Jordan Peterson Books: All Titles in Order of Publication + The 5 Top Books He Recommends

Jordan Peterson Books Cover

Jordan Peterson is one of the most famous psychologists, philosophers, and intellectuals alive today. While you may know him from his multi-million-copy bestseller 12 Rules for Life, his viral Youtube video in which he argues with students about gender pronouns, or his controversial views on various topics shared on his Youtube channel, a few short years ago, Peterson was just an ordinary college professor. If you’re looking for all Jordan Peterson books, both the ones he wrote and the ones he recommends, you’ve come to the right place!

Peterson was born in 1962 in Alberta, Canada. After a childhood that left him disillusioned with both religion and politics, Peterson turned more to psychology and philosophy. Still, he completed his degree in political science, adding another BA in psychology on top afterwards. He also holds a PhD in clinical psychology and has since taught at both Harvard and the University of Toronto.

Nowadays, post Youtube- and bestseller-fame, Peterson advocates for reason, meaning, and other conservative values through his Youtube channel with over five million subscribers, a podcast, and frequent media appearances. To give you an overview of all books written and recommended by Jordan Peterson, we dug into our index of over 1,000 book summaries and the web. Since Peterson has only published three books, we’ve decided to list those by publication date, then move on to some of the top and most important books he recommends.

 

You can easily navigate this list by clicking on whichever section interests you the most in the below table of contents. For each book, we’ve included an image of the cover, a one-sentence-summary, and our favorite quote. We will also share our most important takeaways and why you might want to read the book yourself.

If you want to dive deeper into any book, click the “Read on Four Minute Books” or “Learn More” button or use one of our Amazon affiliate links to buy a copy. Okay, here we go! Let’s get to know the full range of Jordan Peterson books!


All Jordan Peterson Books (in Chronological Order)

1. Maps of Meaning (1999)

Jordan Peterson Books #1: Maps of Meaning (1999)

Favorite Quote

“The purpose of life is to find a mode of being that’s so meaningful that the fact that life is suffering is no longer relevant.” ― Jordan Peterson

The Book in One Sentence

Maps of Meaning draws on 13 years of research in the fields of mythology, religion, literature, philosophy, and psychology, to explain how humans form beliefs, why those beliefs often lead to social conflict, and what we might do to come up with a better, universal system of morality.

Why should you read it?

If you struggle to understand some of your friends’, family’s, or colleagues’ beliefs, especially if they’re inspired by religion or ideology, this book is for you. It’s also a good read for any marketer or storyteller who wants to get better at making a compelling case for others to take action and change their lives. If you’re looking for a book that’ll help you make sense of how we make sense of things, this one’s for you!

Key Takeaways

  1. Science and myth are different, so we should look at them separately.
  2. The stories in mythology can be a great help to us in making sense of life, especially when it’s full of suffering.
  3. Real or not, myths are often full of wisdom and offer concrete advice to better our lives.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

_____


2. 12 Rules for Life (2018)

Jordan Peterson Books #2: 12 Rules for Life (2018)

Favorite Quote

“It’s all very well to think the meaning of life is happiness, but what happens when you’re unhappy? Happiness is a great side effect. When it comes, accept it gratefully. But it’s fleeting and unpredictable.” — Jordan Peterson

The Book in One Sentence

12 Rules for Life is a stern, story-based, and entertaining self-help manual for young people that lays out simple principles that can help us become more disciplined, behave better, act with integrity, and balance our lives while enjoying them as much as we can.

Why should you read it?

Based on a Quora answer that went viral, this book might not be Peterson’s magnum opus, but with over five million copies sold, it is his most popular work by far. This book is quickly becoming a self-help classic. It is easily understandable, holds plenty of engaging stories, and yet offers simple, distinct advice for improving your life. The rules are easy to remember, and the book is fun to read. If you like self-help books in any shape or form, this one’s a must-read!

