Dive into the literary world of Jordan Peterson, Psychologist.

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

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

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

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.

Notice: Undefined offset: 1038 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Ben Shapiro 

I, Claudius

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

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

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.

Notice: Undefined offset: 978 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

Notice: Undefined offset: 1037 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

The Red And The Black

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.
Also recommended by:
Ernest Hemingway 

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman 

The Old Man And The Sea

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.
Also recommended by:
Lex Fridman  Jimmy Buffett 

The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy

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

Murray critically examines contemporary social justice movements, discussing the complexities and controversies surrounding gender, race, and identity politics.

The Antichrist

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

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.

Notice: Undefined offset: 1022 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

The Great Mother: An Analysis of the Archetype

Neumann analyzes the archetype of the Great Mother in mythology, art, and religion, exploring its profound influence on human psychology and cultural development.

Notice: Undefined offset: 1032 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future

Norberg presents a compelling case for optimism, highlighting advancements in health, wealth, safety, and freedom to argue that the world is steadily improving.

Notice: Undefined offset: 1057 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception

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.

Notice: Undefined offset: 1010 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

Notice: Undefined offset: 1023 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

A Way of Being

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

Ledoux explores the neural mechanisms behind emotions, revealing how the brain processes and regulates emotional experiences and their impact on behavior.

Tolstoy

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Woody Harrelson  Tom Hanks 

Notice: Undefined offset: 565 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

A History of Religious Ideas, Vol. 3: From Muhammad to the Age of Reforms

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Bill Gates 

Notice: Undefined offset: 984 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

Sometimes a Great Notion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Pope Francis 

Notice: Undefined offset: 959 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

The Greatest Works of John Milton

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

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.

Notice: Undefined offset: 999 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

An Anthropologist On Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales

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

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

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.
Also recommended by:
Adam Savage 

For Whom The Bell Tolls

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

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

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

Neumann traces the development of human consciousness from primordial times to modernity, integrating Jungian psychology with mythological and historical analysis.

Notice: Undefined offset: 1030 in /var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line 103

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values

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.
Also recommended by:
Tupac Shakur 

Flowers for Algernon

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

Matt Ridley argues that economic prosperity is a product of social evolution, demonstrating how human progress depends on the exchange of ideas and goods.
Also recommended by:
Naval Ravikant 

Painted Bird

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.
Do you have a suggestion for someone who should be featured on our site? Reach out to us today, and we'll make every effort to include them soon!