The book consists of twelve chapters, each one representing a rule that Peterson believes can help individuals live a meaningful and successful life. Here is a summary of the twelve rules:
Stand up straight with your shoulders back
Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
Make friends with people who want the best for you
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today
Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world
Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
Tell the truth—or, at least, don’t lie
Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't
Be precise in your speech
Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street
In each chapter, Peterson provides examples and anecdotes to illustrate the rule and its importance in our lives. The book aims to help readers take responsibility for their lives, find meaning and purpose, and confront the chaos and suffering that are an inevitable part of human existence.
The book's popularity can be attributed to Peterson's engaging writing style, his use of personal experiences and stories, and his ability to speak to people's deepest concerns and desires. It has been translated into over 50 languages and has become a cultural phenomenon.
