rad·i·cal –fundamental: a radical difference;
forming a basis or foundation;
advanced / favoring drastic reforms; deviating by extremes: especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms; thorough going
FOR A FULL RECOVERY (becoming recovered), FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS; THE CLEAR-CUT DIRECTIONS:
The founders and pioneers made a fundamental difference in the outlook for chronic alcoholics. They provided a way out for them by following a ‘few simple rules’ in the plan they outlined in their textbook. A radical change would result by taking the same “clear-cut directions” that showed how they RECOVERED. This is the original, strong method.
LINK to Excerpts from Gresham’s Law and Alcoholics Anonymous
The A.A. Basic Text:
p. xxvii, The Doctor’s Opinion
The cases we have followed through have been most interesting; in fact, many of them are amazing.
p. xxix, The Doctor’s Opinion:
On the other hand—and strange as this may seem to those who do not understand — once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules.
p. xxiii, Foreword to Fourth Edition
Like so much of A.A.’s basic text, those words have proved to be far more visionary than the founding members could ever have imagined.
p. xxii, Foreword to Third Edition
The basic principles of the A.A. program, it appears, hold good for individuals with many different lifestyles, just as the program has brought recovery to those of many different nationalities.
p. xxix, The Doctor’s Opinion
One feels that something more than human power is needed to produce the essential psychic change.
p. xxix, The Doctor’s Opinion
This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery.
p. 8, Bill’s Story
I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes.
p.12, Bill’s Story
Upon a foundation of complete willingness I might build what I saw in my friend.
p. 13, Bill’s Story
Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements.
p. 14, Bill’s Story
God comes to most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound. …
Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements. …
These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric.
p. 27, There Is A Solution
He can go anywhere on this earth where other free men may go without disaster, provided he remains willing to maintain a certain simple attitude.
p.42, More About Alcoholism
But the program of action, though entirely sensible, was pretty drastic.
p.52, We Agnostics
But in most fields our generation has witnessed complete liberation of our thinking.
p. 55, We Agnostics:
Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man, woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God.
p. 59, How It Works
We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.
p. 63, How It Works
This was only a beginning, though if honestly and humbly made, an effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once.
p. 65, How It Works
Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty.
p.68, How It Works
Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.
p. 77, Into Action
Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.
p. 83, Into Action
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
p. 84, Into Action
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
p. 90, Working With Others
Then let his family or a friend ask him if he wants to quit for good and if he would go to any extreme to do so.
p. 98, Working With Others
Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job—wife or no wife—we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.
p.142, To Employers
After satisfying yourself that your man wants to recover and that he will go to any extreme to do so, you may suggest a definite course of action.
p. 143, To Employers
Though you are providing him with the best possible medical attention, he should understand that he must undergo a change of heart. …
To get over drinking will require a transformation of thought and attitude.
p. 145, To Employers
In fact, he may say almost anything if he has accepted our solution which, as you know, demands rigorous honesty.
p.153, A Vision For You
It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more.
p. 568, Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery.
p. 567, Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
The terms “spiritual experience“ and “spiritual awakening“ are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms.
p. 567, Appendix II, Spiritual Experience
He finally realizes that he has undergone a profound alteration in his reaction to life; that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone.
p. 570, Appendix III The Medical View on A.A.:
Even among those who occasionally land back in here again, we observe a profound change in personality.
12&12 p.92:
Such a radical change in our outlook will take time, maybe a lot of time.
12&12 p.21, Step One
We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength.
12&12 p.22, Step One
When first challenged to admit defeat, most of us revolted. …
The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has sprung and flowered.
12&12 p.36, Step Three
Therefore dependence, as A.A. practices it, is really a means of gaining true independence of the spirit.
12&12 p.50, Step Four
By now the newcomer has probably arrived at the following conclusions: that his character defects, representing instincts gone astray, have been the primary cause of his drinking and his failure at life; that unless he is now willing to work hard at the elimination of the worst of these defects, both sobriety and peace of mind will still elude him; that all the faulty foundation of his life will have to be torn out and built anew on bedrock.
12&12 p.59, Step Five
Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility.
12&12 p.64, Step Six
So in a very complete and literal way, all A.A.‘s have “become entirely ready“ to have God remove the mania for alcohol from their lives.
12&12 p.70, Step Seven Indeed, the attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.‘s Twelve Steps.
12&12 p.72, Step Seven
We never thought of making honesty, tolerance, and true love of man and God the daily basis of living.
12&12 p.75, Step Seven
During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God.
12&12 p.87, Step Nine
For the readiness to take the full consequences of our past acts, and to take responsibility for the well-being of others at the same time, is the very spirit of Step Nine.
12&12 p.98, Step Eleven
But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life.
12&12 p.107, Step Twelve
He finds himself in possession of a degree of honesty, tolerance, unselfishness, peace of mind, and love of which he had thought himself quite incapable. …
When a man or a woman has a spiritual awakening, the most important meaning of it is that he has now become able to do, feel, and believe that which he could not do before on his unaided strength and resources alone.
12&12 p.114, Step Twelve
And as we grow spiritually, we find that our old attitudes toward our instincts need to undergo drastic revisions.
12&12 p.115, Step Twelve
After we come into A.A., if we go on growing, our attitudes and actions toward security — emotional security and financial security—commence to change profoundly.
12&12 p.131, Tradition One
By faith and by works we have been able to build upon the lessons of an incredible experience.
12&12 p.160, Tradition Seven
This principle is telling evidence of the profound change that A.A. has wrought in all of us.
_____________________________________________________________________________
ETC, a recovered alcoholic in Oregon—relieved of the obsessions but not cured of the allergy.
In addition, this part of taking step four is vital for taking the fifth step. Page 72: “We have been trying to get a new attitude, a new relationship with our Creator, and to discover the obstacles in our path.” Discussing these things (this means a conversation, not just ‘dumping your crap’) with another human being gets us out of that “double life.” Page 72: “. . .if we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking.” Starting at the bottom of page 73 to the top of page 74: “We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world.” 
We must make “a strenuous effort to face, and be rid of, the things in our selves which had been blocking us” from the sunlight of the spirit. This process helps us overcome the spiritual malady.
