Book Review: Staying Sober Without God

Munn wrote this book because, as a nonbeliever, he felt the 12 steps of AA didn’t fully translate into a workable program for atheists or agnostics. This inspired him to develop the Practical 12 Steps.

staying sober

I stumbled upon Staying Sober Without God while searching for secular 12-step literature for a client who identifies as atheist. Jeffrey Munn, the book’s author, is in recovery and also happens to be a licensed mental health practitioner.

Munn wrote the book because as a nonbeliever he felt the 12 steps of AA didn’t fully translate into a workable program for atheists or agnostics. (For example, the traditional version of Step 3 directs the addict to turn his/her will and life over to the care of God as they understand him. If you don’t believe in God, how can you put your life into the care of him? Munn notes that there’s no feasible replacement for a benevolent, all-knowing deity.)

The whole “God thing” frequently turns nonbelievers off from AA/NA. They’re told (by well-meaning believers) to find their own, unique higher power, such as nature or the fellowship itself. (The subtle undertone is that the nonbeliever will eventually come around to accept God as the true higher power.)

In Staying Sober Without God Munn asserts, “There is no one thing that is an adequate replacement for the concept of God.” He adds that you can’t just replace the word “God” with “love” or “wisdom.” It doesn’t make sense. So he developed the Practical 12 Steps and wrote a guide for working them.

The Practical 12 Steps for staying sober are as follows:

  1. Admitted we were caught in a self-destructive cycle and currently lacked the tools to stop it
  2. Trusted that a healthy lifestyle was attainable through social support and consistent self-improvement
  3. Committed to a lifestyle of recovery, focusing only on what we could control
  4. Made a comprehensive list of our resentments, fears, and harmful actions
  5. Shared our lists with a trustworthy person
  6. Made a list of our unhealthy character traits
  7. Began cultivating healthy character traits through consistent positive behavior
  8. Determined that the best way to make amends to those we had harmed
  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would cause harm
  10. Practiced daily self-reflection and continued making amends whenever necessary
  11. We started meditating
  12. Sought to retain our newfound recovery lifestyle by teaching it to those willing to learn and by surrounding ourselves with healthy people

The Practical 12 Steps in no way undermine the traditional steps or the spirit of Alcoholics Anonymous. Instead, they’re supplemental; they provide a clearer picture of the steps for the nonbeliever.


Before delving into the steps in Staying Sober Without God, Munn discusses the nature of addiction, recovery, and the role of mental illness (which is mostly left untouched in traditional literature). He addresses the importance of seeking treatment (therapy, medication, etc.) for mental disorders while stressing that a 12-step program (secular or otherwise) is not a substitute for professional help. In following chapters, Munn breaks each step down and provides guidelines for working it.

The last few chapters of the book provide information on relapse and what the steps don’t address. Munn notes that sustainable recovery requires more than just working the steps, attending AA meetings, and taking a sponsor’s advice. For a balanced, substance-free lifestyle, one must also take care of their physical health, practice effective communication, and engage in meaningful leisure activities. Munn briefly discusses these components in the book’s final chapter, “What the Steps Miss.”

Staying Sober Without God is well-written and easy to read. The author presents information that’s original and in line with current models of addiction treatment, such as behavioral therapy (an evidence-based approach for substance use disorder). Working the Practical 12 Steps parallels behavioral treatments; the steps serve to modify or discontinue unhealthy behaviors (while replacing them with healthy habits). Furthermore, a 12-step network provides support and meaningful human connection (also crucial for recovery).

In my opinion, the traditional 12 Steps reek of the moral model, which viewed addiction as a moral failure or sin. Rooted in religion, this outdated (and false) model asserted that the addict was of weak character and lacked willpower. The moral model has since been replaced with the disease concept, which characterizes addiction as a brain disorder with biological, genetic, and environmental influences.

The Practical 12 Steps are a better fit for what we know about addiction today; Munn focuses on unhealthy behaviors instead of “character defects.” For example, in Step 7, the addict implements healthy habits while addressing unhealthy characteristics. No one has to pray to a supernatural being to ask for shortcomings to be removed.

