Alcoholics Anonymous: Cult or Cure?

Although I must admit it had a appealing allure I am not sure the author and I share the same view on alchoholics since he doesn't seem to believe it is a disease.

I've been an enthusiastic member of AA for over 15 years, enjoying being sober and getting on with life. For sure, the promises from AA include a few more than the ones on page 83 of the Big Book. "Stop going to meetings and you'll end up drunk." "No true alcoholic can practise controlled drinking." "AA really works for most people." For me, Bufe's book and the evidence he cites in a scholarly way contradict these "known truths" of AA, and a good few more. I feel as though I've been sappily accepting everything AA tells me without bothering to check - not that AA encourages checking - and that Bufe has done a real job of work on digging out facts which cast light on how AA works (or not).I agree with his proposition that coerced attendance at AA is wrong, though it doesn't seem to be as widely practiced this side of the Atlantic. To learn that coerced attendance is counterproductive is indeed interesting - particularly since I am working in Probation Liaison for the local intergroup. Oops. Maybe that'll be "was working" shortly, when I've done a bit of checking.Bufe is a bit naive about the steps and how they are worked in practice, I believe, but nonetheless he has some real points about the mind set required to work them per Big Book.I think this is an excellent book, even if I find it deeply disturbing. I went to one of my regular meetings this morning, and found myself hearing echoes of Bufe all the [email protected]

This was a facinating look at AA. I first entered AA in 1988 thinking it was the only game in town. I was never satisfied with AA. I am an atheist and despite AAs claims, you need religion to use it. AA is not just 'spiritual' (whatever that means without religion), it is religious (not a religion, there is adifference which some reveiws miss). Beyond that, AAs religiousness requires a predeterministic outlook. This book helped me with insight into why I was unsatisfied, ways AA actually harmed me, and alternatives. That last point is key: THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO AA! This book will not tell you how to stop drinking. It will not tell you to avoid AA. AA is the way to go for some. It will point out what AA really is and that it is not the only way. One final point, most of the negative 'reviews' on this page seem to have been written by people that have not really read the book.

I loved this book, which takes an unbiased look at the actual AA, rather than another addition to the reams of glowing testimonials we who study the recovery movement are often subjected to. Bufe points out AAs drawbacks as well as its plusses. His explication of the 12 traditions and comparison of this AA government (or lack thereof) with anarchist stucture is definitely interesting. Merry Michael

Bufe has written an objective analysis of the myths and realities of Alcoholics Anonymous. He sets out to answer the question "Is AA a cult?" Although the conclusion is not an unambivalent "yes", this book shines a harsh light on the efficacy of AA and the twelve step treatment industry. Throughout the book, Bufe thoroughly documents his sources - the most interesting of which show that AA's success rate is 7% at best and that "the recovery rate in AA is no higher than the rate of spontaneous remission." This book presents serious implications for the individual considering treatment for substance abuse and for policy makers in Insurance and Health Care Industries. Bufe details how the widespread acceptance of AA as the only cure for alcohol abuse has historically been defended by squelching any and all dissenting evidence. He points out that religion has been accepted as the cure for what many people consider to be a disease. The religious nature of AA also presents some serious implications for the legal system in this country. Bufe briefly summarizes some of the recent legal decisions prohibiting coerced AA attendance based upon First Amendment Rights.The authors' overall opinion of AA is not positive. For this reason, he includes descriptions and contacts for other approaches to recovery from alcohol abuse. I would highly recommend this book to the anyone who thinks they may have a problem with alcohol - read it before your first meeting. I would also recommend it to anyone who has found limited success in AA - it will help you get off the merry-go-round. I believe it should be required reading for any professional whose responsibilities include dealing with substance abusers.