Beyond Order summary

Way back in antiquity, long before the development of modern science, there was an esoteric art called alchemy. Alchemists believed they could use complex recipes to transform one substance into another.

For them, an integral part of this process was the materia prima, or the primal element. This mystical element was the fundamental building block of everything. If you applied the right techniques, it could be transformed into anything from lead, to gold, to life.

The Peterson family often tells the story of Dell Roberts, Peterson’s father-in-law. Dell was known for his calm demeanor and steadfast kindness. Even when facing life’s cruelest adversities, such as medical problems or the death of a loved one, he never complained – except for once.

You see, every day when Dell came home for lunch, his wife would serve him a homemade sandwich on a small china plate. Every day, for 20 years, he ate it happily. Then, one afternoon, seemingly out of nowhere, he slammed his fist on the table and shouted, “I hate eating off these tiny plates!”

Peter Pan is one of the most beloved children’s characters of all time. But why is this spritely flying boy such a universal hit? Well, he lives in a fun, exciting fantasy land, he can fly, and most of all, he has no real responsibilities. Simply put, he’s got everything a child could want.

On the other hand, Pan’s nemesis, Captain Hook, is just the opposite. He’s strict, authoritarian, and lives with mortal fear – in fact, a deadly crocodile ceaselessly pursues him. In short, Hook is all the negative aspects of being an adult.

Imagine you’re working for a large, multinational company. One day, you receive an email declaring that, in the name of political and cultural sensitivity, certain words will be banned in the office. You scan the list and see nothing but innocent phrases.

Surely, this must be a mistake. Yet, to your horror, your colleagues love the initiative. They even respond by suggesting more words to ban, even though their supposed offensiveness is tenuous at best.

After the author published his book 12 Rules for Life, he set off on a speaking tour across North America and Europe. In lecture halls and theaters, he spoke to crowds about philosophy, psychoanalysis, and the messages embedded in popular cultures.

Yet, there was one topic that enraptured his audiences most of all. That topic was personal responsibility. At first, he was puzzled. Why was this particular theme so engrossing for young people? Surely, it can’t be that novel. But, after meeting many attendees, he realized it was.

Imagine you’re holding a lump of coal in your hands: This common fossil fuel is dark, dirty, and brittle. Yet, if you apply intense heat and pressure, the type that is found deep within the core of the earth, something amazing happens. Over time, its carbon atoms rearrange into a stable crystalline structure. Suddenly, you have a diamond.

Physically speaking, diamonds are incredibly special. Their repeating internal bonds make them immensely durable. And their glittering, reflective surface gives them a beautiful lustrous shine. These qualities make diamond gems both materially and symbolically valuable across nearly all human cultures.

The faculty offices at the University of Toronto are a dour affair. Cold, impersonal, and lit with garish fluorescent lighting, the rooms are a depressing place to spend an hour, let alone a 30-year career. So, Peterson tried to give his office a makeover.

While a strict administrator shot down his original plan to install warm wood paneling, he still managed to spruce things up. He carefully painted the walls, hung richly colored tapestry, and even installed a classic copper drop ceiling.

It’s well past midnight, and you’re snug in bed. Yet, you’re not sound asleep, snoring away. Instead, you’re wide awake and your brain is treating you to a greatest hits compilation of painful memories.

You’re remembering times you hurt people you loved. Times you lied, cheated, or acted maliciously out of fear. Or, perhaps, you’re dwelling on times you’ve been hurt. You’re recalling all the instances you’ve been betrayed, disappointed, or socially cast aside.

It’s happened countless times. A couple comes into the therapist's office and they’re both miserable. Maybe one feels neglected and ignored, maybe the other acts suspicious and evasive. Either way, they aren’t happy. So, the question arises: when was the last time you went on a date?

Often, it’s been a very long time. So, at the therapist's suggestion, they go out. And, unsurprisingly, they have a terrible evening. Then, they go out again, and that night is awful, too. Yet, if they keep trying, ten, twenty, a hundred times, something funny happens. They begin to enjoy each other all over again.

Think back to your childhood. At bedtime, a parent likely tucked you in and, if you were lucky, took a few moments to read you something before sleep. Now, what did they read? A dry collection of words like a dictionary or the periodic table? No. It was a story – and a fantastical one at that.

For millennia, humans have used stories to understand the world around us. Obviously, we use fables and fairy tales to teach children morals and social norms. Yet, even as adults, we unconsciously interpret the events through a narrative lens. In our minds, the world is full of characters, settings, dramatic arcs, conflicts, and conclusions.

There’s a dramatic moment in the Bible which stands out for its stark portrayal of anguish. It takes place as Jesus hangs on the cross, nearing his mortal death. As he succumbs to the torturous execution, he tilts his head upward and shouts, “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

This outburst raises the question: If even a divine figure like Christ can stumble in the face of suffering, how can any of us withstand the inevitable pains of existence? After all, none of us will go through life free from loss, misfortune, and moments of misery. So, why endure it at all?