A Man's Way through the Twelve Steps [Paperback]

Dan Griffin M.A. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

In A Man's Way through the Twelve Steps, author Dan Griffin uses interviews with men in various stages of recovery, excerpts from relevant Twelve Step literature, and his own experience to offer the first holistic approach to sobriety for men. Readers work through each of the Twelve Steps, learn to capitulate negative masculine scripts that have shaped who they are and how they approach recovery, and strengthen the positive and affirming aspects of manhood. This groundbreaking book offers the tools needed for men to work through key issues with which they commonly struggle, including:

• difficulty admitting powerlessness
• finding connection with a Higher Power
• letting go of repressed anger and resentment
• contending with sexual issues, whatever they may be
• overcoming barriers to intimacy and meaningful relationships

Men's capacity for emotional and relational experiences is far greater than commonly depicted not only in mainstream society but also in various parts of the Twelve Step culture. A Man's Way through the Twelve Steps offers practical advice and inspiration for men to define their own sense of masculinity and thus heighten their potential for a lifetime of sobriety.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With candor and compassion, Dan Griffin expands the power and significance of the Twelve Steps by providing a deeper understanding of what they mean to men in recovery." --Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., author of A Woman's Way Through the Twelve Steps

"Recovery is more than sobriety. This book is a beacon to guide men through the unique dynamics of the male experience of recovery from active addiction to early sobriety to a lifetime of recovery. This is a practical look at the power of addiction and the promise and possibility of recovery based on the experiences of men who have been through the journey. Read this book if you are a man who wants to experience the promise and possibility of healthy recovery." --William Cope Moyers author of Broken

"An excellent resource and a valuable addition to men's work in recovery." --Karen Casey, bestselling author of Each Day a New Beginning

"A wonderful guide for men that reveals how to transform pain, confusion and mixed messages into a deeper and richer sobriety through the Twelve Steps. Dan Griffin does an excellent job of laying out the special issues and dilemmas faced by men in recovery, helping them form better relationships and sort out what it means to be men of substance." --Craig Nakken, MSW author of The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior

"Dan Griffin's inspiring book is a real `gut check' for all men in recovery and those still suffering. This book is a `must-read' for those of us in recovery who seek to reach our full potential through the Twelve Steps." --US Congressman, Jim Ramstad

About the Author

Dan Griffin, M.A., has worked with men in the mental health and addictions field for over a decade. His graduate work was centered on the social construction of masculinity in the culture of Alcoholics Anonymous. Griffin lives in Minnesota and has been in recovery for thirteen years. A Man's Way Through the Twleve Steps is his first book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592857248
• ISBN-13: 978-1592857241
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #468,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Griffin - has worked in the addictions and mental health field for over fifteen years. His graduate work was centered on the social construction of masculinity in the culture of Alcoholics Anonymous. Dan lives in Minnesota and has been in recovery for sixteen years. A Man's Way Through the Twelve Steps is his first book. He is co-author of Helping Men Recover, a treatment curriculum for men, with renowned author and women's issues expert, Dr. Stephanie Covington, and Rick Dauer, a clinical director at a treatment center in Minnesota. The curriculum is based upon Covington's bestselling curricula, including Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma.

Dan's interest in men's issues and masculinity came as a bit of a fluke in college. In getting sober at the age of 21 and combining his interest in gender studies with his interest in addiction and recovery, he conducted his research on men in recovery by interviewing men in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was through this study that Dan discovered that the way that men express themselves and live their lives as men in the Twelve Step culture was different from most men in larger society. Dan also saw that there were key issues that many men were not being exposed to in treatment and were leading many men to relapse - unresolved grief, unaddressed anger and abusiveness, emotional maturity, relationship skills, and looking at homophobia and sexism and how they get in the way of men's relationships. A Man's Way is a book that is meant to speak directly to men in a compassionate and candid way to encourage them in their recovery while holding them accountable to the vision of the men they truly want to be.

He currently lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughter. He enjoys playing guitar, writing music, and playing tennis in his spare time.

Learn more at www.dangriffin.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recovery through the Masculine Soul, October 12, 2009

By 

Earl Hipp - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Man's Way through the Twelve Steps (Paperback)

It's rare in the culture today to be in a place where men speak deep and brutally honest truth about themselves and their lives. A Man's Way Through the Twelve Steps offers readers a taste of that kind of experience and the enormous healing power that results. This book is a gift for any man who wants to better understand his core masculinity and a powerful resource for those who have wondered about or who have ever sat in twelve step circles.

A Man's Way is not so much a "how to" recovery book, but one that sets a new bar for the kind of very non-traditional dialogue between men, based on openness, vulnerability, and heart-based connection in the process of recovery from addiction. Dan Griffin and the courageous men who have so honestly shared their stories give us all a look inside of men's souls and show us how men, together, can face the challenges of sobriety. I am a man with twenty-four years in recovery, and an author who has been involved with groups and organizations that focus on men's issues and development. From that perspective, I think this book offers a necessary and helpful fresh look at the twelve steps through very masculine eyes. I also think that Dan Griffin might just become the new voice of men in recovery.

Earl Hipp
Author
[...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Perspective for New & Veteran Sobriety, October 12, 2009

By 

Matt Vinez (Saint Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Man's Way through the Twelve Steps (Paperback)

This book offers a comprehensive review of the 12 steps of recovery, and how they impact and affect the different facets of a male's life. This book would be a phenomenal tool for a person new to recovery in a 12-step program. It addresses, and assists to overcome, some of the biggest fears facing a man new to sobriety. For a veteran of recovery, it offers fresh perspective, and forces one to take a look at whether they are "walking the walk". The book invites an honest self-evaluation of how close you toe-the-line.
For a person newly sober (or in any form of recovery), or for a veteran that's trying to further his growth in spirituality and sobriety, this book is an invaluable tool to add to your library. When read with an open mind, you'll be forced to evaluate if you're in pursuit of the four absolutes, or if you're simply coasting through sobriety.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Woman's Perspective, October 5, 2009

By 

NANCY (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Man's Way through the Twelve Steps (Paperback)

Having not grown up with alcoholism/addiction, I did not realize the profound impact it has until I married a man in recovery. This book is not only going to help men talk more openly and honestly about their experiences in recovery and their struggles as men, but it will also help many women, like myself, gain insight into and support the men we love. This book gives a revealing look at men and has helped me to better understand the man I love, how to support him, as well as how to best communicate with him. I recommend it for men and women alike!