Book summary: 12 Rules for Life

12 Rules for Life – A Guide to a Better Life

Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life is a book about taking responsibility, finding meaning, and improving your life through discipline and self-awareness. Each rule gives practical advice to help you live with purpose and face life’s challenges.

The 12 Rules for Life

1. Stand up straight with your shoulders back – Confidence and good posture can change how you see yourself and how others see you.

2. Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping – Care for yourself the way you would care for a loved one.

3. Make friends with people who want the best for you – Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

4. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to someone else today – Focus on personal growth instead of competing with others.

5. Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them – Guide children with discipline and love, so they grow into responsible adults.

6. Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world – Fix your own life before blaming external problems.

7. Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient – Choose long-term fulfillment over short-term pleasure.

8. Tell the truth—or, at least, don’t lie – Honesty builds trust and helps you live authentically.

9. Assume that the person you are listening to knows something you don’t – Listen actively and be open to learning from others.

10. Be precise in your speech – Clear communication helps solve problems and avoid misunderstandings.

11. Do not bother children when they are skateboarding – Let people take risks and grow from challenges.

12. Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street – Appreciate small moments of beauty, even in difficult times.

Why It Matters

Life is tough, but these rules help you take control, build discipline, and find meaning. Small changes in thinking and actions can lead to a better, more fulfilling life. Start with one rule and see where it takes you.