Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Book Review: Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules of Life: An andidote to Chaos

Here, I review a book by the noted Clinical Psychologist (you may see plenty of lectures of his on youtube), Jordan Peterson.

Although I somewhat like Jordan Peterson, I am not sure what to think of the book..  It is too good to dismiss; but even for Jordan Peterson, this book isn't all that enlightening.

Jordan Peterson's most useful advice is the concept of "processing"  (ie typing out a journal in 7 epochs and detailing them so as to process your life.  Psychological procession as a means of healing is one of Jordan Peterson's many useful concepts; and shows that Jordan Peterson is in fact a useful thinker, even if he comes across as slightly too shallow of one.)

   Though such concepts are perhaps mentioned in this book; the real meat of the book is his personal experiences in life and in therapy, some flawed precepts about the exceptionalism of Judeo-Christianity, and an overview of 12 rules which I did not find useful.   And some detailing of how human and animal hierarchy and comradery operate.  By far the books best chapter is the first one.

Thus, though decently written, with some interesting research and experience, this is not that great of a book.  The 12 rules are hardly a grandiose guidelines; Jordan Peterson is usually a shallow yet helpful thinker; but some of Jordan Peterson's most helpful advice takes a back seat to the 12 rules, some shallow points about Judeo-Christianity,  and somehwat interesting but ultimately superficial personal anecdores and experiences, and a bit of scientific research to back 12 piss poor rules.

   An interesting, possibly good,  but very flawed book.   Despite being somewhat worth reading; the book fails in it's premise, and is IMO not quite as useful as Jordan Peterson's lectures on youtube.  

And there are much better books out there (such as Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, though this book is undoubtedly influenced by Frankl among other Pyschologists)

As for a better self improvement book, check out Tim Ferris' Tools of Titans

6/10

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