Page 23 - Panama City Living July-August 2019

BOOK REVIEW
12 RULES FOR LIFE: AN ANTIDOTE TO CHAOS BY JORDAN B. PETERSON
Reviewed by Damon LaBarbera
A baby boomer from Long Island, New York, Dr. LaBarbera succumbed to the lure of the tropics and moved to Panama City in 1986. Among his favorite books are “Point Counter Point” by Aldous Huxley and “Delmore Schwartz: Life of an American Poet” by James Atlas. Damon most enjoys literature that is humorous and well written. He attended Brown University and the University of North Dakota and is a psychologist in private practice. He has two sons: Gerry, a graphic designer living in Prague, Czech Republic, and Alexander, a junior at the University of Miami.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FENDER
The 2018 bestseller by Jordan B. Peterson, “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos,” offers counsel for varied human toils, troubles, and challenges. Covered topics include attaining long-term goals, raising children, picking friends, and getting out of ruts. Peterson, a Canadian psychologist and professor, offers 12 rules, one per chapter. Examples include “Treat yourself like you would someone you are responsible for helping” and “Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.”
The book is much more than a self-help guide. Peterson’s writing is complex and demanding, and he draws upon knowledge from literature, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, and literature. He enjoys a massive internet following and many claim his work has changed their lives.
In my opinion, his advice is utilitarian and commonsensical. He advises his readers to delay gratification, work hard, be honest, and choose healthy friendships. He does differ from common wisdom when discussing child discipline, stating that mild forms of corporal punishment may be necessary with certain children at certain times.
He favors Russian novelists Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, and Dostoevsky. The dark tales of these writers are consistent with Peterson’s view that life often is full of pain. Peterson also follows the precepts of Carl Jung, the 19th- century Swiss psychiatrist who described ancient archetypes in human consciousness. Past eons of human history have created who we are. Human behavior is the result of the
evolutionary history of our species, the great texts of antiquity, and long-standing traditions. We destroy these traditions at our own peril.
Since the past so influences human behavior, Peterson argues we cannot reshape human nature according to whim or fashion. For example, he has garnered controversy by arguing that gender is not a social construct but formed by deep biological imprints in our brains. Boys are under attack in today’s climate of political correctness, he says. Coddling, overprotective mothers make things worse. He critiques political correctness in society and on campuses. Readers enjoying his psychological insights may find themselves suddenly in a cultural and sociological war zone. The book will be an easier read for a conservative than a liberal. His psychological insights can be considered apart from his politics.
Overall, I was impressed. Peterson writes well, has an appealing persona, and gives reasonable advice. I can understand how the book might be a life-changer for some.
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