How It Works
“How It Works” is the chapter of the book Alcoholics Anonymous that is read at the start of
many AA meetings. It describes the path of recovery and introduces the Twelve Steps.
It opens with a message of hope: rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our
path. Those who do not recover are usually people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to
this simple program. The program asks for honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness — and it works
when we work it, one day at a time.
The heart of the program
At the center of “How It Works” are the Twelve Steps — a suggested
program of recovery. They are suggestions, not commands; progress, not perfection, is what we seek.
“How It Works” is from the book Alcoholics Anonymous, © A.A. World Services,
Inc. Summarized here for informational use; the full chapter and book are available at
aa.org.