Chuck Chamberlain's book A New Pair of Glasses is not AA-approved conference literature, but it became an instant favorite with many recovering alcoholics upon its publication in 1984 and is still popular to this day. It takes the form of a written transcript of Chuck's talks to a men's retreat group.

In the Q&A session afterwards, Chuck was asked if it's possible to work with other alcoholics before one has done Step 12. His answer is revealing:

[T]he very moment a guy decides he wants what we have and becomes willing to go to any length to get it, he is ready to work with alcoholics. Not that he tries to carry the message to alcoholics, but to carry the alcoholic to the message .... [because] the [Big B]ook says, "Obviously, we can't transmit something we don't have."

The message therefore seems to be that significant recovery comes from the spiritual awakening associated with Step 12. Until we've taken, and continue to take, Step 12, we don't have a message to carry ....

Or do we? For at the end of the same paragraph, Chuck says:

[Y]ou don't have to be anything but kind to carry a message. Really, that's all. A little love.