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
Notes from Underground
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Aug 30th, 1994
In this seminal existentialist novel, Dostoevsky delves into the thoughts and musings of a bitter, isolated man living in St. Petersburg, whose ramblings address his criticisms of society and insights into the human condition.
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.
Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief
Author: Jordan B. Peterson
Publisher: Routledge
Date: Apr 12th, 1999
Peterson examines the psychological foundations of belief systems, integrating insights from mythology, religion, and neuroscience to explore how humans construct meaning.
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.
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.
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 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.
The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality
Author: Angus Deaton
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Sep 23rd, 2013
Nobel laureate Angus Deaton explores the historical and current disparities in health and wealth among nations, discussing how some countries have made dramatic progress, while others remain mired in poverty, and the complex factors that drive these inequalities.
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.
Fratricides
Author: nikos-kazantzakis
Publisher: Faber Faber Inc
Date: Feb 22nd, 2025
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.
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 Will to Power
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Aug 7th, 2017
Nietzsche's posthumously published work compiles his thoughts on power dynamics, philosophy, and morality, emphasizing the drive for dominance and mastery inherent in human nature.
The Great Code: The Bible and Literature
Author: Northrop Frye
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Date: Feb 22nd, 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.
Stalin
Author: Edvard Radzinsky
Publisher: Doubleday
Date: Mar 1st, 1996
Radzinsky's biography offers an in-depth look at the life of Joseph Stalin, drawing on newly available archival materials to provide insights into his rise to power and the brutal regime he led.
The Big Sleep
Author: Raymond Chandler
Publisher: SANAGE PUBLISHING HOUSE LLP
Date: Jan 16th, 2023
Chandler's classic hardboiled detective novel introduces private investigator Philip Marlowe, who navigates a labyrinth of crime and corruption while solving a complex case in Los Angeles.
1984
Author: George Orwell
Publisher: Mariner Books Classics
Date: Apr 4th, 2017
George Orwell's dystopian novel depicts a totalitarian regime under the omnipresent surveillance of Big Brother, where individuality and free thought are crushed, warning of the dire consequences of political authoritarianism.
Symbols of Transformation
Author: C. G. Jung
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Sep 1st, 1967
Jung delves into the symbolic and mythological underpinnings of human psychology, exploring how transformative symbols influence personal and collective unconscious processes.
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Publisher: Macmillan Collector's Library
Date: Jul 14th, 2016
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.
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.
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.
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.
