12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

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  • Create Date:2021-04-02 15:50:58
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
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  • Author:Jordan B. Peterson
  • ISBN:0345816021
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Summary

What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B。 Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research。

Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr。 Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street。

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr。 Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life。 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners。

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Reviews

Louis Shulman

Not overrated。 Not even a little bit。

Ivan

Came in search of wisdom/ conservative commentary on life。 Found only weird references to religion that made it impossible for me to finish reading this。 I mean, how can you cite some 2000 years old book as a authoritative source of anything? Those people didn't know what's gravity, atoms, randomness, causality。。。 yep, they didn't know much of anything about anything。 It's an insult to reason。 Came in search of wisdom/ conservative commentary on life。 Found only weird references to religion that made it impossible for me to finish reading this。 I mean, how can you cite some 2000 years old book as a authoritative source of anything? Those people didn't know what's gravity, atoms, randomness, causality。。。 yep, they didn't know much of anything about anything。 It's an insult to reason。 。。。more

Igor

Slušao sam jednom prilikom propovijed jednog svećenika koja je išla otprilike ovako : " Gledam ja sinoć na televiziji kako tamo na Bliskom istoku ljudi, mladići ginu za svoju vjeru, doslovce daju život za vjeru, a šta radi naša omladina? Naša omladina gleda televiziju noću, sluša glazbu i zabavlja se。。"Dakle, poželjni su mladići koji ginu za svoju vjeru, bolje i mrtvi nego da žive život kako sami žele。 Promišljanja o životu ovog autora me podsjećaju na tog svećenika, tj。 mislim kako bi Peterson Slušao sam jednom prilikom propovijed jednog svećenika koja je išla otprilike ovako : " Gledam ja sinoć na televiziji kako tamo na Bliskom istoku ljudi, mladići ginu za svoju vjeru, doslovce daju život za vjeru, a šta radi naša omladina? Naša omladina gleda televiziju noću, sluša glazbu i zabavlja se。。"Dakle, poželjni su mladići koji ginu za svoju vjeru, bolje i mrtvi nego da žive život kako sami žele。 Promišljanja o životu ovog autora me podsjećaju na tog svećenika, tj。 mislim kako bi Peterson bio daleko autentičniji i bliži svom biću da je postao neki pastor koji bi po svojoj rodnoj Alberti širio "svoja pravila"。 Za njega život je patnja, i valja ga ograditi hrpom pravila da bi se smanjila dodatna patnja。 Kako žalosno。 Koliko su mu ta pravila pomogla vidljivo je iz njegove nedavne situacije, kada je radi ovisnosti o antidepresivima jedva izvukao živu glavu。 Reklo bi se "lako je tuđim kurcem koprive mlatit" Petersone。 Masovno citira Bibliju, a podupire moć, moćnike, postojeće društveno stanje, a sam Isus je rekao da će bogataši teško ući u kraljevstvo Božje。 Po njemu svaki je čovjek uvijek kriv sam sebi za sve što ga snađe。 Što naravno nikad nije tako。 Vjerojatno je i on onda kriv sam sebi za sve teškoće koje su ga stigle u životu。 Šokantan je nedostatak empatije kod ovog čovjeka, njemu je normalno da na radnom mjestu kolege ismijavaju, vrijeđaju drugoga, ako se on ne može prilagodit njihovim redneck šalama。 Nije zasigurno bilo lako odrastat u vukojebinama Alberte。 Opisuje iskustvo kako mu se jedan dobar prijatelj ubio。 Međutim nigdje nema znaka empatije kako je bar razumio njegovu situaciju。 Postoji samo hladna konstatacija njegova stanja, "ko mu je kriv" i osuda。 Riječi poput patnje, žrtve, krivnje , grijeha dominiraju ovom knjigom。 Pomalo je šokantno što ovaj čovjek predstavlja "jednog od najutjecajnijih intelektualaca Zapada"。 Izgleda da je Zapad u ozbiljnoj krizi。Ovaj čovjek kao da je umro nekada davno pa se sada ogradio pravilima da ga život nikad ne pronađe sa svojom spontanošću, ljepotom, nepredvidljivošću i ludilom。 Vidim da je objavio i narednih 12 pravila hehe Čime li će ga život iznenadit iza novog seta pravila? 。。。more

