It's all very well to think the meaning of life is happiness, but what happens when you're unhappy? Happiness is a great side effect. Scientific experiments like the Invisible Gorilla Test show that perception is adjusted to aims, and it is better to seek meaning rather than happiness. Living in a world of chaos and order, everyone has 'darkness' that can 'turn them into the monsters they're capable of being' to satisfy their dark impulses in the right situations. In the book, Peterson offers practical advice for how to navigate the complexities of life and find meaning and purpose. The book's central idea is that 'suffering is built into the structure of being' and although it can be unbearable, people have a choice either to withdraw, which is a 'suicidal gesture', or to face and transcend it.

'Pet a cat when you encounter one in the street.'.'Do not bother children while they are skateboarding.'.'Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't.'.

'Tell the truth – or, at least, don't lie.'.

'Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient).'.

'Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.'.

'Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.'.

'Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.'.

'Make friends with people who want the best for you.'.

'Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.'.

'Stand up straight with your shoulders back.'.

The book is divided into chapters with each title representing one of the following twelve specific rules for life as explained through an essay. Peterson stated that it 'isn't only written for other people. The early vision and promotion of the book aimed to include all rules, with the title '42'. Peterson's interest in writing the book grew out of a personal hobby of answering questions posted on Quora one such question being 'What are the most valuable things everyone should know?', to which his answer comprised 42 rules. A sequel, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life, was published in March 2021. The book is written in a more accessible style than his previous academic book, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief (1999). Peterson went on a world tour to promote the book, receiving much attention following an interview with Channel 4 News. The book topped bestseller lists in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and had sold over five million copies worldwide by the end of 2020. It provides life advice through essays in abstract ethical principles, psychology, mythology, religion, and personal anecdotes. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos is a 2018 self-help book by the Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson.

Jordan peterson 12 more rules for life