Staying Sober: Tips for Working a Twelve Step Program of Recovery [Paperback]

Meredith Gould (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 1999

The fundamental components of staying sober -- not using, going to meetings, reaching out, working the Steps, and serving other -- are only the beginning of the strategies offered. Day-to-day and moment-to-moment techniques plus program slogans and humor provide newcomers with fresh wisdom for maintaining sobriety.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Meredith Gould is a sociologist and writer whose work focuses on the practical, holistic aspects of health, relationships, recovery, and spiritual life. She is the author of two books: Staying Sober: Tips for Working a Twelve Step Program of Recovery (Hazelden), and Working from Home: Making It Work for You (Storey Books).Her writing has appeared in such diverse publications as American Health, Fellowship in Prayer, Nation's Business, National Business Employment Weekly, Natural Health, New woman, Utne Reader (reprinted twice!), and Vegetarian Times. She's a regular book reviewer for The Times of Trenton.Gould's work is informed by a fascinating range of work and life experiences. After a decade of teaching undergraduate sociology, she served in state government, managing a collaborative effort between CEOs of Fortune 100 companies and college presidents. Next, she had a stint as senior management at one of New Jersey's largest ad agencies, going solo in 1990.Meredith Gould started college at Rochester Institute of Technology as an Art & Design major in 1969 and finished her B.A. in Sociology at Queens College, CUNY, in 1975. She's a survivor of day classes with kids, and night school with grown-ups, having taken time off in the 1970's to 'find' herself.She earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from New York University in 1980, did some time in law school, and has spent much of the next two decades exploring stuff like yoga, therapeutic bodywork, psychic surgery, Christian healing, the Forum (EST with bathroom breaks), Byzantine Icon writing, and needlepoint. In addition to writing, she owns her own business called 'Space Queen' which helps the busy, burdened, and befuddled get, and stay, organized. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey with two feline muses, Thelma and Louise.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden (August 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568383401
• ISBN-13: 978-1568383408
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #841,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Despite academic training which included completing a doctoral dissertation, Meredith Gould never intended to write books. After grinding out academic journal articles during her decade as a Sociology professor, she graduated to writing for regular folks.

An essayist and lifestyle reporter for nearly two decades, Gould was published in magazines and newspapers -- when she wasn't writing public relations blather about pest control and wall coverings. Some sort of strange interior, possibly bio-chemical and definitely psycho-spiritual thing happened after her first book was published in 1998.

Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar: The Jewish Roots of Christian Worship (Seabury, 2009) is her seventh book. "I guess I'm a book author," says Gould, who is swift to point out that being a mid-list author is hardly lucrative. "Providing editorial services and communications strategy for the consumer healthcare industry pays the rent."

For literary relaxation, Gould blogs about the spirituality of everyday life at More Meredith Gould (http://meredithgould.blogspot.com). She's also the editor of The Virtual Abbey blog (http://www.thevirtualabbey.com) and currently serves as the abbess for that virtual community of modern monastics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sobriety for real life, May 4, 2001

By 

Roberta Aaron - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying Sober: Tips for Working a Twelve Step Program of Recovery (Paperback)

The "big book" of Alcoholics Anonymous is the foundation for the start of our journey in sobriety, yet it leaves out the day-to-day struggles we face as recovering alcoholics. Staying Sober discuses real issues and real solutions with a sense of humor. Questions on AA, sponsorship and the 12 steps of the program are answered. More important are the tips to not picking up that first drink. The Author has written the "cliff notes" of sobriety. This is a must have for anyone in the program.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey! I'm the Author!, February 1, 2002

By 

Meredith Gould "Visit my blog!" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying Sober: Tips for Working a Twelve Step Program of Recovery (Paperback)

I never reveal exactly which 12 Step Recovery fellowship I frequent--that would be oh-so-against the Traditions. Rest assured, I was qualified to write this book when I did. Still am. I'm a big fan of Twelve Step Recovery and don't bother debating the scientific validity of claims that it works. It works for those who work it. It seems to work even for those who don't.

Finding the extant official Conference-approved literature duller than dishwater and hopelessly archaic in tone, I decided to try my hand/typewriter/computer at doing better.

Yes, this is another one of my tips books. If you look at my oeuvre, you'll see that I'm very big on delivering useful info. in readable chunks. I'm also deeply dedicated to making readers laugh. Yes, I know. There's nothing funny about addiction, but recovery need not be grim.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humane, January 23, 2001

By 

"anlegae" (Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying Sober: Tips for Working a Twelve Step Program of Recovery (Paperback)

I was searching for tools to assist me in my quest for soberity. This book contains down to earth basic facts. It's one thing to read the steps in "The Big Book" & another to understand just what they're getting at! This book has humor, practical advice & it explains in detail what these different steps are. Why they are important & why they are arranged in this order. This book has helped me to feel more solid & actually excited about my journey to recovery. This is a tool I will refer back to again. I liked some of the silly parts too. Options you have, things you can do when that self destructive urge hits. The author struck me as being very humane; knowledgeable.