12 Rules for Life

The #1 Sunday Times and International Bestseller from 'the most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now' (New York Times)

'Everyone must read 12 Rules For Life ... The most enlightening book I have read in ages' Chris Evans

Acclaimed psychologist Jordan Peterson has become one of the most influential public thinkers to emerge on the world stage for many years, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing an unprecedented following of tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarizing politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility has resonated powerfully around the world.

In this #1 international bestseller, he provides twelve profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life, from setting your house in order before criticising others to comparing yourself to who you were yesterday, not someone else today. Drawing on vivid examples from Peterson's clinical practice and personal life, cutting edge psychology and philosophy, and lessons from humanity's oldest myths and stories, 12 Rules for Life offers a deeply rewarding antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to our modern problems.


Peterson's appeal...is genuinely extraordinary. Clearly many young men feel he gives them a sense of meaning, inspiration and encouragement unmatched by any other modern thinker ... A prophet for our times (Dominic Sandbrook Daily Mail)

Everyone must read 12 Rules For Life, by Jordan B. Peterson. It is the most enlightening book I have read in ages. Google him if you like, if it makes you feel better. It will, by the way. His YouTube lectures are amazing for all sorts of reasons. But get the book, that is the most important thing. And then read it. And then pass it on to a friend, or even better, an enemy (Chris Evans)

Peterson is charismatic and exceptionally articulate.... There is something masterful about him... He is a new kind of public intellectual, using YouTube to spread ideas infinitely wider than predecessors such as Bertrand Russell or Isaiah Berlin. ... He's filling the hole out of which my generation has just clambered. His essential message that men should grow up is a way of saying, it's cool to be free - but to what end?' (Amol Rajan New Statesman)

The most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now (New York Times)

A phenomenon (Prospect)

Anyone who is in a position of leadership would find it very insightful ... Jordan Peterson is a profound writer - he messes together the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, science, and politics (Gina Miller)

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist whose seemingly overnight ascent to cultural rockstar comes after years of deep scholarship in many disciplines. His new book, 12 Rules for Life, is atop bestseller lists, and millions have followed his lectures on YouTube. He has a penchant for seeing the application of micro-scale information to societal problems (Psychology Today)

In a different intellectual league... Peterson can take the most difficult ideas and make them entertaining. This may be why his YouTube videos have had 35m views. He is fast becoming the closest that academia has to a rock star (Observer)

It is that rare thing: self-help that might actually be helpful (New Statesman)

One of the most eclectic and stimulating public intellectuals at large today, fearless and impassioned (Matthew d'Ancona Guardian)