Customer Reviews

12 Steps That Can Save Your Life: Real-Life Stories from People Who Are Walking the Walk

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12 Steps that can save your life by Barb Rogers - 10/02/09

Rogers' book is short and easy to read. The best point about this book, I think. I did like Rogers' descriptions of cult, curse or cure. It's not a cult, it has no leader. It can be a curse for someone who leaves the program and knows "the curse of conflict." It can't be a cure since a cure eliminates the disease process completely and addictions never go away.

In Part II, when she explained addictions as much like The Wizard of Oz. Her explanation is plain and simple to understand; an addict is on the Yellow Brick Road looking for the Wizard or a God of their understanding. The addict, like all the people in The Wizard of Oz, are looking for something that is missing in their lives.

However, I had problems with this book. It came across to me as a "new diet" book. If you eat the right foods, you will lose an unbelievable 5 pounds a day until you reach your desired weight. If you just stay on the "maintenance diet" for the rest of your life and you will be fine. In Part II, The Promises, Rogers repeatedly says phrases like you will not regret the past, you will comprehend the word serenity, your outlook on life will change, and your fear of people and economic insecurity will leave you. This is all too good to be true! This doesn't happen to most people in real life, why would it happen to addicts? I see it as extremely preachy and often misleading.

For some reason this book irritated me. I gives false hope and I believe false information on how one will be enlightened and have a much better life afterward all the work. I've known recovering addicts and their lives did not become a bed of roses after they recovered.

The book by Rogers may be helpful for addicts who at the bottom of their lives but I think it would be very discouraging for their family and friends.