TheCanadian1867 t1_iuhyg51 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 1:59 PM

Reply to comment by newbalancewearer in Anyone who’s read “12 rules for life” by JBP finds it so harsh and unforgiving? by newbalancewearer

Yeah that's a fair criticism. He can definitely come off as too analytical/matter-of-fact and less compassionate. Admittedly it's been a few years since I read his book so it's tough to recall more than just the major themes. But it's interesting you liked his videos and then disappointed by the book. It's nice to hear reasonable critiques from someone who approaches his work with good-faith.

Agreed on the polarization thing. Which is funny, my post is already getting hit by downvotes. Despite (I think) it being a fairly innocuous opinion of his work. So it's somewhat manifesting on a Monday morning r/books thread!

el_toro7 t1_iuibp0a wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:32 PM

Yes, both your comments are reasonable. "Polarization" isn't quite accurate when there's a strong negative skew. As with any intellectual/scholar who gets very popular, there are things to admire, appreciate, cringe at, and even disdain.

I do not follow Peterson's work, nor have I read his book(s). I've seen a number of videos (since before his rise to infamy in 2016), and his lectures at U of T. My impressions of him are shallow/not personal, but even still there are certain things that I admire, other things I appreciate, other things I cringe at, and yet other things I disdain. I think it is possible to view people in such variegated ways, especially with respect to their work when you don't know them. The caveat being, you don't know them (don't make a guru out of someone you don't know(

newbalancewearer OP t1_iui23xa wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:25 PM

I don’t think he is propagating a cult as he clearly opposed and rebuked it in his videos.

I came to some what of a conclusion of my own that he, being an experienced clinical psychologist and a person who’s been through numerous ordeals, is hard not to become a realist himself.

Discrediting his whole because of his parts is not doing him justice, and even more polarising.

Is he still teaching in the U of T? I will be great to see someone who is willing to play the bad guy in a world that likes to appease instead of appeal.

I am living in a city that’s totalitarian and I understand the horrors of being silenced. Polarisation is the first thing a totalitarian state will propagate, please don’t let this happen in Canada :(