The Practical 12 Steps exude empowerment; in contrast, the traditional steps convey helplessness. (The resulting implication? The only way to recover is to have faith that God will heal you.) The practical version of the steps instills hope and inspires the addict to change. Furthermore, the practical steps are more concrete and less vague when compared to the traditional steps. (This makes them easier to work!)


In sum, Munn’s concept of the steps helped me to better understand the 12-step model of recovery; the traditional steps are difficult to conceptualize for a nonbeliever, but Munn found a way to extract the meaning of each step (without altering overall purpose or spirit). I consider the practical steps a modern adaptation of the traditional version.

I recommend reading Staying Sober Without God if you have a substance use disorder (regardless of your religious beliefs) or if you’re a professional/peer specialist who works with individuals with substance use disorders. Munn’s ideas will give you a fresh perspective on 12-step recovery.


For working the practical steps, download the companion workbook here:

Note: The workbook is meant to be used in conjunction with Munn’s book. I initially created it for the previously mentioned client as a format for working the practical steps. The workbook is for personal/clinical use only.

350 Creative Ideas for Hobbies

Discover a new hobby with this diverse list of assorted leisure activities, which range from beekeeping to Kombucha brewing to knife throwing to ghost hunting.

I developed this list as part of a project I was working on and thought it would be worth sharing. (Click below for a PDF version of this list.)

PDF: List Of Hobbies


350 Ideas for Hobbies

Jump to a section:

Animals & Nature Hobbies

  1. Attend pet shows (or horse shows)
  2. Beachcombing
  3. Beekeeping
  4. Berry or apple picking
  5. Bird watching
  6. Butterfly garden (Visit one or create your own!)
  7. Butterfly watching
  8. Be a plant parent; nurture and care for indoor plants
  9. Composting
  10. Dog training
  11. Dog walking
  12. Forest bathing
  13. Fossil hunting
  14. Grow and tend to a fruit tree
  15. Grow an indoor herb garden
  16. Grow plants from seedlings (and plant outside when in-season)
  17. Hang humming bird feeders and then sit back and enjoy the company!
  18. Horseback riding
  19. Become an expert at identifying various plants and/or insects
  20. Mushroom hunting
  21. Nature walks
  22. Adopt a pet
  23. Pet fostering
  24. Pet sitting
  25. Plant a flower bed
  26. Go on a swamp tour
  27. Tend to a vegetable garden
  28. Topiary
  29. Visit a farm
  30. Visit an aquarium
  31. Go to zoos and/or nature centers
  32. Watch wildlife on Animal Planet
  33. Go whale watching

🔝

Arts & Crafts

  1. Drawing
  2. Candle making
  3. Collage making
  4. Coloring
  5. Crocheting
  6. Design your own greeting cards or stationary
  7. Flower arranging
  8. Foraging
  9. Glassblowing
  10. Jewelry making
  11. Knitting
  12. Lettering/calligraphy
  13. Mixed media art
  14. Mosaic making
  15. Origami
  16. Painting (watercolor, oils, acrylics, etc.)
  17. Paper crafts (including paper mâché)
  18. Photography
  19. Pressed flower craft
  20. Pottery
  21. Quilting
  22. Resin crafts
  23. Rock tumbling
  24. Scrapbooking
  25. Sculpting
  26. Sewing
  27. Sketching
  28. Soap making
  29. Weaving
  30. Wood carving

🔝

Collection Hobbies

  1. Action figures
  2. Antiques
  3. Autographs
  4. Barbies™
  5. Books (classics, signed copies, etc.)
  6. Bookmarks
  7. Christmas tree ornaments
  8. Comics
  9. Fun socks
  10. Hot sauce from around the world
  11. Keychains
  12. Magnets
  13. Movie or music memorabilia
  14. Obsolete tech (i.e. outdated cell phones, tape players, etc.)
  15. Original artwork
  16. Plates
  17. Purses, shoes, and other accessories
  18. Recipes
  19. Records
  20. Retro video games
  21. Rocks and/or crystals
  22. Shells
  23. Souvenirs
  24. Sports memorabilia
  25. Stickers
  26. Ticket stubs
  27. Toys
  28. Vases
  29. Vintage items

