12 Rules for Life Audiobook by Jordan Peterson [Free Download by Trial]

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12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

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Summary

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson, Norman Doidge MD came about as a result of Peterson’s hobby of answering questions on Quora. Someone raised a question “What are the most valuable things everyone should know?” which formed the foundation for writing the book. The book draws from the author’s experience in clinical practice with anecdotes from his personal life and his academic work in the field of psychology.

The book is divided into chapters with each chapter explaining a specific rule for life in an essay form. The core idea is that suffering is built into the structure of being. It can be unbearable and people have a choice to either withdraw which is dangerous or to face it. Living in a world of chaos, each human being has the potential darkness which can transform them into a dangerous monster to gratify their dark desires and impulses. The author says that humans should be responsible in life and must conduct their lives in a manner which rejects immediate gratification of perverse desires. The author also uses the neurological structures and behavior of lobsters and uses it as an example to explain the formation of social hierarchies. The book also helps readers understand how to cope with tragic incidents which are beyond their control. It also provides suggestions on dealing with hardships in life. Many parts of the book are filled with Christian theological stuff and Biblical references.

Review

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson, Norman Doidge MD is a self-help group which borrows from and interweaves history, religion, science, and philosophy in a meaningful manner. The book though received mixed response from the critics. Peterson delves deep with his writing and explanation of the content. The book though takes more effort than it should to get through. The book could have been edited better to make it more compact and concise. Some of the points feel like repetitive and feel tiresome to read. Still, the readers can get valuable insights into life rules and should try giving it a try.

