Jordan Peterson's 'Beyond Order' Reviewed: The Appeal of a Self-Help Guru
In his review of Jordan Peterson's latest book, 'Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life' (2021), Tom Whyman delves into two intriguing questions: why a tenured clinical psychology professor at the University of Toronto, who enjoys a fulfilling marriage and runs a private practice, would jeopardize everything for fame, and what drives so many to seek his counsel. Whyman contends that Peterson's ideas—emphasizing the inevitability of suffering, the pursuit of meaning over happiness, and personal accountability—resonate not because followers genuinely need guidance, but because they find affirmation in their perceived superiority, distancing themselves from the 'useless' youth blamed for societal issues. He likens this phenomenon to Theodor Adorno's critique of horoscopes, where the intended audience serves as a contrast for readers to feel elevated. Whyman posits that Peterson's genuine belief in his heroic mission legitimizes his fame, framing political correctness as a crisis. He concludes by asserting that true hope lies in collective efforts rather than individual exceptions.
Key facts
- Jordan Peterson's new book 'Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life' was published in 2021.
- Peterson was a tenured Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto.
- He had a happy marriage, thriving private practice, and a collection of Soviet Realist art.
- Peterson ended up in a hospital in Moscow in a medically-induced coma in February 2021.
- The book contains 12 rules, including 'If old memories still upset you, write them down carefully and completely' and 'Do not hide unwanted things in the fog'.
- Whyman compares Peterson's appeal to Theodor Adorno's 1952 essay on horoscopes in the LA Times.
- Adorno identified a perceived addressee ('the vice-president') that flattered readers' egos.
- Whyman argues Peterson's perceived addressee is a directionless young man ('Bucko'), allowing readers to feel superior.
- Whyman cites Adorno's 'Progress' (1962) for the maxim that progress means 'the hope that things will finally get better'.
- Tom Whyman is a philosopher whose book 'Infinitely Full of Hope: Fatherhood and the Future in an Age of Crisis and Disaster' was published in April 2021 by Repeater.
Entities
Artists
- Jordan Peterson
- Tom Whyman
- Theodor Adorno
- J.K. Rowling
Institutions
- University of Toronto
- LA Times
- Repeater
Locations
- Toronto
- Canada
- Moscow
- Russia