🔝

Cooking & Baking

  1. Baking
  2. Braising
  3. Bread making
  4. Cake decorating
  5. Canning
  6. Cheese making
  7. Coffee roasting
  8. Cookie decorating
  9. Grilling and BBQ
  10. Hosting dinner parties
  11. Kombucha brewing
  12. Learn ethnic and regional recipes
  13. Learn recipes from cooking shows
  14. Make “fun foods” for kids
  15. Make homemade ice cream
  16. Make jam or jelly
  17. Make your own beef (or vegan!) jerky
  18. Participate in competitive food festivals (or just go and enjoy the food!)
  19. Pasta making
  20. Pastry and confection making
  21. Pickling
  22. Pie making
  23. Raw diet meals
  24. Recreate menu items from your favorite restaurants
  25. Reduced fat cooking
  26. Sautéing
  27. Slow cooker meals
  28. Smoothie making
  29. Soup, sauce, and stock making
  30. Sushi making
  31. Take a cooking class
  32. Tea brewing
  33. Try new recipes on a regular basis
  34. Use an air fryer
  35. Use a dehydrator
  36. Use Pinterest for inspiration
  37. Vegan cooking
  38. Watch Food Network for inspiration

🔝

Entertainment

  1. Attend movies, operas, plays, and musicals
  2. Bingo
  3. Board games and/or party games
  4. Card games
  5. Chess
  6. Strategy games
  7. Dine out at new restaurants
  8. Escape rooms
  9. Gaming
  10. Go to museums
  11. Go to poetry slams or open mic nights
  12. Jigsaw puzzles
  13. Karaoke
  14. Murder mystery shows
  15. Rage rooms
  16. Read entertainment/celebrity magazines
  17. See your favorite bands/artists perform live
  18. Standup comedy
  19. Theme parks
  20. Watch your favorite Netflix series, but make sure you become overly invested (borderline obsessed) with the storyline and characters in order for this to qualify as a legit hobby

🔝

Home Improvement & DIY

  1. Add a backsplash to your kitchen
  2. Bathroom remodel
  3. Build a shed
  4. Build furniture
  5. Design a meditation room, home office, “man cave,” or “she shed”
  6. DIY headboard
  7. Fireplace makeover
  8. Hanging shelves
  9. Home organization
  10. Install smart home technology
  11. Kitchen remodel
  12. Paint an accent wall or update your entire home
  13. Paint old cabinets
  14. Redecorate a room
  15. Stencil or wallpaper
  16. Update a closet
  17. Update furniture
  18. Update lighting
  19. Use chalk paint or metallic spray paint

🔝

Literature, Music, & Dance

  1. Acting
  2. Visit art galleries
  3. Attend literary fests
  4. Ballroom dancing
  5. Belly dancing
  6. Blogging/guest blogging
  7. Break dancing
  8. Editing
  9. Go to book signings
  10. Go to the library
  11. Join a book club (either in-person or online, e.g., Goodreads)
  12. Listen to music
  13. Play/learn an instrument
  14. Puppeteering
  15. Rapping
  16. Reading
  17. Sell your art on Etsy
  18. Singing
  19. Song writing
  20. Submit articles/opinion pieces/essays to magazines and newspapers
  21. Swing dancing
  22. Take a dance class
  23. Take a drama or improv class
  24. Take voice lessons
  25. Wikipedia editing
  26. Write a book
  27. Write poetry
  28. Write short stories