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10 comments

  • Hillary Huser
    •November 9, 2023 at 6:55 am
    I had a hard time completing this book. The author frequently contradicts his own points, making it challenging to take him seriously. It was tough to overlook these inconsistencies.
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  • Jeanine Gajeski
    •November 8, 2023 at 10:42 am
    I just can't wrap my head around the popularity of this book. People are calling it brilliant and life-changing, but seriously? As a 30-year-old doctor entrenched in a Western, scientific worldview, I was hoping to find some nuggets of wisdom that would resonate with me. Unfortunately, I found very little of value in this book. It's basically just one man's opinions, ramblings, and rants. He throws in references to the Bible, Russian literature, and cherry-picks quotes from old philosophers. His prose may sound nice, but there's not much substance behind his meandering thoughts. He crafts these beautifully written sentences, but most of the time they make no sense at all. The author paints a pretty grim picture of humanity, talking about original sin and suffering. The book is filled with religious talk and Bible quotes that often have nothing to do with the points he's trying to make. His tangents rarely come full-circle, leaving you wondering where he was even going with them. It's chaos, not order. And the worst part is, the author barely backs up his arguments with science. Instead, he relies on personal opinions, anecdotes, religious texts, and literature. As millennials, we value evidence-based approaches to self-improvement and finding meaning and happiness in life. Unfortunately, this book falls short in that department. If you're seeking life-changing wisdom, I suggest looking elsewhere. This book is just a jumbled mess.
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  • Lindsey Nuckoles
    •November 8, 2023 at 12:40 am
    Many people here are complaining about the book being too meandering or having too many biblical quotes or "overtones," but they fail to acknowledge that religion has always been deeply ingrained in North American society. It's only recently that it has fallen out of favor. Even if it doesn't align with your personal beliefs, that doesn't mean it can't provide value to you. The ability to explore and understand topics from different perspectives is crucial, and it seems like this skill has been lost by many over the years. In my opinion, those who gave this book a negative review are the ones who could benefit the most from its teachings. If you can't move past the lobster analogy in the first chapter, it might be worth considering whether you're as open-minded as you think you are. Maybe give the book another listen with a fresh perspective. Just a suggestion...
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  • Matthew G.
    •November 7, 2023 at 10:32 am
    I'm really intrigued by how Dr. Peterson effortlessly engages in real-time interactions in his numerous YouTube videos. However, in this book, it becomes apparent that his exceptional intellectual prowess shines best when tackling specific questions within a structured timeframe. Essentially, he thrives when he's on the clock. Unfortunately, in 12 Rules for Life, he falls short in that regard. Instead, he indulges in digressions that turn into aimless wanderings, leaving me constantly muttering, "Just get to the point... please!" Regrettably, this collection of essays on different topics (rules) often feels akin to Sunday sermons delivered by well-meaning, yet average preachers. I'm holding out hope that in his next book, he seeks guidance from an editor to sharpen his focus on the topics at hand and their reasonable boundaries. While there are sporadic moments of intellectual excitement in 12 Rules for Life, to be honest, a significant portion of the book simply lulled me to sleep.
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  • Darwin P.
    •November 5, 2023 at 12:16 am
    I'm not usually a fan of self-help books, and this one wouldn't have caught my attention if my friend hadn't invited me to a live lecture by Jordan Peterson. Prior to that, my only exposure to Peterson was through negative posts by my liberal friends on Facebook, which piqued my curiosity. I was intrigued by the stark contrast in opinions about him. So, I attended his lecture with an open mind, just as an opportunity to reconnect with my friend. The lecture, much like the book itself, was captivating. It blended science, mythology, storytelling, and a touch of nonsense. I was seated among six men and four women, which was a decent gender ratio considering Peterson's predominantly white male following. Speaking of which, some of his fans were extremely fervent, almost to the point of obsession. The way they reacted when he was introduced was rather intense. Since attending the lecture and reading this book, I've delved into several of Peterson's interviews and YouTube videos. One striking example of how Peterson is misunderstood is the Cathy Newman interview and the recent New York Times piece. These fail to capture the essence of what he is actually trying to convey. Personally, I find 80% of Peterson's ideas to be quite reasonable. How can you argue against concepts like keeping your surroundings clean, treating yourself as someone you are responsible for helping, pursuing meaningful endeavors rather than opting for short-term gains, or at the very least, being honest? Much of what he says makes sense. However, it's the remaining 20% that bothers me, and I can only imagine how women, minorities, and intellectuals in academia might feel even more strongly about it. His criticisms of feminism, white privilege, post-modernism, and modern universities lack precision in his speech, contradicting his own rule number 10. He tends to ramble, vent frustrations, and make assumptions about subjects that are not well-established, often venturing outside his area of expertise. Another issue I have with Peterson, which became clearer during the lecture, is his desire to assume the role of a secular prophet, a revivalist, or a guru. In fact, he openly admits in the introduction that the topics of the book were essentially market-tested on the internet. People love lists and crave certainty. Many of the individuals Peterson is targeting may not be familiar with myths, Jungian archetypes, or philosophy, so it becomes easier to use examples from Disney movies. Why not provide a neat list of 12 things to do? It's like Steven R. Covey's approach, but on steroids. During his lecture, Peterson roamed the stage, discussing one of his rules (mostly Rule 10 in Phoenix, with a touch of Rule 11). Just like the text in his book, he circled back, repeating stories and points, making definitive statements, cracking jokes, and relieving his mainly white male audience of some of their social guilt and anxiety. They adored him for it. He was like Jimmy Swaggart in the garb of a Canadian professor. Because it's difficult to define white privilege or even acknowledge its existence, he dismisses it. The same goes for his stance on feminism and other issues that plague our modern culture and often revolve around privilege, money, or power. It was quite astonishing to witness white, single men attending the event wearing t-shirts with Peterson's picture on them. One can only imagine how challenging it must be to avoid letting such cult-like adoration get to your head, even if you have a background in studying the human mind.
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  • Vicki Calpin
    •October 21, 2023 at 5:45 pm
    '12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' was a real game-changer for me when I was going through a tough time. It provided me with much-needed guidance and stability, especially since I was feeling lost or uncertain about my beliefs. Jordan Peterson's insightful analysis of various well-known stories and his overall expertise as a psychologist really opened up my mind and gave me a fresh perspective.
    0 0 •Reply
  • Necole Callsen
    •September 30, 2023 at 7:52 am
    As a therapist specializing in relationships and trauma, I can confidently say that if my clients were to engage with the content of this book, they'd potentially resolve their issues without my intervention. Disregard any political biases and genuinely absorb the wisdom shared by Dr. Peterson.
    0 0 •Reply
  • Roderick Sensmeier
    •September 29, 2023 at 3:36 am
    Personally, I find the excessive focus on God and biblical references, as well as the constant comparison of masculinity and femininity, off-putting. However, I must admit that there are a few valuable insights and gems scattered throughout the book. While I acknowledge that Jordan Peterson is undeniably intelligent and presents some compelling arguments, I simply don't have a strong interest in the subject matter. I will certainly take something away from reading this book, although it falls short of being the life-changing masterpiece that many reviewers rave about. Furthermore, I don't agree with everything it presents, but I can at least understand where the author is coming from. Overall, it's just okay, nothing exceptional.
    0 0 •Reply

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