“For every complex question there is a simple answer, and it is wrong.” —H.L. Mencken
Illustration by Simone Rein
IN THE MID-90S I HAD A SEVERE ALCOHOL ADDICTION. When I decided I needed help, the only alternative offered to me was Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). I was told this was the best approach—the most successful way to sobriety. At the time I knew nothing about AA. This is what I soon learned: AA was established in the 1930s based on the experiences of 100 white men. It has remained unchanged since then.