Raymond Goss

Every other year or so I come across a book that seriously falls short of my expectations。 This book is one of them。 I read over 50 books a year and I rarely don't finish one。 However, my library book is about to expire and I don't plan to renew or finish this one。 I made it more than halfway, so I believe I gave it a fair try。The wording is too poorly academic, often combining Kafka, Hume and the Biblical topics all in the same sentence。 Even after dissecting the prose in a paragraph, I often f Every other year or so I come across a book that seriously falls short of my expectations。 This book is one of them。 I read over 50 books a year and I rarely don't finish one。 However, my library book is about to expire and I don't plan to renew or finish this one。 I made it more than halfway, so I believe I gave it a fair try。The wording is too poorly academic, often combining Kafka, Hume and the Biblical topics all in the same sentence。 Even after dissecting the prose in a paragraph, I often found it circular, uninteresting or unnecessary。 The author comes across as a Christian, who prefers the Old Testament and the discussions on the devil more than a "positive" message。 His use of other philosophical works support the biblical material。 At the same time, he tries to separate his stance from the Bible alone。 I just was turned off by his rhetoric。 。。。more

Pravin

When I have children of my own, I'll make this mandatory reading。Professor Peterson is a modern philosopher & psychologist, controversial yes, but not because of the rationality he preaches。 His views are wholly misrepresented by most accounts I've seen, & my own conclusion is that his positions are not easily understood by the majority of his opposition。In my eyes, his calm exposition on rational thought & behaviour is unparalleled。 In terms of influence over my life, this books only significan When I have children of my own, I'll make this mandatory reading。Professor Peterson is a modern philosopher & psychologist, controversial yes, but not because of the rationality he preaches。 His views are wholly misrepresented by most accounts I've seen, & my own conclusion is that his positions are not easily understood by the majority of his opposition。In my eyes, his calm exposition on rational thought & behaviour is unparalleled。 In terms of influence over my life, this books only significant competitor might be Carnegie's seminal classic, How to Win Friends & Influence People。I wont go into detail about the entire book, but will leave you with this:One of the rules is "pet a cat when you see one"。Trust me, this is worth a read in your lifetime。 。。。more

Jolie

Simply recommend everyone to read this book, especially if you are feeling lost and need some sorting up!

Devin Skipper

I really enjoy the words of Jordan Peterson, and this book is no exception。 I felt like the author rambled a bit too much about certain subjects that did not necessarily re-enforce the "rules" of each chapter。 This book has good bones, but be prepared for tangential filler。 I really enjoy the words of Jordan Peterson, and this book is no exception。 I felt like the author rambled a bit too much about certain subjects that did not necessarily re-enforce the "rules" of each chapter。 This book has good bones, but be prepared for tangential filler。 。。。more

Amalherbe

Jordan you knew the last thing we need is another set of rules and yet you chose to write one。Aristotle was wrong, you can't become virtuous by doing virtuous actions。 Thus this book is wrong too unfortunately。 Becoming is different than learning a craft。 Becoming is infinite and therefore you would need an infinite set of rules。 Becoming can't be done from the surface downwards。 First you need to dig and then make your way upwards。Waste of a perfectly good tree。I've only read a couple of chapte Jordan you knew the last thing we need is another set of rules and yet you chose to write one。Aristotle was wrong, you can't become virtuous by doing virtuous actions。 Thus this book is wrong too unfortunately。 Becoming is different than learning a craft。 Becoming is infinite and therefore you would need an infinite set of rules。 Becoming can't be done from the surface downwards。 First you need to dig and then make your way upwards。Waste of a perfectly good tree。I've only read a couple of chapters but that was enough for me to write this review。 。。。more

Michael

Always good to read the thoughts of those you've been told you'll disagree with。 I liked it not for his actual stances and arguments, but more for provoking internal reflection on the topics。 Always good to read the thoughts of those you've been told you'll disagree with。 I liked it not for his actual stances and arguments, but more for provoking internal reflection on the topics。 。。。more

