Grendhar,
books don't do it, no matter where they sit. implementing what they suggest has a far better chance!
the idea of the maintained desire as necessity isn't actually necessary, either. you can't rely on the desire to always be there. as you know.
the desire for long-term sobriety can get sidetracked by a short-term desire for relief of some sort, by poor impulse control, by a momentary wth...all these are reasons why people like Dee start threads about the importance of plans. the importance of making one and following it, no matter what the good idea of the moment is.