Father Fred and the Twelve Steps: A Primer for Recovery [Paperback]

Frederick A. Harkins (Author), SJ (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

A profound but practical approach to emotional maturity and spiritual wholeness, written by a Jeusit who devoted his life to recovery -- his own and thousands of others -- from the pit of addiction. His influence continues to touch the lives of countless people who seek happy and purposeful lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a very moving book. Fr. Fred speaks from his own experience of being saved from the disease of alcoholism and from his years of thinking about and speaking on the Twelve Steps that have been God's gift to him and to countless others. This is a book that needs to be read and pondered more than once. It is full of wisdom and profound understanding of human life...The book can profitably be read by all those who are seeking wisdom about how to live wisely and well in this world. I recommend it highly. --William A. Barry, S.J. New England Provincial, Society of Jesus

From the Publisher

Father Fred and the Twelve Steps is now in its second edition. It has a new cover and the typographical errors of the first edition have been eliminated. Included in this edition is a special note from the editor which reveals the identity of Father Fred who died in May 1999.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Ambassador Books Inc (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964643987
• ISBN-13: 978-0964643987
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, CONCISE,ELEGANT Personal witness on the 12 steps, November 7, 2000

By 

A. Hogan (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Father Fred and the Twelve Steps: A Primer for Recovery (Paperback)

According to the publisher Fr. Fred is 50 years a jesiut priest,an a member of alcoholics anonymous for almost 40 years. This very well written{especially when you consider they are simply transcriptes of talks],clear rendering of the 12 steps. A great deal of the literature on the 12 steps takes a teacher-student dialogue approach,whereas fr. fred seems to be far more humble,and so much more effective.He breaks down each step chapter by chapetr[his 3rd step,6th and 7th are worth thr price of the book alone].His language is VERY SIMPLE AND CLEAR.I have avidly read almost everything that i can get on the 12 steps, and i agree with the previous reviewer,this is essentila,and BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST BOOK ON THE 12 STEPs i have read.No preaching, no religion,no oldtimer nostagia[which,unfortunately clutters up some other books.}10 stars,20 stars. This is life affirming stuff.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is for anyone who is seeking wholeness., September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Father Fred and the Twelve Steps: A Primer for Recovery (Paperback)

Sometimes book titles are deceiving. For example: I am not an alcoholic, so I would not usually pick up a book that might seem to deal with that illness. The old axiom "don't judge a book by its cover" fits really well here. No one person in this world is free from problems. These may come in various packages such as addicitons, mental illness, depression, etc. However, if we strip away the outside package, the human condition is the same across the board. Pain is pain. Suffering is suffering. These need to be dealt with, and Fr. Fred's sharings on each of the 12 steps of AA is a most valuable tool to help anyone, not just those with addictions. It has helped me to look at the situations in my life squarely in the face and realize that I don't have to live with them any more. Read it. Ponder it. Read it again and again. It will become a most valuable part of your life. It will empower you to change. It will help you find wholeness.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on the 12 steps i have encountered, May 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Father Fred and the Twelve Steps: A Primer for Recovery (Paperback)

This is a simple,brilliant explanation of the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous.Father Fred explains the steps in clean plain prose[though the ist edition is littered with typos].His explanation of the 2nd step is particularly excellent,though after a rather slow ist step introduction, each of the steps are magnificent. Pardon the hyperbole, but this is one of the few necessary books I own. I have given out at LEAST 50 copies of this book,and I have found 1,1 person who did not find it very useful.Anyone,especially those in A. a. ,will find it 's clarity and brevity welcome. Do not be put off by the title,it is not a sectarian religious book.