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“Cured” deals with the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and the original founders.

It’s main subject, can a alcoholic be cured  has been covered in great detail.  Those who are active as well as those curious about alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous will find this book extremely interesting.  I couldn’t put it down.

In “Cured” the author has investigated the possibility of a cure for alcoholism vs. the more well known view that Alcoholism is a disease that can never be cured.

Lee Hummel, M.S.C.C., Delaware Addiction counselor at Safe Harbor Christian Counseling Center has this to say about “Cured”.

     “I believe that Dick B. knows more about the history and roots of A.A. and therefore the revolution that is the 12-Step movement than anyone on the planet.

The main points of “Cured” is the history of A.A. and it’s position on a cure for Alcoholism as it compare to today’s “watered down program”. And How God, Jesus Christ interacts with the alcoholic.

Having read this book twice I found myself fascinated by how meticulous and exhaustive the authors research was on the history and foundation of Alcoholics Anonymous.

After reading “Cured” I was convinced that today’s teachings of A.A are dreadfully lacking in true A.A. history.  I feel confident that this book has achieved it’s goal in informing the reader that there was and has always been a cure for alcoholism but that modern A.A. teaches there is no cure, only a daily reprieve.

The possibilities of a victorious life over alcoholism are made very clear.  A close relationship with Jesus Christ as the founders and early members of A.A. practiced was the key to the cure.  The author suggest that the concept of a “Higher Power” as anything other than God, the Lord Jesus Christ is not sufficient to cure an alcoholic of his or her malady.

The book does fall short in it’s observation of the effectiveness of today’s fellowship of A.A.  The author states that the success rate of A.A. has drooped to 10% from the original 97% back when Jesus Christ was viewed as the only God.

Though this commentator has no argument with these statistics being authentic facts, I did feel that the author came across with a lack of tolerance and gratitude for any who have stayed sober for multiple of years in the modern version of A.A.

Though the author did mention of a few back to the basics A.A. meetings beginning to spring up, the book left out any statistics of successful Christian A.A. meetings.

I have had the pleasure of reading several books on addiction and alcoholism.  As far as I can tell “Cured” has an original vain running through it’s pages.  Where most recovery literature looks at the disease and it’s possible fatal outcome, “Cured” brings us into the light of the good news that there is a permanent solution for the alcoholic. A cure.

As a 16 year member of such 12 Step fellowships I found this book to be the good news every alcoholic wants to hear but cannot because of the lie taught in many of today’s A.A. fellowships.  The lie that we must be in recovery and never fully recover.  What good news is in that philosophy?

“Cured” has not only given me new hope for the alcoholic who still suffers but for the alcoholic who has quit drinking but who’s life has not changed.

I recommend this book for anyone who lives with alcoholism, anyone that does not believe that the true fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous teaches a cure for alcoholism. And anyone that wants more out of life than meetings.

This book does not try to change the current A.A. program and for that I am grateful, but it does bring the truth out into the open so the rest of us can make our own conclusion.