12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos - Jordon Peterson
Discussion
Anyone else reading this?
I came across Jordan Peterson on YouTube with that infamous Cathy Newman train wreck interview. He came across as incredibly adroit, knowledgeable logical and above all interesting in his views. After watching a lot more of him I thought I'd give his book a go.
First chapter interesting, second chapter is hard work. Hoping it'll become easier.
Wondered how anyone else was finding it?
And in case you're the last person on earth not to see THAT interview: https://youtu.be/aMcjxSThD54
Enjoy.
I came across Jordan Peterson on YouTube with that infamous Cathy Newman train wreck interview. He came across as incredibly adroit, knowledgeable logical and above all interesting in his views. After watching a lot more of him I thought I'd give his book a go.
First chapter interesting, second chapter is hard work. Hoping it'll become easier.
Wondered how anyone else was finding it?
And in case you're the last person on earth not to see THAT interview: https://youtu.be/aMcjxSThD54
Enjoy.
Through to chapter 4 now, and 3 and 4 haven't been as heavy going as 2. I can't honestly say that I'm learning a lot but maybe I'm just fairly well adjusted(!?), or maybe I've just not got to a part that is relevant to me. I keep thinking of one or two people that really could benefit from it however! 
What's interesting from such a man of science is how much religious imagery he refers to, almost constantly in places.
I can't work out whether he's a religious (God believing/fearing) man, or just likes the structure that religion brought to civilisation (or at least as near as we've got to it).
I've watched videos where (in one) he's asked 'Do you believe in God?' To which he replies that he doesn't like that question and then continues to skirt around the issue as he always does, neither confirming nor denying his belief.
For a man with such clear and forthright views, it seems to be the one subject that he's very reluctant to be drawn on.
What's interesting from such a man of science is how much religious imagery he refers to, almost constantly in places.
I can't work out whether he's a religious (God believing/fearing) man, or just likes the structure that religion brought to civilisation (or at least as near as we've got to it).
I've watched videos where (in one) he's asked 'Do you believe in God?' To which he replies that he doesn't like that question and then continues to skirt around the issue as he always does, neither confirming nor denying his belief.
For a man with such clear and forthright views, it seems to be the one subject that he's very reluctant to be drawn on.
That's the video I was referring to and I don't think it's as hard a question as he makes out.
Yes 'God' and religion can take many forms for many people, but the question is basically, does he believe that the earth and all that's on it was built by a deity and does he believe that he will live on after death as a sentient being (ie not in other people's memories or on youtube - will HE continue to exist in some form whereby life goes on for him?)
I'd be very interested to know what he really thinks. My impression is that he believes that religion is a good framework for civilisation (hence his comment 'I live as though God exists'). But it's interesting that he can't or won't say that.
Yes 'God' and religion can take many forms for many people, but the question is basically, does he believe that the earth and all that's on it was built by a deity and does he believe that he will live on after death as a sentient being (ie not in other people's memories or on youtube - will HE continue to exist in some form whereby life goes on for him?)
I'd be very interested to know what he really thinks. My impression is that he believes that religion is a good framework for civilisation (hence his comment 'I live as though God exists'). But it's interesting that he can't or won't say that.
Chapter 7: Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient
Oh my god. The world is terrible, life is suffering, everyone is evil, you must give up on pleasures, defer gratification and dedicate your life to The Good Cause. Mix in a million biblical references and stir. After reading what appeared to be the same thing over and over and over I ended up skipping about 2,000 pages, stopping occasionally just to check whether the narrative had changed. Otherwise I'd have had to write off the rest of this decade and most of the next in pursuit of the end of the chapter.
He might be very very clever, but he's not very very concise.
Bits of the book seem excellent (if a little obvious - discipline your child, parent it instead of befriending it and you'll have a nicer better adjusted child. No s
t Sherlock! Yes, clearly some people really would benefit from this advice, but none that will actually read this book). But a lot of it is really hard going.
So far I'd hesitate to recommend it. Still, only half way through, maybe it'll get better.
Shame because in front of the camera or the class he comes across so well. It's almost like he had too much time and over-wrote it.
Oh my god. The world is terrible, life is suffering, everyone is evil, you must give up on pleasures, defer gratification and dedicate your life to The Good Cause. Mix in a million biblical references and stir. After reading what appeared to be the same thing over and over and over I ended up skipping about 2,000 pages, stopping occasionally just to check whether the narrative had changed. Otherwise I'd have had to write off the rest of this decade and most of the next in pursuit of the end of the chapter.
He might be very very clever, but he's not very very concise.
Bits of the book seem excellent (if a little obvious - discipline your child, parent it instead of befriending it and you'll have a nicer better adjusted child. No s
t Sherlock! Yes, clearly some people really would benefit from this advice, but none that will actually read this book). But a lot of it is really hard going. So far I'd hesitate to recommend it. Still, only half way through, maybe it'll get better.
Shame because in front of the camera or the class he comes across so well. It's almost like he had too much time and over-wrote it.
Well I finally finished it. It's not the book I'd have expected given his clear insightful manner in person (via YouTube, either in front of his class or debating one to one).
An awful lot of ground was gone over and rehashed again and again, there was a surprising amount of religious imagery given his 'common sense' approach and it wasn't clear whether he was just using it as an example or whether he actually believed it. Also some of his examples felt a little theoretical even though they were apparently factual.
Did I learn anything? Well, bits of it were interesting and I think I did, but nothing remotely life changing. I got more out of Dale Cargenie's 'How To Win Friends And Influence People' 30 years ago - but then maybe I simply had more to learn back then.
Overall, worth a read I think, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.
An awful lot of ground was gone over and rehashed again and again, there was a surprising amount of religious imagery given his 'common sense' approach and it wasn't clear whether he was just using it as an example or whether he actually believed it. Also some of his examples felt a little theoretical even though they were apparently factual.
Did I learn anything? Well, bits of it were interesting and I think I did, but nothing remotely life changing. I got more out of Dale Cargenie's 'How To Win Friends And Influence People' 30 years ago - but then maybe I simply had more to learn back then.
Overall, worth a read I think, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.
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