Why Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life Are Bullshit

You’re telling me that the answer to life, the universe, and everything is to stand up straight with your shoulders back? That’s the first rule in Jordan Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, and it’s one of the most idiotic things I’ve ever heard. In fact, all of Peterson’s rules are total bullshit. Here’s why.


Rule #1: Stand Up Straight With Your Shoulders Back

This is the most idiotic “rule” in the book. Peterson says that by standing up straight with your shoulders back, you’re conveying confidence and self-assurance. This is complete nonsense. Anyone can fake good posture, and it doesn’t mean that they’re actually confident or self-assured. posture is not a measure of character.

Rule #2: Treat Yourself Like Someone You Are Responsible for Helping

This rule is just plain selfish. It’s basically telling you to put yourself first and treat yourself like a goddamn princess. No thanks. We should be treating others with compassion and respect, not ourselves. Putting yourself first is not going to help anyone but yourself, and it’s certainly not going to make the world a better place.

Rule #3: Make Friends With People Who Want the Best for You

This rule is just common sense. Of course you should be friends with people who want the best for you! But Peterson takes it a step further and says that you should only be friends with people who are “like you.” He says that if you’re not friends with people who are like you, then you’re not really living up to your potential. This is total crap. You don’t have to be friends with everyone, and you don’t have to be friends with people who are exactly like you. Friendship is about quality, not quantity or similarity.

Rule #4: Compare Yourself With Who You Were Yesterday, Not With Who Someone Else Is Today

This is another selfish rule that’s basically telling you to focus on yourself and not on others. It’s silly advice that doesn’t take into account the fact that we live in a society where we’re constantly comparing ourselves to others because we’re bombarded with images of “perfect” lives on social media. Comparing ourselves to others is inevitable, but what matters is how we deal with those comparisons. If we use them as motivation to become better people, then they can be helpful. But if we use them as an excuse to beat ourselves up or feel inferior, then they’re harmful.

Jordan Peterson’s 12 rules for life are complete bullshit. They’re selfish, idiotic, and completely out of touch with reality. If you want to live a happy and fulfilling life, don’t waste your time reading this garbage; do the exact opposite of everything that Peterson says!

"A gilded No is more satisfactory than a dry yes" - Gracian