Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist, cultural critic, and professor of psychology, widely known for his influence on modern discussions of psychology, philosophy, and society. He gained prominence through his now-famous YouTube channel, which features his university lectures, interviews, and a variety of personal and professional advice sessions. Peterson's bestselling book, "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos," synthesizes his personal, clinical, and scholarly insights into practical advice, drawing on a range of influences from ancient texts to modern literature.
❝The purpose of life is finding the largest burden that you can bear and bearing it.❞ — Jordan Peterson
Peterson is an avid reader and often emphasizes the importance of literature and writing in understanding human psychology and societal structures. His lectures and writings are steeped in references to classic literature, religious texts, and philosophical works, demonstrating his deep engagement with various sources of wisdom throughout his career. This breadth of reading underpins his controversial but often insightful commentary on life, responsibility, and personal development.
Jordan Peterson's Favorite Books
Last Updated: June 2024
The Great Code: The Bible and Literature
Author: Northrop Frye
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Date: Dec 21st, 1982
Frye analyzes the Bible's literary and symbolic significance, exploring its profound influence on Western literature and culture through a detailed examination of its narratives and themes.
Don't Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason
Author: Dave Rubin
Publisher: Sentinel
Date: Apr 28th, 2020
Rubin encourages readers to embrace free thought and open dialogue, challenging prevailing cultural narratives and promoting intellectual independence.
How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place
Author: Bjørn Lomborg
Publisher: Copenhagen Consensus Center
Date: Jun 1st, 2013
Lomborg presents research-based proposals on how to effectively allocate resources to address global challenges such as poverty, health, and education, aiming to maximize the impact of philanthropic efforts.
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Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy
Author: Mircea Eliade
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Sep 21st, 1964
Eliade provides a comprehensive study of shamanism, examining its practices, rituals, and the role of shamans in various cultures as intermediaries between the human and spiritual worlds.
Answer to Job
Author: C. G. Jung
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Nov 14th, 2010
ung explores the psychological and theological implications of the Biblical Book of Job, discussing the nature of suffering, divine justice, and the evolution of the human psyche.
Fratricides
Author: nikos-kazantzakis
Publisher: Faber Faber Inc
Date: Dec 21st, 2024
Kazantzakis' novel portrays the brutal realities of the Greek Civil War, depicting the internal and external conflicts faced by individuals torn between ideological loyalties and familial bonds.
Demons
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publisher: Everyman's Library
Date: Jan 1st, 2000
Dostoevsky's novel delves into the political and social turmoil of 19th-century Russia, examining the destructive impact of radical ideologies on individuals and communities.
I, Claudius
Author: Robert Graves
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Date: Jan 1st, 1988
Graves' historical novel presents the autobiography of Roman Emperor Claudius, offering a vivid and dramatic portrayal of the intrigues, scandals, and power struggles of the Roman imperial family.
The Brothers Karamazov
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Jun 14th, 2002
This profound novel delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on their internal moral struggles, profound philosophical dialogues, and the search for faith and meaning amidst personal tragedy.
Play, Dreams And Imitation In Childhood
Author: Jean Piaget
Publisher: Routledge
Date: Jun 24th, 1999
Piaget's seminal work delves into the cognitive development of children, analyzing how play, dreams, and imitation contribute to their understanding of the world and intellectual growth.
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The Red And The Black
Author: Stendhal
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Nov 24th, 2023
This psychological novel follows Julien Sorel's attempts to rise above his humble beginnings through manipulation and deceit in a society riddled with social hypocrisies and class warfare, offering a satirical take on French society during the Restoration.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales
Author: Oliver Sacks
Publisher: Everyman's Library
Date: Oct 3rd, 2023
Sacks presents a series of fascinating case studies of patients with neurological disorders, offering insights into the complexities of the human brain and the profound effects of neurological impairments on identity and perception.
Cancer Ward: A Novel
Author: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Apr 14th, 2015
Solzhenitsyn's novel depicts life in a Soviet cancer ward, exploring themes of suffering, resilience, and the human spirit through the lives of patients and staff.
Man's Search for Meaning
Author: Viktor E. Frankl
Publisher: Beacon Press
Date: Jun 1st, 2006
Frankl's memoir and psychological exploration discusses his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and introduces logotherapy, a therapeutic approach centered on finding purpose in life.
The Old Man And The Sea
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Publisher: Scribner
Date: Jun 10th, 1996
This novella tells the story of Santiago, an aging fisherman who engages in an epic struggle to catch a giant marlin, symbolizing themes of perseverance, pride, and the human condition.
The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy
Author: Mircea Eliade
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: Mar 15th, 1979
Eliade explores the spiritual and symbolic aspects of alchemy, tracing its historical development and its significance in various cultures as a transformative and mystical practice.
The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity
Author: Douglas Murray
Publisher: Bloomsbury Continuum
Date: Sep 17th, 2019
Murray critically examines contemporary social justice movements, discussing the complexities and controversies surrounding gender, race, and identity politics.
The Antichrist
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Publisher: GENERAL PRESS
Date: Sep 20th, 2019
Nietzsche's provocative work critiques Christianity and its moral framework, advocating for a reevaluation of values and the embrace of a more life-affirming philosophy.
Aion
Author: C.G. Jung
Publisher: Routledge
Date: Nov 30th, 2015
Jung delves into the concept of the self and the process of individuation, examining archetypal symbols and the collective unconscious, with a particular focus on the Christian era and its psychological impact.
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The Great Mother: An Analysis of the Archetype
Author: Erich Neumann
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: May 4th, 2015
Neumann analyzes the archetype of the Great Mother in mythology, art, and religion, exploring its profound influence on human psychology and cultural development.
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Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future
Author: Johan Norberg
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Date: Oct 11th, 2016
Norberg presents a compelling case for optimism, highlighting advancements in health, wealth, safety, and freedom to argue that the world is steadily improving.
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The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception
Author: James J. Gibson
Publisher: Psychology Press
Date: Nov 20th, 2014
Gibson's influential work introduces the theory of ecological perception, arguing that visual perception is a direct process shaped by the environment and our interactions with it.
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A Way of Being
Author: Carl R. Rogers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: Dec 21st, 1980
Rogers reflects on his experiences and developments in humanistic psychology, discussing the principles of client-centered therapy and the importance of authenticity and empathy in therapeutic relationships.
The EMOTIONAL BRAIN: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life
Author: Joseph Ledoux
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: Nov 12th, 1996
Ledoux explores the neural mechanisms behind emotions, revealing how the brain processes and regulates emotional experiences and their impact on behavior.
Tolstoy
Author: Henri Troyat
Publisher: Double Day
Date: Jan 1st, 1967
Troyat's comprehensive biography of Leo Tolstoy delves into the life, works, and complex personality of the Russian author, exploring his literary achievements and philosophical evolution.
The Symbolic Life: Miscellaneous Writings
Author: C. G. Jung
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Feb 1st, 1977
This collection of Jung's essays and lectures covers a wide range of topics, including the symbolic dimensions of human experience, the process of individuation, and the interplay between the conscious and unconscious mind.
Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World
Author: Jeffrey Burton Russell
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Date: Oct 31st, 1986
Russell traces the evolution of the figure of the devil in Western culture, examining its role and significance from the medieval period to modern times.
Crime and Punishment
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publisher: Macmillan Collector's Library
Date: Jan 24th, 2017
Fyodor Dostoevsky's intense psychological novel follows the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker.
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A History of Religious Ideas, Vol. 3: From Muhammad to the Age of Reforms
Author: Mircea Eliade
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: Mar 15th, 1988
Eliade traces the development of major religious traditions from the rise of Islam to the modern era, highlighting significant transformations and reforms.
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Author: Hans Rosling
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Date: Apr 3rd, 2018
Rosling encourages a more fact-based world view by challenging common misconceptions and biases about global development, revealing data that shows how much the world has improved in terms of health, wealth, and education.
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Sometimes a Great Notion
Author: Ken Kesey
Publisher: Viking Press
Date: Jul 27th, 1964
Kesey's novel tells the story of the Stamper family, who run a logging business in Oregon, highlighting themes of individuality, family loyalty, and resistance against collective pressures.
Words With Power: Being a Second Study of The Bible and Literature
Author: Northrop Frye
Publisher: Harcourt
Date: Dec 21st, 1990
Frye explores the profound influence of the Bible on Western literature, examining its archetypal structures and symbolic power across various literary traditions.
The Neuropsychology of Anxiety: An Enquiry into the Functions of the Septo-Hippocampal System
Author: Jeffrey A. Gray
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Aug 10th, 2000
Gray investigates the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety, focusing on the role of the septo-hippocampal system and its interaction with other brain structures.
Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason
Author: Michel Foucault
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Nov 28th, 1988
Foucault explores the history of how Western society has perceived and treated mental illness, examining the shifting boundaries between sanity and madness.
Brave New World
Author: Aldous Huxley
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Date: Jul 5th, 2005
Set in a dystopian future where individuals are systematically controlled and conditioned for roles in a totalitarian society, Huxley’s novel critiques the dangers of sacrificing individuality for technological and governmental control.
The Ticket That Exploded
Author: William S. Burroughs
Publisher: Grove Press
Date: Apr 8th, 2014
Burroughs' experimental novel continues the narrative of "The Nova Trilogy," using cut-up techniques to explore themes of control, addiction, and the fragmentation of reality.
Two Essays on Analytical Psychology
Author: C G Jung
Publisher: Martino Fine Books
Date: May 28th, 2024
Jung's essays introduce key concepts of his analytical psychology, including the theory of individuation, the collective unconscious, and the archetypes.
Lord of the World
Author: Robert Hugh Benson
Publisher: Christian Classics
Date: Feb 5th, 2016
This prophetic early 20th-century novel imagines a dystopian future where secularism has taken over society, leading to the rise of a totalitarian world government and a final, apocalyptic struggle between good and evil.
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The Greatest Works of John Milton
Author: John Milton
Publisher: Fingerprint! Publishing
Date: Aug 25th, 2024
This collection compiles Milton's most influential works, including "Paradise Lost," "Paradise Regained," and "Samson Agonistes," showcasing his mastery of epic poetry and profound theological and philosophical insights.
Island
Author: Aldous Huxley
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Date: Oct 20th, 2009
Huxley's utopian novel envisions an ideal society on a remote island, blending Eastern and Western philosophies to create a harmonious and enlightened community, while addressing themes of human potential and societal organization.
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An Anthropologist On Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales
Author: Oliver Sacks
Publisher: Knopf
Date: Feb 7th, 1995
Sacks presents seven case studies of patients with unique neurological conditions, offering insights into the complexities of the human brain and the resilience of the human spirit.
Brain Architecture: Understanding the Basic Plan
Author: Larry W. Swanson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Oct 31st, 2002
Swanson presents an accessible introduction to the structure and function of the brain, detailing its organization and the principles underlying its complex architecture.
The Long Goodbye
Author: Raymond Chandler
Publisher: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
Date: Aug 12th, 1988
Chandler's classic noir novel follows private detective Philip Marlowe as he unravels a complex web of deception, betrayal, and murder in 1950s Los Angeles.
For Whom The Bell Tolls
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Author:
Publisher: MACMILLAN
Hemingway's novel follows Robert Jordan, an American dynamiter fighting in the Spanish Civil War, as he grapples with love, duty, and the brutal realities of war.
Of Mice and Men
Author: John Steinbeck
Publisher: Penguin
Date: Jan 8th, 2002
Steinbeck's novella tells the poignant story of two displaced ranch workers, George and Lennie, who dream of owning their own land but face harsh realities during the Great Depression.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Author: Ken Kesey
Publisher: Viking
Date: Jan 19th, 2012
Kesey's novel tells the story of Randle P. McMurphy, a rebellious inmate who challenges the oppressive regime of a mental institution, highlighting themes of individuality, conformity, and institutional power.
The Origins And History Of Consciousness
Author: Erich Neumann
Publisher: Routledge
Date: Jun 10th, 1999
Neumann traces the development of human consciousness from primordial times to modernity, integrating Jungian psychology with mythological and historical analysis.
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
Author: Robert M Pirsig
Publisher: Mariner Books
Date: May 1st, 1974
Pirsig's philosophical novel combines a cross-country motorcycle trip with a deep exploration of the nature of quality, the conflict between classical and romantic modes of thought, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.
Flowers for Algernon
Author: Daniel Keyes
Publisher: Mariner Books Classics
Date: Apr 17th, 1995
Keyes' novel tells the poignant story of Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who undergoes an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence, only to face unforeseen consequences.
The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
Author: Matt Ridley
Publisher: Harper
Date: May 18th, 2010
Matt Ridley argues that economic prosperity is a product of social evolution, demonstrating how human progress depends on the exchange of ideas and goods.
Painted Bird
Author: Jerzy Kosinski
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Jun 12th, 1983
Kosinski's harrowing novel follows the journey of a young boy abandoned during World War II, as he encounters brutality and inhumanity in the Eastern European countryside, exploring themes of survival and the loss of innocence.
