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Cover of 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson

12 Rules for Life

Jordan B. Peterson

  • 480 pages · about 8 hours
  • First published 2018
  • 26 editions
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1 About this book

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos is a 2018 self-help book by the Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson. It provides life advice through essays in abstract ethical principles, psychology, mythology, religion, and personal anecdotes. The book topped bestseller lists in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and had sold over ten million copies worldwide, as of May 2023.

Peterson went on a world tour to promote the book, receiving much attention following an interview with Channel 4 News. The book is written in a more accessible style than his previous academic book, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief (1999). A sequel, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life, was published in March 2021.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Philosophy
  • Psychology
  • Self-help
  • Mythology
  • Ethics
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry
  • Social

2 What to expect

Psychology, philosophy, religion and personal stories turned into twelve rules for living. Long, wide-ranging and opinionated.

Good for readers who want: self-improvement, philosophy, and a long read.

3 About Jordan B. Peterson

Born 1962

Jordan Bernt Peterson (born 12 June 1962) is a Canadian psychologist, author, and media commentator. He received widespread attention in the late 2010s for his views on cultural and political issues. Often described as conservative, Peterson self-identifies as a classical liberal and traditionalist.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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