Marika Sebechlebská

There's lots of talk about Peterson own life and his political and religious beliefs trying to disregard the book or his work。 No, I don't agree with him on everything - but that's not the point。 If your house in on fire - you don't ask the fireman what he thinks about religion before he saves you - and maybe sometimes Peterson goes too deep into his own beliefs - but just take from it what you need。 Some rules didn't apply to me, certain rules I have implemented in my life before knowing about There's lots of talk about Peterson own life and his political and religious beliefs trying to disregard the book or his work。 No, I don't agree with him on everything - but that's not the point。 If your house in on fire - you don't ask the fireman what he thinks about religion before he saves you - and maybe sometimes Peterson goes too deep into his own beliefs - but just take from it what you need。 Some rules didn't apply to me, certain rules I have implemented in my life before knowing about the book - but even if 6 rules out of 12 helps you, it's great step forward。 In contrast to many other self help books, this won't tell you that if you are positive your life will be great - instead tells you to take responsibility for your own life - there are truths that are certainly hard to hear - no one wants to accept that he is responsible for his own misery or wasted time。 And yeah, he didn't came with anything revolutionary then other psychiatrist, philosophers and writers didn't already talk about - but he says it in language easy to understand。 He does the research for you。 。。。more

Anneli Waara

Sträck på dig och ta ansvar för ditt liv och för världen。 Det är i korthet vad JP uppmanar oss till。 Man behöver inte hålla med om allt han skriver för att konstatera att tankar väcks som både känns igen och är nya och är nyttiga på ett eller annat sätt。 Han varvar personliga berättelser med hänvisningar till filosofer, författare och inte minst till bibeln。 Lite berg- och dalbana i hur lätt texten flyter, men behållningen var större än jag trott, skeptisk som jag är till böcker som vill visa hu Sträck på dig och ta ansvar för ditt liv och för världen。 Det är i korthet vad JP uppmanar oss till。 Man behöver inte hålla med om allt han skriver för att konstatera att tankar väcks som både känns igen och är nya och är nyttiga på ett eller annat sätt。 Han varvar personliga berättelser med hänvisningar till filosofer, författare och inte minst till bibeln。 Lite berg- och dalbana i hur lätt texten flyter, men behållningen var större än jag trott, skeptisk som jag är till böcker som vill visa hur vi ska leva。 Boken är utmärkt som utgångspunkt för samtal。 JP har fått massiv kritik, och hyllats av andra。 Oftast ur politiskt perspektiv。 Det första man behöver göra är att bilda sig en egen uppfattning, läsa det han skriver。 Och sen gärna prata om den, ur livsfilosofiskt perspektiv。 。。。more

Luis Carpio

Leyendo este libro pude aprender de la razón del por qué de algunas cosas que desconocía asi como también aprendí queQuien conoce al prójimo es inteligente。Quien se conoce a sí mismo, es iluminado。Quien se vence a sí mismo es poderoso。Queen está satisfecho con lo que tiene es rico。Quien se esfuerza tiene voluntad。Quien permanece en su camino perdura。Quien muere no perece, empieza la vida eterna。En resumidas cuentas un libro 100% recomendado。

Darjeeling

Get it here:https://www。kobo。com/gb/en/ebook/12-r。。。🦞🦞🦞 Get it here:https://www。kobo。com/gb/en/ebook/12-r。。。🦞🦞🦞 。。。more

Dyanna

DNF: 30%Well what bothered me the most about this book is that the author uses the quotes from the Bible in the oppose meaning of the true message of that quote。 An example: When Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life but this author makes this quote all about the self 🙄 This author claims that God is limited that He can not create a place without evil, renegades the fact that Satan is real and so many ideas that are no way what God teaches us。 I really think this autho DNF: 30%Well what bothered me the most about this book is that the author uses the quotes from the Bible in the oppose meaning of the true message of that quote。 An example: When Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life but this author makes this quote all about the self 🙄 This author claims that God is limited that He can not create a place without evil, renegades the fact that Satan is real and so many ideas that are no way what God teaches us。 I really think this author believes in so many religions just to be impartial and sell this book。 By doing this he is obvious not a strong believer and a long way from God。I honestly begun this book because he stated that he is a Christian well I convinced myself that he has a long way till he becomes a real Christian 。 That is why I hate self help/psychology books : there all purpose is to feed the ego but ignore the true meaning of life that is that we must be humble and dependent of God。 。。。more