Key Takeaways

  1. Sweep in front of your own door before pointing out the street is dirty.
  2. Treat yourself like a child you’re responsible for.
  3. Aim to do what is meaningful, not convenient.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

_____


3. Beyond Order (2021)

Jordan Peterson Books #3: Beyond Order (2021)

Favorite Quote

“A certain amount of creativity and rebellion must be tolerated — or welcomed, depending on your point of view — to maintain the process of regeneration. Every rule was once a creative act, breaking other rules.” — Jordan Peterson

The Book in One Sentence

Beyond Order identifies 12 (more) rules to live by that will allow us to embrace the chaos we struggle with every day, showing us that too much order can be just as much of a problem as too little.

Why should you read it?

If you enjoyed 12 Rules for Life, this is the follow-on to get. Also, if you like self-help books in general but more (or also) appreciate “anti” self-help books, like The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, for example, you’ll like this one. If you struggle to navigate the narrow line between order and chaos, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Have an image of the person you want to be, then do everything you can to become that person. 
  2. Find ways to incorporate beauty into your everyday life. 
  3. Try to express gratitude even when you are suffering. 

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

_____


The 5 Most Important Books Recommended by Jordan Peterson

For this section, we took 5 of the 15 top books Peterson found “particularly influential,” as per his own website. He even posted a longer list of over 100 recommendations there too, which you can dive into if you feel like it. But the below ones seem to be some of the most important, so they’ll make for a great place to start.

4. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

Jordan Peterson Books #4: Crime And Punishment (1866) Fyodor Dostoevsky

Favorite Quote

“To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Book in One Sentence

Crime and Punishment explores the moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor student who plans to murder a corrupt pawnbroker in order to obtain her riches, but who quickly finds out that theory and practice are very different when it comes to ethics and morality.

Why should you read it?

Instead of droning on about why you shouldn’t do bad things, this book offers something much better: a concrete story. It’s a classic for a reason. If you’ve ever felt tempted by fate to do something unscrupulous, this book is for you.

Key Takeaways

  1. Empathy is a crucial part of being human.
  2. It’s hard to change our inner lives, but we can consistently make amends for our mistakes.
  3. Remorse leads to amends which lead to growth and character — therefore, remorse is a critical function of our psyche!

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

_____


5. Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche (1886)

Jordan Peterson Books #5: Beyond Good and Evil (1886) Friedrich Nietzsche

Favorite Quote

“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

The Book in One Sentence

Beyond Good and Evil is a classic of philosophy, asserting that humans do not simply fall into the two categories of good and evil but have the potential for both, and that we must constantly confront this potential in order to stay moral, virtuous beings.

Why should you read it?

If you want a manageable entry into Nietzsche’s philosophy, this is a good pick. This book will show you that life truly is not black and white, and that we must consistently monitor our potential for the negative in order to keep it at bay. If you’re tired of “it’s X person/group’s fault” assertions by the media and others and crave a deeper understanding of why people do things, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Human morality is culturally constructed rather than inherently true.
  2. A belief in nothing at all would be more dangerous than holding false beliefs.
  3. Moral systems generally curtail humans’ universal desire for power by elevating the group over the individual.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

_____


6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)

Jordan Peterson Books #6: Brave New World (1932) Aldous Huxley

Favorite Quote

“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” — Aldous Huxley

The Book in One Sentence

Brave New World presents a futuristic society engineered perfectly around capitalism and scientific efficiency, in which everyone is happy, conform, and content — but only at first glance.

Why should you read it?

This book explores the negative sides of utopia, an ostensibly prosperous world in which everyone appears to be content and satisfied but that, below the surface, has a lot of problems. Sound familiar? If you’re questioning our shiny, Instagram-happy world, get a copy of this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. If the world were perfect and everything was easy, nothing would have any meaning.
  2. We hate not fitting in more than anything else, and yet, we’ll never all be the same.
  3. True happiness and suffering are two sides of the same coin — we can’t have one without the other.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

_____


7. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (1946)

Jordan Peterson Books #7: Man's Search for Meaning (1946) Viktor Frankl

Favorite Quote

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” — Viktor Frankl

The Book in One Sentence

Man’s Search for Meaning details holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s horrifying experiences in Nazi concentration camps, along with his psychological approach of logotherapy, which is also what helped him survive and shows you how you can – and must – find meaning in your life.

