. I highly recommend it if you have never worked the steps, and have been going to meetings and find yourself wondering why you're depressed, and cannot sleep due to anxiety, and can't seem to stay stopped when it comes to alcohol and/or drugs. Doing the steps is the solution for the real, authentic alcoholic!

One afternoon over at my sponsor's house he began reading out loud from this book. It almost immediately perked my interest! I don't know how many times I've read the first 164 pages from the BB but it is a LOT. This was different in that for the most part "Back to Basics", and it's constant referring back to the Big Book, seemed to make the steps "flow" (to me) like never before. Right away I experienced a feeling of hope and serenity that I hadn't experienced since the 80's and early 90's. A VERY quick history. I'm 60 now and am an addict and alcoholic. I was clean from 1980 to sometime in 1985, started using for a couple of months, and got clean again later in 1985 and went back "out" in 1994. Both periods of sobriety were a result of going to AA and NA meetings, working with sponsors, and working up through Step 5 (actually only Step 3 the first 5 years). And yes....I KNOW it is a 12-step program. So from '94 until last year it has been in and out---in and out---as good as dead many, many times. Countless hospitals, nut wards, trashing my life as well as the lives of others around me---ad infinitum. Since I found this book and used it as a 'tool', the big book being #1, I have worked ALL 12 steps and have finally had the spiritual awakening that the 12th step refers to. Speaking for myself only "if it works don't fix it"! I'm not in the debate business nor do I pretend to fully understand the 12 traditions. I AM in the "results" business however and will be eternally grateful for having been steered in the direction of this book.

If you are a sponsor and you are working with newcomers to get them in the book to do the work this is a great tool! All my research and what I was taught is in this book. At 15 years sober I have been working with others to help them get into the Big Book and I am amazed at how much this helps with my current sponsors and seeing them work theirs with it! Great tool for anyone who really wants to have quality sobriety!!!