Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks, and Weirdos (Addiction Recovery and Al-Anon Self-Help Book)

Although the other reviewers seemed to like it, I found the 'A-Team' bit felt like filler to stretch the volume out to publishable length. Yes, AA is for Atheists! You might not think so reading the pre-relapse Oprah-endorsed self help trash churned out by newly dry b-list celebs. Nor can I guarantee that you can walk into any meeting and find the welcome that Mr. Sinister and I found 14 years and 10 miles apart. God-free members have helped AA along since 1935 (Jim B. for example), more of us should be making it and passing it along. The rise of agressive religiosity in this country is reflected in AA, and those of us who stay sober without superstition need to be a little less polite so that frightened newcomers can find us. If you want to be sober and have been scared away by the thought that AA is a cult, read 'Get Up' and start showing up at meetings. If you are an AA member without religion, pay for your seat by reaching out to newcomers. I have not needed a drink since 1988, nor have I had to pretend to believe anything.

Bucky Sinister speaks sense to that portion of addicts of whom so many others cannot even begin to approach. He is straight forward, honest, and non-preachy. But he is SOBER! This book does no disservice to the AA program, he goes through it all without telling anyone else how to make it work for them, but he knows how to say it without becoming disingenuous. I recommend anyone, alcoholic or not, to read this book. It is for freaks, misfits and weirdos as well as those who love them. Thank you Bucky Sinister!

I've been in 12 step programs for ever, staying sober, but still have struggles with the God thing and don't say anything to others. Now I will. Thank you

Poet Bucky Sinister sets his sites on recovery in this self-help book for outsiders, misfits and artists who need to get their act together and embrace the 12 Steps. Anyone who has read Sinsiter before knows that this isn't going to be be a new age self-help affair. It retains Sinister's wit, irreverence, sharp insights, and pop culture references. Need help setting and reaching your goals? Just look to Lee Marvin in Point Blank for help. Need to figure out what kind of recovering addict you are? Just take inventory of the characters on the A Team and you'll figure it out. All kidding aside, this is a heartfelt book that digs deep emotionally and philosophically. I'd recommend it even if you don't need help in recovery. There's a lot to be gleaned here for folks just trying to reassess where they are in their life, for folks who feel they are at a crossroads, and for folks who feel they aren't living the life they hoped they would. A good read to start the year.

Bucky Sinister is a hulking, tattooed, punk rock poet who ruled the SF poetry scene, toured the country with his visceral verse and published on one of the country's most respected independent presses. But Sinister was also an addict who, by his own words, didn't stop drinking until he "ran out of access to alcohol, by lack of money, lack of charm or lack of consciousness." When Sinister decided to seek help for his addiction, he faced a series of fears specific to him and his community: if all of the concerts and events he loved were held in bars, how can he possibly navigate them without drinking? If all of his punk rock friends were still hitting the bottle, wouldn't they resent him / reject him for cleaning up? And as writer rarely performed or wrote sober, how would this affect his art? But ultimately, Sinister triumphed -- not only over his addictions, but over his life. "Get Up: A 12-Step Guide to Recovery for Misfits, Freaks and Weirdos" is a clear-eyed, honest account of his Sinister's journey as well as a self help tome for "misfits" of all types looking to get their life together. I'm sure much will be written about Sinister's "on the level" perspective: this is not a holy-than-thou, 'do it my way and be saved' type of book. Rather, Sinister confides in the reader like a peer and friend, sharing stories which can be as funny as they are raw, and sharing advice that resonates long after you put down the book. The book works with -- as opposed to against -- the traditional 12-step program, helping addicts see the potential these meetings have, even if some aspects of them (at first) may seem completely contrary to their lives. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is struggling with addictions, or knows someone who is.