Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life

Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life
Jordan Peterson
Random House
2021
432 pages

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The relatively small amount of attention which has been devoted to Jordan Peterson’s new book – Beyond Order published in March – is somewhat remarkable given his meteoric rise over the last five years. Covid accounts for some of this, but the broader issue is the string of misfortunes which have befallen the Peterson family, including Jordan’s descent into benzodiazepine addiction which resulted in him being placed in an induced coma. Though he is gradually recovering, Beyond Order is clearly a book borne out of suffering. 

As with his previous work, Peterson draws on his experiences as a clinical psychologist as well as his impressive knowledge of mythology, literature and world religions while explaining to readers “how the dangers of too much security and control might be profitably avoided.” 

Many are sceptical of the Peterson phenomenon. There is, it must be said, relatively little in his message which is entirely original (something which might be lost on younger readers at an early stage of their literary development). Indeed, what he teaches people consists of what others would regard as common sense, in an era where this is no longer so common. 

Furthermore, he seems admirably comfortable with this role. “Helping people bridge the gap between what they profoundly intuit but cannot articulate seems to be a reasonable and valuable function for a public intellectual,” he writes. And this message is unquestionably a positive one: something which parents, schools and other social institutions should be instilling in the young but which many are reluctant to do. 

Peterson correctly points out that there has been an excessive focus on rights over the last half century which has not been accompanied by a corresponding emphasis on responsibilities. Urging his readers to consider the benefits of placing themselves at the bottom of a hierarchy, he calls on them to embrace what is difficult and that which brings with it responsibilities. “Life,” he writes, “becomes meaningful in precise proportion to the depths of the responsibility you are willing to shoulder.” In a similar vein, he draws attention to the “strange and paradoxical fact that there is a reciprocal relationship between the worth of something and the difficulty in accomplishing it.”  

Though the cultural references (Harry Potter, etc) can sometimes bore, the value of Peterson’s work should not be dismissed, and others who are concerned about societal tumult need to reflect on why he is such a good communicator. Christian leaders should be especially interested, as this nominal Christian does not shy away from drawing upon scripture to make his case to readers who belong to the most irreligious generation in history. 

After experiencing such physical and emotional pain, his reflections on suffering carry a particularly deep religious imprint. Referencing Christ’s words on the cross (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”), Peterson reminds his readers that this burden “can become so great that even God Himself can lose faith when confronted with the unbearable reality of injustice, betrayal, suffering and death.”

Possessing a vast pulpit which most clerics would envy, Peterson is effective in preaching a powerful message to a lost generation in need of his guidance from someone who poses searching questions, and asks his audience to ask more of themselves.