At once informative, surprising and humorous, Dr. Peterson tells us straightforwardly why skateboarding kids should be left alone, why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street, and what dreadful fate awaits those who carelessly criticize everything but themselves.

Why should you never let your children do anything that makes you dislike them? Why did the ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay attention as the highest of their gods? What can we learn from the lowly lobster about standing up straight and moving forthrightly through life? Dr. Peterson discusses discipline, responsibility, and the necessity of clear, truthful thinking, distilling the discoveries of science and the lessons from the great myths of the world into 12 profound directives for living properly in today's ever-transforming world. 12 Rules for Life delves deeply into the hidden realms lurking beneath our commonplace assumptions, enlightening the mind and spirit of its readers, keeping the chaos and nihilism that threaten and tempt the modern mind firmly at bay.