The "How it Works" reading and it's meaning explained.

From time to time there is confusion about the "How it Works" reading. May new AA's do not know where it comes from. My home group specifically makes sure everyone knows the reading is from the AA societies text book entitled Alcoholics Anonymous or more fondly referred to as "The Big Book".

 The start of Chapter 5 first paragraph reads:

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.

( Meaning simply that working ALL the steps will almost guarantee recovery from alcoholism)

Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program.

( This is a reiteration of the fact that half measures or more plainly NOT WORKING ALL THE STEPS will not bring about recovery from alcoholism ) 

 The steps are the program. The path they are referring is nothing more or less than the 12 step program of recovery.  It is written in plain English. 

The half measures sentence in the first part of the chapter "How it Works" refers to the ENTIRE 12 step program. 

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

 The steps are then listed. -- The 12 steps are the program