Bob D. AA Male

Bob D. AA Male

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Bob D., a long‑sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous, lays out his story with a mix of raw honesty and sharp humour that many people in recovery will instantly recognise. He talks about growing up "burdened by love", feeling weird and full of fear long before his first drink at 12.

That first burglary and first bottle became, as he calls it, "the medicine of alcohol" for a spiritual sickness he didn’t yet understand. From there, you’ll hear how the “phenomenon of craving” showed up in his life, from chugging cough medicine in a stranger’s bathroom to animal tranquiliser binges and failed attempts to control his drinking with rules and bargains.

Bob contrasts his reaction to alcohol with non‑alcoholic family members, stressing that what he suffers from is "so much more than an alcohol problem". He explains the difference between acute and chronic alcoholism, and how simply stopping drinking left him restless, irritable, and resentful, seeing "stupid people" everywhere, including in AA. The heart of his message is about surrender and action.

After a suicide attempt that he couldn’t go through with, he lands in detox in Las Vegas, asks for a sponsor, and — for the first time — actually does what he’s asked to do: meetings, sponsorship, turning himself in to the courts, prayer, and service. As one counsellor challenges him, "What happened to you?

You never did all that stuff before." Bob’s style is fast, funny, and very direct, making this ideal for anyone who wonders whether they’re a "real alcoholic", feels allergic to AA slogans, or keeps bouncing in and out of sobriety. It might leave you asking yourself: are you still fighting the bottle, or are you ready to treat the illness underneath?