12 Rules For Life An Antidote to Chaos

Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to some of the most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the insightful revelations of scientific research.

How should we live properly in a world of chaos and uncertainty? Jordan Peterson has helped millions of people, young and old, men and women, aim at a life of greater insight, personal meaning and responsibility.

In this wonderful hardcover book he explores why and how 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, Rules for Life offers a deeply rewarding antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to our modern problems.

Humorous, surprising and informative, Dr. Peterson explores many interesting concepts including; why the ancient Egyptians worshiped the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods. And indeed what dreadful paths 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 topical rules for life. This wonderful book explores and elucidates the modern commonplaces of science, faith and human nature, while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its readers.

He reminds us, we each have a vital role to play in the unfolding destiny of the world even if only from the seemingly humble vantage point of our own personal lives. Deep, rewarding and enlightening, 12 Rules for Life is a lifeboat built solidly for stormy seas: ancient wisdom applied to our contemporary problems.

Quotes from the book:

It is far better to render Beings in your care competent than to protect them.

But the story of the golden calf also reminds us that without salient rules we quickly become slaves to our passions, and there’s nothing freeing about that.

Ideologies are substitutes for true knowledge, and ideologues are always dangerous when they come to power, because a simple-minded I-know-it-all approach is no match for the complexity of existence.

Intolerance of others’ views (no matter how ignorant or incoherent they may be) is not simply wrong; in a world where there is no right or wrong, it is worse: it is a sign you are embarrassingly unsophisticated or, possibly, dangerous.

We need to understand the role of art, and stop thinking about it as an option, or a luxury, or worse, an affection. Art is the bedrock of culture itself.

An artist constantly risks falling fully into chaos, instead of transforming it.

It took untold generations to get you where you are. A little gratitude might be in order. If you're going to insist on bending the world to your way, you better have your reasons.

In the West, we have been withdrawing from our tradition, religion and even nation-centred cultures, partly to decrease the danger of group conflict. But we are increasingly falling prey to the desperation of meaninglessness, and that is no improvement at all.

We deserve some respect. You deserve some respect. You are important to other people, as much as to yourself. You have some vital role to play in the unfolding destiny of the world. You are, therefore, morally obliged to take care of yourself. You should take care of, help and be good to yourself the same way you would take care of, help and be good to someone you loved and valued.
You may therefore have to conduct yourself habitually in a manner that allows you some respect for your own Being and fair enough. But every person is deeply flawed. Everyone falls short of the glory of God. If that stark fact meant, however, that we had no responsibility to care, for ourselves as much as others, everyone would be brutally punished all the time.
That would not be good. That would make the shortcomings of the world, which can make everyone who thinks honestly question the very propriety of the world, worse in every way. That simply cannot be the proper path forward.

No tree can grow to Heaven, adds the ever-terrifying Carl Gustav Jung, psychoanalyst extraordinaire, unless its roots reach down to Hell.

Don’t underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces, able to transform what might appear to be unconquerable obstacles into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities.

Strengthen the individual. Start with yourself. Take care with yourself. Define who you are. Refine your personality. Choose your destination and articulate your Being.

As the great nineteenth-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche so brilliantly noted: He whose life has a why can bear almost any how.

You can only find out what you actually believe (rather than what you think you believe) by watching how you act. You simply don’t know what you believe, before that. You are too complex to understand yourself.

About the Author JORDAN B. PETERSON:

Raised and toughened in the frigid wastelands of Northern Alberta, he 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.