Why should you read it?

If you’re going through difficult times, this book will help you persist. It’s also a good read for anyone who wants to peek behind the curtain of national socialism in Germany in the 1930s and 40s or who wants to learn about the atrocities committed in the Nazi’s concentration camps. If you’re looking for a light in the dark, read this book.

Key Takeaways

  1. Sometimes the only way to survive is to surrender to death.
  2. Your life has its own meaning and it’s up to you to find it.
  3. Use paradoxical intention to make your fears go away.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself.

_____


8. 1984 by George Orwell (1949)

Jordan Peterson Books #8: 1984 (1949) George Orwell

Favorite Quote

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” — George Orwell

The Book in One Sentence

1984 is the story of a young man questioning the system that keeps his futuristic but dystopian society afloat, and the chaos that quickly ensues once he gives in to his natural curiosity and desire to be free.

Why should you read it?

If you enjoy books in a dystopian setting that challenge our structure of society, then you’ll be an instant fan of Orwell’s. This classic is a good reminder of what can happen when governments go too far. If you’re worried about freedom and sovereignty, this is a great book for you.

Key Takeaways

  1. The most powerful way to either control or empower humans is language.
  2. Freedom is the ability to say what’s true, to say what you think, and to make your own choices.
  3. Totalitarian governments succeed when they turn off our individuality via gaslighting.

If you want to learn more, you can click below or get a copy for yourself.

_____


Jordan Peterson Books by Popularity

Since Peterson has only written three books so far, this list is easy and quick to assemble:

  1. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos (⭐️ 59,600+ Ratings ⭐️)
  2. Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life (⭐️ 14,400+ Ratings ⭐️)
  3. Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief (⭐️ 3,000+ Ratings ⭐️)

Actually, he’s written one more: An ABC of Childhood Tragedy. This book is a short collection of dark poems, one for each letter of the alphabet, outlining how various (fictitious) children found their demise through bad deeds or influences. The book is based on Peterson’s work as a clinical psychologist and opens a window into the darkness of the human psyche. The book came out in October 2022 and has 50+ ratings, but Peterson has deleted all his videos and promotions of it, so we’re not sure he wants it to be sold. He might be removing it from circulation soon. Hence, we excluded it from this list.

At five million copies sold, 12 Rules for Life is Peterson’s most popular book by far.


In What Order Should You Read Jordan Peterson’s Books?

Which of Jordan Peterson’s books should you read first? If you ask us, here’s the order in which reading his books makes the most sense based on their topics, popularity, and connection with each other:

  1. 12 Rules for Life: Since this is Peterson’s most popular and also most approachable book, it makes sense to start with this one first. If you only read one, make it this one.
  2. Beyond Order: As a direct follow-on to 12 Rules for Life, it makes sense to keep going with the next 12 rules. Also, this book is the black “chaos” to 12 Rules for Life’s white “order,” so the two balance each other nicely.
  3. Maps of Meaning: This book is written in a much more academic tone and thus harder to access language-wise. It’s also a special topic with many complex interrelations, so it’s not for everyone. Try the audiobook, perhaps, that one was really popular when it was released in 2018!

Yes, Peterson is a direct person with lots of opinions. But if you’re looking for books that include foundational life strategies for personal growth and will help you develop empathy for others, his works are a great start!


Conclusion

Reactions to Jordan Peterson range from “he saved my life” to “total crook.” He’s a controversial figure, for sure, but from where we sit, we think he has good intentions. We hope you found this list helpful and that you’ll find a good pick to get familiar with his work and ideas.


Other Book Lists by Author

Looking for more books by the world’s most celebrated authors? Here are all of the book lists by the author we’ve curated for you:


Other Book Lists by Topic

Looking for more of the best books on various topics? Here are all the book lists we’ve made for you so far:


Rate this book!
This book has an average rating of 5 based on 2 votes.

Last Updated on February 3, 2023