A thorough history of the Oxford Group (the Christian influence behind AA). Learn more about that nice pie-baking Christian group before turning your brain over!

Bufe presents his plan in the Foreword: 1) to examine the genesis and development of AA; 2) to determine the relationship between AA and the Oxford Group Movement; 3) to explore the many "cult" charges against AA, in terms of their legitimacy (or lack of it); and 5) 'to analyze AA's program and structure with a view to distinguishing its strengths and weaknesses. He does all that, and more in a concise and thoroughly researched work.

  Diseasing of America : How We Allowed Recovery Zealots and the Treatment Industry to Convince Us We Are Out of Control
by Stanton Peele

A classic work by the award wining clinician, researcher & addiction specialist Stanton Peele, in which he tackles the tough question of whether alcoholics, drug addicts, gamblers, codependents, etc. are suffering from a physiological disease which they cannot control. Absolutely not, says Dr. Stanton Peele, Ph.D! With Diseasing of America, Stanton Peele courageously debunks this theory by demonstrating conclusively that there is no "genetic marker" for addiction and no scientific evidence whatsoever that substance abuse and other compulsive addictions are medically based and should be treated as if the patient were a passive victim of biological fate. Peele points to the multi-million dollar treatment industry that sprang up in the 1970's and 80's as perpetuating the addiction as disease model, which fails on several counts. First Peele argues that "people are active agents in--not passive victims of--their addictions." He goes on to say that on a cultural level we cannot afford to buy into the victim syndrome and ignore personal accountability. Finally, Peele says standard medical treatments aren't effective in curing compulsive behavior. Treatment is too piecemeal, too costly, and too labor intensive, and it shows in the high relapse rates. Peele argues that environment, much more than biology, fosters addiction. His point is that disease labels obscure the true causes-and cures-for addiction and that medicalizing our personal and social problems is no solution to rising addiction rates.

Resisting 12-Step Coercion : How to Fight Forced     Participation in AA, NA, or 12-Step Treatment Stanton Peele, Charles Bufe, Archie Brodsky A how-to handbook for individuals who are coerced into 12-step addiction treatment and groups and wish to fight said coercion. It examines and refutes the disease concept of alcoholism/addiction; describes the many ways in which individuals are coerced into 12-step programs; analyzes the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of 12-step programs; describes alternate treatments that are effective; demonstrates the many ways in which AA, NA, and treatment based on them are religious in nature; reviews court decisions that have held that AA, NA, and 12-step treatment are religious, and that government coercion of individuals into them violates the First Amendment's "Establishment Clause"; analyzes how 12-step treatment providers routinely violate standard medical ethics, especially the principle of "informed consent"; and presents case studies of such violations. Buy from Amazon now!     How Alcoholics Anonymous Failed Me : My Personal Journey to Sobriety Through Self-Empowerment by Marianne W. Gilliam If AA demands rigorous honesty, why did they give Marianne such a hard time? Marianne arrived at AA much like many of us. She was suffering from not just one addictive behavior, but a multitude of them. She took the suggestions, worked the steps, got a sponsor, took commitments, but was left feeling less than whole. She describes in her own words, the process that led her from AA's fear-based model to the love-based model which ultimately produced the desired internal harmony needed to free herself of addictive behavior as well as a lifetime of meetings. Marianne gives us a gift - an honest story of a questioning soul who found that the best place the twelve steps could lead her is right out the door. Buy from Amazon now!