“12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” by Jordan B. Peterson is a self-help book that provides a set of principles for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. The book is divided into 12 chapters, each of which focuses on a different rule for life. The author draws from a wide range of sources, including mythology, religion, and science, to provide practical advice for navigating the challenges of modern life.
One of the most striking aspects of “12 Rules for Life” is Peterson‘s emphasis on personal responsibility. He argues that individuals are responsible for their own lives and must take an active role in shaping their own destiny. He states in the book “Stand up straight with your shoulders back” as one of the rules, a call to take responsibility for one’s own life.
Another key aspect of “12 Rules for Life” is Peterson‘s emphasis on the importance of taking action. He argues that individuals should take small, concrete steps to improve their lives rather than waiting for life to change on its own. He also stresses the importance of setting goals and taking consistent, persistent action to achieve them.
The 12 rules that Peterson lays out in the book are:
- Stand up straight with your shoulders back
- Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
- Make at least one thing better each place you go
- Compare yourself with who you were yesterday, not with who someone else is today
- Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
- Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world
- Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
- Tell the truth, or at least, don’t lie
- Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t
- Be Precise in your speech
- Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
- Pet a Cat when you encounter one on the street
Jordan B. Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist, cultural critic, and professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. He has written several books on topics such as self-improvement, masculinity, and the cultural significance of mythology.
Overall, “12 Rules for Life” is a self-help book that provides a set of principles for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. It emphasizes personal responsibility, the importance of taking action, and setting goals. It’s a book that offers practical advice and inspiration for navigating the challenges of modern life and can help readers to find meaning in their own lives.