12 Rules for Life - An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
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Web ID: 6406411Psychology and Morals
It's important to note that this book, just like any other, is one anyone could learn from. Hence, the psychological lessons impart unarguable knowledge capable of helping even the most well-adjusted individuals. Secondly, I quite enjoyed the style, pace, and tone of Dr. Peterson's book. It feels as though you might be sitting in for a psych session of your own. Lastly, this book has brought me nothing but new perspectives. Despite how applicable the 'rules' may be, the motive of the texts stays the same. To aim for the betterment of one's own life and to give willingly for the betterment of the lives of those around us, in the name of peace, love, and faith. For humankind, and for the future. I'm truly grateful to have been able to read this book and think it should be shared with those you love.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Life Changing Read
I've always admired Jordan's ability to relate a concept to real-life concepts. This book dives deeply into Jordan's 12 rules while proving their efficacy with real-life and historical examples. I seldom read books cover-to-cover, but quickly found myself in the middle of this book. Not long after, I turned the last page. The perspectives this book are prominently committed to my awareness. In addition to self awareness, this book provides much perspective in other personalities I come across - allowing understanding others more. I highly recommend this read for anyone who values self-improvement.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Serious Step into your Better Self
This book contains some of the most practical, implementable, and valuable rules to add to your life ... with the result being an immediate sense of achievement and personal value. It adds what was missing or un-emphasized in childhood. The book also talks to as an adult, with clarity and respect, rare in an ocean of condescending self-help literature.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not a Style of Writing That Resonates With Me
I bought this book because I admire the author, though I do not always agree with him. It's easy to glance through the contents and see the rules he has settled on. I imagined each chapter would be an engaging and uplifting support for each rule, but this is not the case. He approaches each rule through what I first wanted to describe as a scenic route, but the phrase implies pleasure in the journey. Instead, we go through millions of years of evolution and reasons people don't follow the rules and how it hurts them before finally, and briefly, arriving at the rule and the positive impact abiding by it can have. Each chapter's lead-up to the rule is like eating your least favorite vegetable to get to the dessert, only to find out it's a dessert you're not crazy about, and you only get one bite. There are some great lines here and there - a couple per chapter, but a couple of nuggets weren't worth digging through 30 pages per chapter. I have no problem with the rules, and I respect the way the book was written. Jordan is clearly very knowledgeable and it shows in this book. In the end, I would say it's very much on par with other self-help/motivational books written by professionals: very thorough, intellectual, eye-opening, and... not very fun or fulfilling to read. Jordan's knowledge is a 5-star rating, the rules he presents are 3 stars, and the enjoyment of reading it is a 0-star rating. I had to psyche myself up to read it, telling myself that, even if I don't get much out of it, it's better to have read it than to start and not finish. I don't think anyone would regret having read this book, and some certainly love it, but I would not recommend this book.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Read
Not an easy read. Certainly requires a lot of patience, reading and re-reading and much caffeine to follow the logic in writing. This truly is a brilliant book drawing from psychology (cognitive behaviors), philosophy (mostly stoicism) and theology. Readers need to keep in mind that theological aspects are used as heuristics not unquestionable facts. There were almost equal references to Taoism as there was to Christianity or Judaism. Native English speakers who don’t speak any other languages would confused feminine for female and masculine for male when reading about chaos (feminine) vs order (masculine). In almost all non English languages chaos is feminine and order is masculine. It’s a linguistic thing not an elevation of male over female. In fact the book doesn’t even elevate order over chaos. It argues for the need of both in moderation (the cornerstone of Taoism). The problem arises when either order or chaos is taken to extremes. The 12 rules for life are an antidote to chaos running amok to the point of destroying personal life and by extension the lives of those around us.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
An oasis of thoughtful insight
Peterson provides down to earth advice as a friend would, speaking to a friend. I’m frankly surprised by the opposition he seems to have generated. When I read the negative reviews below it occurs to me that the complaints are either petty (18 pages of forward! Imagine that!) or vague (he has views I didn’t know about but with which I disagree). My advice: just start reading. He is balanced and brilliant.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Rare Gem
I was aware of this book for a couple of years prior to reading it, and was put off by the idea of more rules. This precise attitude is addressed in the excellent introduction of the book, which is written in a rational, convincing, informative and genuinely intelligent manner. The contents of the book itself consist of the aforementioned qualities to such a capacity as is rarely demonstrated by contemporary authors. Throughout history there have been human minds that were exceptional in their capacity for reason, virtue, and humility; I believe Jordan Peterson is such a mind, a Plato, an Aristotle, a Heidegger, but most of all a Peterson. This book was not what I expected it to be, and is, for lack of a better word, a breathe of fresh air in the midst of the intellectual vacuity that has come to plague our civilization. I write this as a psychotherapist who can count very few colleagues, Peterson amongst them, that have been unaffected by the degeneration catalyzed by postmodernity and cultural Marxism. Even if you subscribe to the ideologies of the latter, Peterson is worth a read, if only to challenge yourself.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Somewhat intriguing, but hypocritical
Peterson is obviously well read and probably very good at his discipline. I think that he makes some good points about honesty in relationships. What bothers me is that he starts the book with the concept that we should fear societies that believe in certainty and the same goes for individuals. He then reiterates that point often. No problem with that, but it is an issue that he repeatedly states that he is offering definitive truths. I understand the allure of having it both ways, but it's just a bit too hypocritical coming from an author who can't stop telling us that telling the truth is a necessity for living well.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com