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12 Rules for Life
Read in 16 min.
Listen in 20 min.
Learn the key ideas of the book by Jordan Bernt Peterson

12 Rules for Life

How to take back control of your life


Are we really capable of being happy and building a prosperous society? Absolutely, if we can manage to take charge of the chaos. The book, 12 Rules for Life: An antidote to chaos, helps us to rediscover an appreciation for rules, intended to guide and support us in building a happy life. In order to have a good relationship with yourself and with others, and to create a life full of meaning, order and respect must play a key role, and the techniques suggested to make them a part of our lives are very simple.

12 Rules for Life
Read in 16 min.
Listen in 20 min.
IDEA CHIAVE 1/8

A harmonious system is an orderly one, in which rules are understood and followed and in which a behavioural code shared by everyone allows people to enter into relationships with one another

Rules are essential for the development of a harmonious society. Nowadays, we have practically given up teaching young people about rules and the meaning of right and wrong, in the name of the supposed absolute principle of ‘subjectivity’, but in doing so, we are an unhappy society. Chaos is the arch enemy of a happy life and of a prosperous society, because it undermines people’s certainty and their ability to understand others, an important factor for mutual trust. When we have an ‘orderly’ system, people tend to act according to clear social norms, in a predictable and cooperative way: the adoption of the same code of values and behaviours makes people predictable. If everyone behaves according to other people’s expectations and desires, not only is cooperation more likely, but so is healthy competition. Living in a system in which everyone knows what to expect from other people makes interpersonal relationships easier, as well as helping the relationship we have with ourselves. Taking charge of the rules, the foundations which help build and sustain all relationships, is necessary, first and foremost, for us to feel good about ourselves, and consequently to achieve a better society.

  

The key ideas of "12 Rules for Life"

01.
A harmonious system is an orderly one, in which rules are understood and followed and in which a behavioural code shared by everyone allows people to enter into relationships with one another
02.
Think positive and be proactive: lack of faith in ourselves can be damaging to our health
03.
Surround yourself with good people: get rid of bad company, including your inner critic, he’s no good for your self-motivation
04.
Rules are important to provide stability and structure for our children and we have a responsibility to enforce them
05.
A deeper meaning, even beyond happiness: work for the ‘greater good’ even in the little things
06.
Crisis management to prevent the impact from spilling over into the rest of our lives
07.
Quotes
08.
Take-home message
 
 
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