12 Rules for Life (2018)

Written on March 9th, 2021 by James

Author: Jordan Peterson

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Audiobook

I had never heard of Jordan Peterson before listening to this audiobook, which was a gift from a friend. So I didn’t know what to expect, nor had I any preconceptions about what the content would be.

This is a heavy book, about as heavy as a house. There were things I liked, and other things I did not like.

The good: Peterson shares some personal struggles - the chapter that deals with his daughter’s chronic and debilitating health issues really cuts.

The bad: The copious biblical quotations and references, which to me are out of step with a broader cultural understanding. The conservative value system and his hard nosed view of the world. His dismissal of feminism.

Take aways: To understand the mind of a conservative, this is a good reference. To Peterson the world is a scary and rough place. Beauty to him is found in the familiar and the old.