Inês Vilhena Pereira da Fonseca

If you want a light self help book, this is not the book for you。 However, if you want a meaningful and inteligent book that actually makes you think about your life in a deep way, this is the book for you。 It's a slow read, you cannnot rush it because every chapter gives you a lot to reflect on, but to me it was absoulutely life changing。 100% reccomend if you are willing to engange in some deep inner work。 If you want a light self help book, this is not the book for you。 However, if you want a meaningful and inteligent book that actually makes you think about your life in a deep way, this is the book for you。 It's a slow read, you cannnot rush it because every chapter gives you a lot to reflect on, but to me it was absoulutely life changing。 100% reccomend if you are willing to engange in some deep inner work。 。。。more

Xabier Pellicer

Para mi gusto un libro sobrevalorado。 Lo cogí con grandes expectativas y lo cierto es que quitando algún que otro fragmento ha sido algo decepcionante。

Julia

Absolutely amazing。 One of my all-time favorites, and one of the best books I've ever read (almost certainly the best nonfiction)。 Very excited to read the sequel。 Absolutely amazing。 One of my all-time favorites, and one of the best books I've ever read (almost certainly the best nonfiction)。 Very excited to read the sequel。 。。。more

Ankit Gupta

It could be a good book without all the Christianity stuff it forced people to read。

Michael Taylor

I try to go into all of the books I read with an open mind。 Jordan Peterson's reputation precedes him。 Either you love him or you hate him。 I find myself strangely in the middle of the road。 Some of his talking points I feel merit discussion, while some are total hogwash。 It is interesting to contemplate just how the man got so famous。 After reading this book, I find his celebrity even more perplexing。 It's WAY too long and stuffed with all sorts of meandering tangents。 It's marketed as a self h I try to go into all of the books I read with an open mind。 Jordan Peterson's reputation precedes him。 Either you love him or you hate him。 I find myself strangely in the middle of the road。 Some of his talking points I feel merit discussion, while some are total hogwash。 It is interesting to contemplate just how the man got so famous。 After reading this book, I find his celebrity even more perplexing。 It's WAY too long and stuffed with all sorts of meandering tangents。 It's marketed as a self help book, but other than the general format (12 rules to live by), there isn't anything of real substance here。 My copy of this book was a library copy, and I think it was revealing of the kind of the typical reading experience of this book。 The person who read their copy before me wrote in the margins of this book and underlined phrases they must have found impactful。 What kind of animal writes in a library book? The same kind that underlines empty platitudes and short, buzzy phrases without actually bothering to try to confront the actual contents of the book。 I can't say I blame them。 To parse the really weighty stuff in here you need an education in religious studies, psychology, Disney movies, history of the second world war, and old Russian literature。 I doubt anybody with less than a wall full of degrees would fully grasp all of this book。 I certainly didn't。 Unfortunately, the blame for this must be placed on the author。This book needs an editor to say "Mr。 Peterson, it's good that you're telling aimless young men to take some responsibility for themselves。 Could you say it in half the words? Do we really need a another breakdown of biblical symbolism to drive that point home?"。 It's apparent that Jordan Peterson is a very well read, educated man who has broad spanning interests。 He's thorough in his research and must enjoy writing, but I never got the sense that he much liked people。 The essence of the book is "Buck up。 Try harder。 Have some god damn conviction。" Yes dad。 I'm sorry dad。 I'm a miserable little man baby and I'm sorry that I've disappointed you dad。 Am I better now? Please love me!A self help book should leave you inspired。 It should make you want to examine your life and change your behavior。 Here's my recommendation for anybody interested in reading this book。 Look up the 12 rules。 Write them down and make notes beside them for how you might integrate them into your own life。 Write honestly about how you feel about each rule as it applies to yourself。 That way you might get some self examination in。 You'll also save yourself the boredom of this overlong book。 。。。more

