Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
12 Rules For Life summary
An Antidote to Chaos
33 mins
Brief summary
12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson is a self-help book that provides a set of simple yet profound rules to live by, drawing on psychology, philosophy, and mythology. It offers practical guidance on how to deal with chaos and find meaning in life.
Table of Contents
12 Rules For Life
Summary of 12 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 12
Hierarchies are a common facet of life in societies around the world, so give yourself an advantage with good posture.
You’ve probably heard of the phrase, “the pecking order,” right? But do you know where it originated?
It comes from the Norwegian zoologist Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe, who was studying barnyard chickens in the 1920s when he noticed that there was a clear hierarchy among these birds. At the top were the healthiest, strongest ones that always got to peck first when the chicken feed came. At the bottom were the weakest chickens, with their feathers falling out, who only got to peck at the leftover crumbs.
Pecking orders like this aren’t limited to chickens; they occur naturally throughout the animal kingdom.
Lobsters, for instance, whether they’re in the ocean or raised in captivity, will aggressively fight over the best and most secure spots for shelter.
Scientists have found that these competitive conflicts will lead to the winners and losers having different chemical balances in their brains. Winners will have a higher ratio of the hormone serotonin to octopamine, while the ratio in losers will tilt in the opposite direction.
These levels can even affect the posture of lobsters: more serotonin will lead to the winners being more agile and upright, and more octopamine makes losers tense and curled up. This difference will factor into further confrontations, as the upright lobsters will appear bigger and more intimidating, causing the tense ones to remain submissive.
As you may have guessed, similar hierarchies and cycles of winning and losing play out among humans.
Studies have shown that those in the grips of alcoholism or depression are less likely to enter a competitive situation, which only reinforces more inactivity and continued low self-esteem and depression.
Conversely, those on a winning streak often present a swaggering and confident body language, which can help them keep their streak alive. Just like lobsters, humans are constantly measuring themselves up against each other, and we associate a person’s intelligence with their physicality.
So if you’re trying to give yourself an advantage, follow the first rule: hold your head high and strike the posture of a winner.
Want to see all full key ideas from 12 Rules For Life?
Key ideas in 12 Rules For Life
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is 12 Rules For Life about?
12 Rules For Life (2018) provides readers with an inventory of life’s most pressing concerns and the issues that have been present in the human psyche since ancient times. Author Jordan B. Peterson has collected some of the most enduring philosophical and religious assertions, as well as the lessons from our most cherished tales, to provide us with 12 guidelines to ensure a life of meaning. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, history and myth, these are clear and consistent principles that everyone can live by.
12 Rules For Life Review
12 Rules For Life (2018) by Jordan B. Peterson is a thought-provoking exploration of principles that can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling life. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with profound wisdom and practical advice, it offers concrete rules that can help improve various aspects of our lives.
- By combining scientific research, philosophical insights, and personal anecdotes, the book provides a well-rounded perspective on complex issues.
- It attracts and retains our attention through captivating storytelling and relatable examples, ensuring that the book is anything but boring.
Best quote from 12 Rules For Life
To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life, with eyes wide open. It means deciding to voluntarily transform the chaos of potential into the realities of habitable order.
—Jordan B. Peterson
Who should read 12 Rules For Life?
- Students of psychology
- Readers seeking meaning in their lives
- People interested in the lessons of mythology
Categories with 12 Rules For Life
Book summaries like 12 Rules For Life
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
12 Rules For Life FAQs
What is the main message of 12 Rules For Life?
The main message of 12 Rules For Life is to find meaning and purpose in life through personal responsibility and self-improvement.
How long does it take to read 12 Rules For Life?
The reading time for 12 Rules For Life varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is 12 Rules For Life a good book? Is it worth reading?
12 Rules For Life is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers practical advice for improving oneself. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of 12 Rules For Life?
The author of 12 Rules For Life is Jordan B. Peterson.
What to read after 12 Rules For Life?
If you're wondering what to read next after 12 Rules For Life, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- Beyond Order by Jordan B. Peterson
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel