12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Jordan B. Peterson

Jan 2018 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Jordan B. Peterson

About this audiobook

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What are the most valuable things that everyone should know?

Acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan B Peterson has influenced the modern understanding of personality, and now he has become one of the world's most popular public thinkers, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarizing politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility and ancient wisdom has resonated around the world.

In this book, he provides twelve profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life, from setting your house in order before criticising others to comparing yourself to who you were yesterday, not someone else today. Happiness is a pointless goal, he shows us. Instead we must search for meaning, not for its own sake, but as a defence against the suffering that is intrinsic to our existence.

Drawing on vivid examples from the author's clinical practice and personal life, cutting-edge psychology and philosophy, and lessons from humanity's oldest myths and stories, 12 Rules for Life offers a deeply rewarding antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to our modern problems.

Ratings and reviews

Got to Rule 2, and endured an hour of childlike Christian philosophizing, that from my viewpoint as a former preacher and lifelong philosophy student, find failing Christianity and philosophy. The psychologist should stick to psychology. Any college student who had taken even an introduction to political philosophy will find this book devoid of any real lesson. Rather, all you will find are tidbits of T.S. Elliott, run through the gobbledegook of an armchair philosopher trying to mentally parse issues long since covered by discredited philosophy. It is as though a man on an island was air dropped a Bible with a few margin notes, and tried to invent philosophy from scratch.

It's another hyper sensitive Conservative who thinks because he's specialized in 1 field (psychology) he can pretend to be an expert in everything else. While I would normally just say 'oh well he doesn't know what he's talking about and it's a bad book - moving on'. Unfortunately the worst case scenario is happening here; lots of people agreeing with his rediculous ideas and pretending it's fact. Peterson is the latest in a slew of overly sensitive Ultra Conservatism without answers but a lot of blame to throw around. To me Peterson is an egotistical embarrassment to his actual field, the worst version of Conservatism and a disgrace to Canada.

I got through rule 6 and I just can't listen anymore. Maybe this book would be less drab read than via audiobook. The repeating biblical references are too much of a stretch for me to agreeably make those connections. Everything was very overgeneralized, nothing really tangible for me. I like specifics and personal stories that are relatable, not teachings from the old testament.

About the author

JORDAN B. PETERSON, raised and toughened in the frigid wastelands of Northern Alberta, has flown a hammer-head roll in a carbon-fiber stunt-plane, explored an Arizona meteorite crater with astronauts, and built a Kwagu'l ceremonial bighouse on the upper floor of his Toronto home after being invited into and named by that Canadian First Nation. He's taught mythology to lawyers, doctors and business people, consulted for the UN Secretary General, helped his clinical clients manage depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, served as an adviser to senior partners of major Canadian law firms, and lectured extensively in North America and Europe. With his students and colleagues at Harvard and the University of Toronto, Dr. Peterson has published over a hundred scientific papers, transforming the modern understanding of personality, while his book Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief revolutionized the psychology of religion. The author lives in Toronto, ON. www.jordanbpeterson.com