Vanessa Oporto

I was going through a tough time when i encountered this book, JP made me realize a lot of things that somewhat helped me with my situation and my way of thinking。 It was the right book at the right time。 🤍

Faviana Olivera

Hay libros que decides leer。。。 otros estudiar。。。 algo complejo pero xon grandes desenlaces。

Tucker Bateman

So I listened to this book, I downloaded it awhile ago but finally just decided to listen to it despite not really enjoying it。 I don’t disagree with any of the rules, but I don’t feel like any of the evidence supporting those rules held much substance。 Jordon Peterson is clearly a smart guy, but listening to his thoughts was really not fun。 There was a lot of doom and gloom, slippery slope arguments and if this then all these things will happen。 Finally, there was nothing on how we as the audie So I listened to this book, I downloaded it awhile ago but finally just decided to listen to it despite not really enjoying it。 I don’t disagree with any of the rules, but I don’t feel like any of the evidence supporting those rules held much substance。 Jordon Peterson is clearly a smart guy, but listening to his thoughts was really not fun。 There was a lot of doom and gloom, slippery slope arguments and if this then all these things will happen。 Finally, there was nothing on how we as the audience take these rules and apply then in our lives。 Really not my favorite, and maybe it’s just me but I’m glad I finished it。 。。。more

Riley Sheehan

Wow, this one was a whirlwind。 I was eminently excited to read this after being introduced to Jordan Peterson's work on YouTube。 He seemed someone who I agreed with sometimes and didn't at others。 But in all of it, in contrast with the ideologue-driven culture of our day, he seems to possess logical and ethical integrity, un-bridled by any specific polarization。 I find him all at once fascinating, necessary, annoying, captivating, and confounding。 There is much wisdom in this book, and also plen Wow, this one was a whirlwind。 I was eminently excited to read this after being introduced to Jordan Peterson's work on YouTube。 He seemed someone who I agreed with sometimes and didn't at others。 But in all of it, in contrast with the ideologue-driven culture of our day, he seems to possess logical and ethical integrity, un-bridled by any specific polarization。 I find him all at once fascinating, necessary, annoying, captivating, and confounding。 There is much wisdom in this book, and also plenty of pseudo-spiritual, philosophical fluff。 Peterson seems to be at his best when he is giving passionate admonitions or recounting powerful anecdotes。 How he connects all of this into meaningful, logical lines of thought, though, is often hit or miss。 His best insights, in my opinion, are found in his pointed exhortations toward individual improvement, which he is very good at giving。 But for a person so bent on convincing his readers they should shut up and improve themselves before critiquing anything, he sure spends a lot of time critiquing things。 This has to be one of the greater ironies of the book。 Either Peterson believes his existence is in such order it can manifest the degree of severity with which he critiques other ideologies, or he believes his critiques are categorically different than the ones he disapproves of。 I'm guessing it's the latter。 Peterson is hardly wishy-washy in his presentation, and this is good。 Unfortunately, however, he presents many ideas with equal severity and absoluteness, regardless of whether his supporting proof comes from rigorous scientific study and historical data, or the vague justification of "it's in the yin and yang symbol, which is old, so it's true。" This makes some of his points, and the corresponding confidence with which he presents them, less convincing to me。Some of the chapters landed well—clear, direct, entertaining, challenging, supported by evidence, and generally charitable toward the reader and the world。 Some took long, arduous detours through unnecessary stories and indulgently verbose rabbit trails that had little to do with the main point of the chapter。 This was frustrating, because I often felt the stories and the philosophical rigor were appreciable, but irrelevant to the main point。 Some of these chapters could have been even a quarter of the length and possessed the same, if not more, efficacy。As a Christian reader, Peterson is an incredibly interesting read。 He seems to slip through the fingers of any categorization or understanding, and his formation by, and subsequent teaching of, Christian thinking is delightfully confounding。 I would imagine to non-Christian readers this gets woefully long in the tooth。This is a book that hits the surface of our current cultural landscape less like a swan dive and more like a cannonball。 And I believe that is in part Peterson's aim。 He leads readers into a great degree of necessary and welcome soul-searching and self-improvement, which is good。 But he does little more to help us develop categories for beneficial ethical, political, or social engagement。 Instead, he tells us all the wrong ways to do it。 And he does little to acknowledge actual societal disparities of race and gender, other than to take a detour through Marxism and write off group identity politics as unsound and untenable。That's not to say he doesn't make a lot of good points in these sections, but, again, Peterson seems far more concerned that we not be Marxists, than how we should be anything else。 "Sort yourself out," he admonishes, "and society will too。" This might be true in theory and in practice, but is an incomplete answer to some of the most important questions our society is asking right now。 "To what degree does the historical disenfranchising of Black Americans through chattel slavery and Jim Crow impact the disparity in opportunity for them today?" is a very important question to answer。 The answer is not "it doesn't。" And I don't think Peterson would even say this。 But, again, I do think his effort seems solely focused on convincing his readers to not be Marxists more than anything else。 Throughout the book, he dodges these societally-pervasive and incredibly important questions。 And that is to the detriment of his arguments, and to the book。Jordan Peterson continues to be a fascinating and important thinker in an age increasingly defined by groupthink, both on the right and on the left。 Take this work for what it is—Peterson in his purest form。 Someone worth listening to and considering, but not worth believing on every issue or on every point, despite the absolute factual certainty with which he presents all of them。 Eat the meat and spit out the bones。 。。。more

Jerry

A clinical psychologist advising the world on which steps one should take to live a mentally, healthy life is one confident enough to open himself to criticism from far and wide。 Professor Peterson proscribes things with which I agree and some with which I disagree。 That said, his edicts are worth considering; agree or not。 A work worth reading。

Iuliana Popescu

Minunată。

Ariana

I wanted to enjoy this book。 The concept of combining religion, earth science, and psychology is essential and intriguing and I want more literature on this discourse。 This book is not a good representation of discourse。 The author is extremely verbose unnecessarily so。 The first chapter is essentially “act strong and powerful and others work treat you this, and your brain chemistry will too”。 It doesn’t need the lengthyness to say so。 Additionally, this is extremely male-centric。 Again the firs I wanted to enjoy this book。 The concept of combining religion, earth science, and psychology is essential and intriguing and I want more literature on this discourse。 This book is not a good representation of discourse。 The author is extremely verbose unnecessarily so。 The first chapter is essentially “act strong and powerful and others work treat you this, and your brain chemistry will too”。 It doesn’t need the lengthyness to say so。 Additionally, this is extremely male-centric。 Again the first chapter discusses how women are more likely to be agoraphobic because as the weaker sex they often attach themselves unhealthily to men。 While men, are always fighting for dominance like lobsters and should focus on acting dominant to feel better。 In chapter two, the insertion of speculation on the book of genesis does not have anything to do with the principle of chapter two “treat yourself as someone you care about”。 The creation story does not relate and the author only gets back to his thesis in a round about way jumping to talking about pets。 I reread this genesis section and couldn’t figure out the relevance。 All in all, a male centric opinionated and pushy book which is FAR to verbose for the simple concepts and lack of speculation of multiple sides of issues。 。。。more

TheDude

Cool metaphors and anecdotes, great rules to go by

Martin

Interessante und gute Ratschläge und Ideen, teilweise aber ein wenig religiös-esoterisch angehaucht。

Ivan

Um dos livros mais complexos e verdadeiros que já li。 Complexo por conseguir mostrar com exemplos toda uma gama de situações e atitudes que no nosso dia-a-dia passam desapercebidos, mas que no final, muitas vezes daquele mesmo dia, somam e dão um resultado inesperado。 Pois é inesperado porque não vemos a equação se formando, só vemos o peso dela e o que ela trás, e que na maioria das vezes fechamos nossos olhos, e culpamos alguém ou alguma coisa quando não gostamos, ou temos nossa pequena felici Um dos livros mais complexos e verdadeiros que já li。 Complexo por conseguir mostrar com exemplos toda uma gama de situações e atitudes que no nosso dia-a-dia passam desapercebidos, mas que no final, muitas vezes daquele mesmo dia, somam e dão um resultado inesperado。 Pois é inesperado porque não vemos a equação se formando, só vemos o peso dela e o que ela trás, e que na maioria das vezes fechamos nossos olhos, e culpamos alguém ou alguma coisa quando não gostamos, ou temos nossa pequena felicidade, que aproveitamos pouco pois não sabemos o que fazer com o resultado, pois nem sabíamos que era um resultado。 Verdadeiro porque é real, é fato, são coisas vividas por todos nós, a equação é a nossa vida, o que estamos fazendo com ela, eu escrevendo essa resenha, alguém lendo, eu me importando com isso, e usando isso de alguma maneira na minha vida, ou não, é tudo uma decisão minha, com base em querer fazer alguma coisa de Bem, por menor que seja。 Vou precisar reler ele, várias vezes, pois é um livro para a vida, para a minha vida e provavelmente para a sua também。 。。。more