Reviews:

Fascinating ... Peterson is brilliant on many subjects -- Bryan Appleyard ― Sunday Times

One of the most eclectic and stimulating public intellectuals at large today, fearless and impassioned -- Matthew d'Ancona ― Guardian

Genuinely extraordinary... Unmatched by any other modern thinker ... A prophet for our times -- Dominic Sandbrook ― Daily Mail

The most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now ― New York Times

Everyone must read 12 Rules For Life... The most enlightening book I have read in ages. Google him if you like, if it makes you feel better. It will, by the way. But get the book, that is the most important thing. And then read it. And then pass it on to a friend -- Chris Evans

In a different intellectual league... Peterson can take the most difficult ideas and make them entertaining. This may be why his YouTube videos have had 35m views. He is fast becoming the closest that academia has to a rock star.
Observer

Charismatic and exceptionally articulate.... Peterson is a new kind of public intellectual, using YouTube to spread ideas infinitely wider than predecessors such as Bertrand Russell or Isaiah Berlin -- Amol Rajan ― New Statesman

Profound, charismatic and serious... One of the most important thinkers to emerge on the world stage for many years -- Tim Lott ― Spectator

Additional note:

It is easy to look at a book like 12 Rules for Life and assume you know what it is. You see a list of rules, and you might expect something prescriptive, perhaps even a bit dry or overly simplistic. But those rules are not the destination; they are merely the entrance to a much deeper exploration.

Think of this book not as a magic wand that will wave away your troubles, but as a collection of carefully unearthed gems. Within these pages, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson has gathered profound nuggets of insight that bridges the gap between worlds of thinking. Providing clarity and insight in an often profound and heartening way.

This is perhaps where wisdom and knowledge dance in magnificence.

As you read, you won't just find "advice." Instead, you will find a breathtaking fusion of:

Hard Science & Reality: Some interesting insights and research into the biology of how our brains and bodies function.

Ancient Wisdom: The timeless lessons hidden within ancient mythologies and religious traditions.

Practical Philosophy: Grounded, thoughtful, and endlessly informative.

A lifetime of experience and the formulation of ideas of a practiced psychologist and University professor with a deeply humane and informed perspective that enlightens and delights, giving pause for thought and space for contemplation.

What makes this journey truly remarkable is the humanity behind it. Despite the sometimes heavy themes of chaos, suffering, and responsibility, there is also a profound sense of compassion and shared human experience woven through every chapter.

This sense of optimism and hope of a practical bent and of course Peterson doesn't just present facts; he presents them with an understanding of the weight we all carry and explores them lucidly.

A Companion for quiet moments:

The beauty of 12 Rules for Life lies in its versatility. It is not a book you simply read once and set aside. It is a book designed to be lived with and enjoyed.

It can be a companion you can dip into when you need a moment of clarity and a source of wisdom to revisit when you are facing a personal storm.

Whether you are looking for a "pick-me-up" during a difficult day or a heavy, meaningful concept to ponder during a quiet evening, there is often a gem waiting for you inside.

Ultimately, the book provides the light and the maps, but the journey and the responsibility of what to do with these truths, remains of course, entirely in your hands.

A note on the man as:

1. The Teacher (Professor)

For most of his career, Peterson was a traditional academic.

Harvard University: He spent several years in the 1990s as an assistant and associate professor, where he was nominated for the prestigious Levinson Teaching Prize.

University of Toronto: He returned to Canada in 1998 and became a full professor of psychology. His lectures on the "Psychology of Religion" and "Maps of Meaning" became legendary on campus long before they went viral on YouTube.

Current Status: He is now a Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, having retired from full-time teaching in 2022 to focus on his public work and books.

2. The Psychologist (Clinical)

Peterson isn’t just a theorist; he has deep roots in practical mental health.

Clinical Practice: For over 20 years, he ran a private clinical practice, seeing approximately 20 patients a week. He helped people dealing with depression, OCD, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Research: He has authored or co-authored over a hundred scientific papers, primarily focusing on personality, aggression, and the psychology of belief.

Book Details:

Condition: Very good. Some tearing on dust jacket only. Please see images for clarity.

Foreword by: Norman Doidge.

Illustrations by: Ethan Van Sciver.

Publisher: Allen Lane.

Year of Publication: 2018 (First published in Great Britain by Allen Lane)

Print length: ‎ 448 pages.

ISBN-13: ‎9780-241-35163-5

Item weight: ‎ 918 g

Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.18 x 9.45 inches.

Printed on FSC-certified paper (Forest Stewardship Council), specifically from responsible sources (FSC C018179).