12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson

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Stand up straight with your shoulders back 

It is the first chapter in 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson.
You may have seen him on the internet giving life advice. He is a psychologist and, as far as I remember, a professor at the University of Toronto.

12 Rules for Life, published in 2018, is a self-help book that delivers some powerful life advice one can reflect on. 

My favourite chapter of this book is Rule 1 — Stand Up Straight With Your Shoulders Back, which tells you that even though one may feel weak, scared to death, or vulnerable in society, standing straight with shoulders back can immediately change how others perceive you. It creates the first impression shown to the world and signals that this person is someone others should think twice before messing with.


 

Other Interesting Chapters in the Book

  • Rule 2 — Treat Yourself Like Someone You Are Responsible for Helping
  • Rule 3 — Make Friends with People Who Want the Best for You
  • Rule 4 — Compare Yourself to Who You Were Yesterday, Not to Who Someone Else Is Today
  • Rule 6 — Set Your House in Perfect Order Before You Criticize the World
  • Rule 9 — Assume That the Person You Are Listening to Might Know Something You Don’t 


Reading Experience

However, it is a great work but not completely beginner-friendly for those who are just starting reading. Every chapter is very in-depth. Each chapter is first introduced, then dives into different stories, references to the past, friends, psychology, and real-life situations that relate to the rule. Only toward the end does the full meaning become clear, and one may find oneself deeply absorbed in its depth. The vocabulary and writing style may also feel overwhelming at times.

This book would be perfect for those who are already into reading and can return to it gradually rather than expecting a light or fast read.

Recommendation

If you are interested in self-help literature and want to build your character, this is one book that I can recommend.

Links

Goodreads: Check out for more book reviews.

Medium: Check out for interesting stories.  

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