Nathan

“Restraining orders work best,” Peterson writes, “with the sort of person who would never require a restraining order。” Makes sense—if you don’t need something, it’s redundant, or at the very least superfluous。 Like preaching to the choir。 Rules for the unruly consumed by those already indoctrinated。 Which gets at my biggest question about this book。 Who is his audience? People who need to learn restraint? Or those who are already restrained。This is not a typical self-help book。 The advice is es “Restraining orders work best,” Peterson writes, “with the sort of person who would never require a restraining order。” Makes sense—if you don’t need something, it’s redundant, or at the very least superfluous。 Like preaching to the choir。 Rules for the unruly consumed by those already indoctrinated。 Which gets at my biggest question about this book。 Who is his audience? People who need to learn restraint? Or those who are already restrained。This is not a typical self-help book。 The advice is essentially to get your shit together。 And there’s a moral weight to it。 With frequent, even constant, references to the Bible, German philosophers, and Russian novelists。 But what’s missing is any plan, program, or technique by which to enact those ends。 It’s twelve rules, twelve guidelines for organizing his thoughts, not a Twelve Step program。Still, as a Christian he puts the onus on us to become converted, through reflection on our own moral failings and the troubles they’ve caused us, to a personal salvation through an enlightenment of self-consciousness。 This overlaps with the conservative element he shares with Conservatives, which puts blame on individuals for their struggles, which generalizes human nature sufficient to suggest an even playing field, which highlights simplified success stories sufficient to say, Look, it can be done, why don’t you do it?What is the purpose of this book if not to speak to the loyalists of this cause? The chorus of pseudo-intellectual disciples who need justification for their sense of superiority, rationalization for their experience of privilege。 Like good Lobsters, they stand tall, walk proudly, listen to dubious interpretations of evolutionary theory, heed questionable anecdotes drawn from anthropological records, and march forth as one to take what they feel is theirs, their birthright。 And under the banner of All Is Meaningless, Life Is Pain, God Is Dead, Long Live the King。Belief in a higher power is not necessary, is even naive, and yet an intellectually based faith which supports our striving for the greater good is useful for our inherently selfish ends。 Credence is more important than creed。 This rings true in my experience, where an individuated, conscious decision to continue to act as though the unprovable were true has kept my religious upbringing relevant, meaningful, and useful for me。The morals part speaks for itself。 Do good。 Do what is good。 Do what it is good to do。 Do that which is good。 Do good work。 Live a good life。 It is often its own reward。 But it is also a direction, the path to a goal。 To be good, you must do what is good。 To be better, you must do more of what is good。 This is good advice。 Is it a book’s worth of it? Probably not, unless however the goal of the book is more to give enough weight to the moral imperative which is the heart of the argument。So yes, I’m doing pretty good。 My boss recommended this book to me because I’m already doing good, dare I say even doing better than I was, back when I was merely doing real good。 Because she knows I’m smart, and faithful, and would get it。 Because it’s like preaching to the choir。 Otherwise I likely wouldn’t have read it。 But I’m glad I did。 He’s a controversial figure lately, so I’m grounded now in his overall views, in this instalment from back when he was just coming to more or less humble prominence, when tracking Quora likes and YouTube views were what mattered to him。Since then I see he’s mainly become known for racist and anti-Trans positions, but I can’t speak to those, as I’ve allowed myself to keep ignorant of them in the name of encountering this book at face value on its own terms。 What remains is the easiest and most obvious criticism of Dr。 Petersen, which is that there’s nothing really groundbreaking about his work。 At best he’s simply trying to organize his thoughts by writing them out。 The 12 rules serve as an arbitrary framework, like coloured tabs in a binder, for filing an otherwise unrelated portfolio of opinions, memories, scenarios, references, and reflections。 I use that analogy because he criticizes one of his patients precisely for having that kind of colour-tabbed binder to help organize her thoughts, readings, and dreams。I suppose that’s what most writing is, at least nonfiction, or especially nonfiction。 In this book he says that’s the purpose of most conversation, and identifies lectures as a form of conversation, a one-sided session with a silent therapist as another。 I think he inherently defends against this critique—the lack of novelty—by arguing that nothing is truly new or groundbreaking。 “Every thought we think was thought previously by someone smarter。” It’s enough to be honest, respectful, and good。 Indeed, this book is ultimately an ode to diligence, discipline, reliability, and integration more than genius, success, status, wealth, or aspiration—“enlightenment, articulation, rationality, self-determination, strength and competence”—or, “it’s competence that makes people as safe as they can truly be。” But in the end I found it more useful when he relativizes truth as personal truths, and explains the dangers of turning personal truths into ideological beliefs, imposing them on the world as capital-T Truth。 I prefer that approach over his claims to some knowledge of “fundamental, universal existential reality。”I approach a book like this through my own truth of my current moment。 Unlike when I studied philosophy in college or read this kind of stuff as a young man, I’ve got a kid now, so responsibility—and particularly by responsibility I mean the specific responsibilities for which I alone am responsible—means something more to me now。 I get it。 But this book, and this author, still feel like the echoes of my puritanical boomer parents who worked way too hard to conflate idealism and ideology with pragmatic practicality and defeated resignation。 In that sense it reads like Ayn Rand。 As well it echoes my hollow readings in college of Nietzsche, Jung, and the usual suspects of modern social evolutionary theory。 I’d name them but if you’re still reading this deeply biased review then I’d definitely be preaching to the choir。Which all means it’s as easy to be misguided by this guide to life as it is to be set on a good, proper, loving, healthy, and compassionate path by it。 Or at least it seems like the former is more likely to occur than the later in this case for some reason。 I think his growing popularity is due to the way he straddles two worlds—more intellectual than most pundits and preachers, less abrasive than the worst politicians and media personalities—still plenty pompous, but just Canadian enough to stand apart somehow。As terrible as I’ve been here, I’ve actually been too kind。 I legit enjoyed it at first, even benefitted from it and was motivated in ways that I was from some of, yes, Donald Trump’s ghost-written self-help inspirational books。 But this is the kind of writing that gets worse, more unhinged, and more neurotic as it goes along。 A slog of a read that takes a logical fallacy drawn a deep-seated set of biases and doubles down on it。 So that in the end 12 Rules for Life really strives to be the impressionable young Incel’s guidebook, lampooning feminism, defending gender binaries, standing up for the patriarchy, and placing the blame for the world’s ills on “the terror young men feel towards attractive women, who are nature itself, ever ready to reject them, intimately, at the deepest level。 Nothing inspires self-consciousness, undermines courage, and fosters feelings of nihilism and hatred more than that。” This is the final argument, what it all boils down to? It’s audience, who wants to hear this? That’s sad to me。What else, let’s see。 Oh yeah! Blaming Hitler’s mother and Stalin’s mother, with a citation for “the importance of the maternal role in establishing trust。” Also, this admission late in the final chapter: “I like to watch a Simpsons episode at 1。5 times regular speed: all the laughs; two-thirds the time。” See what I mean? Total maniac! 。。。more