🔝

Outdoor & Adventure

  1. ATV-ing
  2. Backpacking
  3. Boating
  4. Bouldering
  5. Bungee jumping
  6. Camping
  7. Canoeing
  8. Caving
  9. Cornhole
  10. Drone piloting
  11. Fishing
  12. Geocaching
  13. Go-Karting
  14. Hammocking
  15. Hiking
  16. Hot air ballooning
  17. Jump roping
  18. Kayaking
  19. Mountain biking
  20. Mountain climbing
  21. Obstacle courses
  22. Oversized lawn games
  23. Paddle boarding
  24. Parasailing
  25. Peak bagging
  26. Rocking climbing
  27. Sailing
  28. Scuba diving
  29. Skiing
  30. Skydiving
  31. Snorkeling
  32. Snowboarding
  33. Snowmobiling
  34. Snowshoeing
  35. Star gazing
  36. Stone skipping
  37. Trail running
  38. Tree climbing
  39. Waterskiing
  40. White water rafting
  41. Wilderness survival
  42. Zorbing

🔝

Self-Improvement & Social Hobbies

  1. Advocate for a cause
  2. Attend support groups/meetings
  3. Attend workshops/conventions
  4. Bullet journaling
  5. Daily positive affirmations and/or self-reflection
  6. Join a club
  7. Join a gym
  8. Join a Meetup group
  9. Join a political campaign
  10. Journaling
  11. Keep a gratitude journal
  12. Listen to podcasts
  13. Make a vision board and update it regularly
  14. Meditation
  15. Read research
  16. Read self-improvement books
  17. Social media
  18. Stretching
  19. Take a class (i.e., a foreign language, computer class, etc.)
  20. Use a habit tracker app
  21. Volunteer
  22. Watch documentaries
  23. Watch inspirational Ted Talks
  24. Wear a fitness tracker
  25. Yoga
  26. Yoga with baby goats

🔝

Competitive Sports

  1. Archery
  2. Badminton 
  3. Baseball
  4. Basketball
  5. Biking
  6. Body building
  7. Bowling
  8. Boxing
  9. Cricket
  10. Darts
  11. Disc golf/frisbee
  12. Fencing
  13. Fitbit step challenges
  14. Football/flag football
  15. Golf
  16. Gymnastics
  17. Hockey
  18. Hot dog eating
  19. Ice skating
  20. Jogging/running
  21. Knife throwing
  22. Lacrosse
  23. Laser tag
  24. Log rolling
  25. Martial arts
  26. Paintball
  27. Poker
  28. Racquetball
  29. Racing
  30. Roller derby
  31. Rugby
  32. Skateboarding
  33. Soccer
  34. Speed walking
  35. Surfing/body boarding
  36. Swimming
  37. Table football
  38. Table tennis
  39. Tennis
  40. Thai Chi
  41. UFC fighting
  42. Underwater rugby
  43. Volleyball
  44. Weightlifting
  45. Wheelbarrow racing
  46. Wrestling

🔝

Travel

  1. Alaskan cruise
  2. All-inclusive resorts
  3. Antarctic cruise
  4. Around-the-world cruise
  5. Beach vacations
  6. Caribbean cruise
  7. Cross-country train trip
  8. Explore your home town and other nearby place as though you’re a tourist
  9. Guided group tours
  10. Mediterranean cruise
  11. River cruise
  12. Road trip
  13. See the Northern Lights
  14. Transatlantic cruise
  15. Travel to all the continents in the world
  16. Travel to all 50 states in America
  17. Trip to Las Vegas
  18. Visit the Grand Canyon
  19. Visit the New Seven Wonders of the World
  20. Visit the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
  21. Go on city walking tours

🔝

Miscellaneous Hobbies

  1. Astrology/astronomy
  2. Billiards
  3. Couponing
  4. Creating DIY home products
  5. Fantasy sports
  6. Genealogy
  7. Ghost hunting
  8. Hair styling/braiding
  9. Hula hooping
  10. Juggling
  11. Keeping up with the latest fashions
  12. Kite flying
  13. Learning magic tricks
  14. Makeup application
  15. Metal detecting
  16. Model building
  17. People watching
  18. Pumpkin chucking
  19. Storage unit auctions
  20. Sunbathing
  21. Unicycle riding
  22. Yard sale shopping/thrifting

🔝


hobbies

Sources: