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 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.
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.
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.
On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Dec 17th, 1989
Nietzsche's works explore the origins and development of moral concepts and offer a deeply personal reflection on his philosophy, critiquing contemporary values and championing individualism.
The First Circle
Author: Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
Publisher: Harper and Row
Date: Apr 2nd, 1968
Solzhenitsyn's novel depicts the lives of scientists and engineers imprisoned in a Soviet labor camp, exploring themes of freedom, integrity, and the human spirit under oppression.
A History of Religious Ideas, Vol. 2: From Gautama Buddha to the Triumph of Christianity
Author: Mircea Eliade
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: Jan 15th, 1985
Eliade continues his exploration of religious history, covering the development of major religious traditions from the time of Gautama Buddha to the rise of Christianity.
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.
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief
Author: Lawrence Wright
Publisher: Knopf
Date: Jan 17th, 2013
Wright provides a comprehensive and critical examination of the Church of Scientology, its origins, practices, and influence, particularly its entanglement with Hollywood celebrities.
The Master and Margarita
Author: Mikhail Bulgakov
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: May 3rd, 2016
Mikhail Bulgakov's fantastical, satirical novel features the Devil visiting Soviet Russia, intertwining the lives of Margarita, her beloved Master who is an oppressed writer, and historical figures, ultimately exploring themes of good and evil, love, and redemption.
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.
East of Eden
Author: John Steinbeck
Publisher: Viking
Date: Jun 1st, 2003
John Steinbeck's sweeping saga of the Trask and Hamilton families in the Salinas Valley of California, exploring themes of sin and redemption with biblical parallels, particularly the rivalry of brothers, mirroring the story of Cain and Abel.
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.
Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Brontë
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Dec 31st, 2002
Brontë's only novel is a dark, passionate tale of the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, set against the moody backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring themes of vengeance, social class, and the supernatural.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Author: Hunter S. Thompson
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: May 5th, 1998
Thompson's gonzo journalism classic recounts a drug-fueled journey to Las Vegas, blending surreal narrative and social critique to explore the dark side of the American Dream.
Zorba the Greek
Author: Nikos Kazantzakis
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: Dec 23rd, 2014
This novel follows the life-changing friendship between a young Greek intellectual and the exuberant, larger-than-life Alexis Zorba, who teaches him to embrace the joys and sorrows of life.
The New Executive Brain: Frontal Lobes in a Complex World
Author: Elkhonon Goldberg
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Aug 12th, 2009
Goldberg examines the role of the frontal lobes in human cognition and behavior, discussing their importance in decision-making, creativity, and adapting to complex environments.
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.
Psychology and Religion: West and East
Author: C. G. Jung
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Jan 1st, 1975
This collection of Jung's essays examines the intersection of psychology and religion, comparing Western religious traditions with Eastern spiritual practices and their psychological implications.
The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Publisher: Clarion Books
Date: Sep 18th, 2012
This beloved fantasy novel follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who embarks on an epic quest with a group of dwarves to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug, discovering courage and friendship along the way.
Panzram A Journal of Murder
Author: Thomas E. Gaddis
Publisher: Amok Books
Date: Nov 1st, 2002
This biographical work presents the life and confessions of Carl Panzram, a serial killer and career criminal, offering a chilling insight into his psyche and the brutal conditions of early 20th-century prisons.
Interpretation of Dreams: The Complete and Definitive Text
Author: Sigmund Freud
Publisher: Basic Books
Date: Feb 23rd, 2010
Freud's seminal work introduces his theory of the unconscious and the significance of dreams, laying the foundation for psychoanalysis and exploring the hidden meanings behind dream imagery.
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.
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.
The Antichrist
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Publisher: GENERAL PRESS
Date: Jan 1st, 2025
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.
The Adventures of Pinocchio (Mint Editions (The Children's Library))
Author: Carlo Collodi
Publisher: Mint Editions
Date: Apr 13th, 2021
Collodi's timeless children's novel follows the adventures of Pinocchio, a wooden puppet who longs to become a real boy, learning valuable life lessons along the way.
Earth in Human Hands: Shaping Our Planet's Future
Author: David Grinspoon
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date: Dec 6th, 2016
Grinspoon explores humanity's role as a planetary force, examining our impact on Earth and advocating for a conscious and responsible approach to shaping the planet's future.
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.
War and Peace
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Dec 2nd, 2008
Leo Tolstoy's epic novel set against the backdrop of Napoleon's invasion of Russia explores the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the interconnected lives of four aristocratic families, blending a meticulous historical study with deeper philosophical issues.
