Jordan B Peterson Part One: Ascension

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Oct 16, 2023

The discussion kicks off with the transformation of Jordan B. Peterson from obscure academic to global celebrity. They explore his early life in Canada and pivotal moments that shaped his controversial views. Key topics include the impact of societal influences on human nature and the complex interplay of masculinity in modern discourse. The podcast also delves into Peterson's academic achievements and the ethical dilemmas intertwined with his philosophies. Expect a critique of self-help simplicity against rich artistic traditions and the societal implications of his educational vision.

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INSIGHT

Apocalyptic Anxiety Shaping Career

In the early 1980s Peterson became consumed by nuclear-war anxiety and apocalyptic nightmares.
That obsession led him to study extreme evil and human capacity for violence.

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ANECDOTE

Confessions Of Dark Thoughts

Peterson recounts intrusive violent fantasies during his college years, including urges to stab a classmate's neck with a pen.
He later described thinking about terrorist methods and other dark actions as part of self-scrutiny.

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INSIGHT

Mythic Framework Behind His Theory

Maps of Meaning fuses Jungian archetypes and comparative mythology into a grand theory of order versus chaos.
Dunt and Lynskey note Peterson selectively uses myths and ignores contradictory traditions, making his universals questionable.

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The Complex Influence of a Public Intellectual

01:50 • 18min

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Exploring the Darkness Within: Societal Influences on Human Nature

19:27 • 2min

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Exploring Academic Achievements and Personal Milestones

21:00 • 2min

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Artistry and Authenticity in Expression

22:44 • 10min

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The Rise and Controversies of an Educational Visionary

33:02 • 17min

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Exploring Binaries and Psychological Struggles

50:13 • 3min

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#60

• Mentioned in 239 episodes

12 Rules for Life

An Antidote to Chaos

Jordan B Peterson

In this book, Jordan B. Peterson offers twelve profound and practical rules for living a meaningful life. He argues that happiness is a fleeting and unpredictable goal, and instead, people should seek meaning as a defense against the suffering inherent in life. The book is divided into chapters, each representing one of the twelve rules, such as 'Stand up straight with your shoulders back,' 'Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping,' and 'Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient). ' Peterson draws on examples from his clinical practice, personal life, cutting-edge psychology, philosophy, and ancient myths to provide a guide for personal improvement and coping with adversity.

#1184

• Mentioned in 34 episodes

The Road to Wigan Pier

George Orwell

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is a detailed and evocative account of the poverty and living conditions of the working class in northern England, particularly in mining towns like Wigan. Orwell describes the harsh realities of miners' lives, the poor housing conditions, and the economic struggles faced by these communities. The second part of the book is a more political treatise where Orwell discusses the failures of socialism and his own socialist solutions to the problems he observed. He critiques the middle class and the intellectual left, while advocating for a more practical and compassionate form of socialism.

#738

• Mentioned in 47 episodes

Beyond Order

12 More Rules For Life

Jordan B Peterson

In this sequel to '12 Rules for Life', Jordan B. Peterson presents twelve additional rules to guide readers through the complexities of modern life. The book emphasizes the need to balance chaos and order, warning against the dangers of too much security and the tendency towards tyranny. Peterson draws on psychology, philosophy, theology, and mythology to provide strategies for finding meaning and purpose, even in times of powerlessness. Written during a period of personal and global turmoil, including health issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, the book offers a rich and deep exploration of how to navigate life's challenges.

#99347

Savage Messiah

How Jordan Peterson is Saving Western Civilization

• Mentioned in 44 episodes

David and Goliath

Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

Malcolm Gladwell

In 'David and Goliath', Malcolm Gladwell challenges conventional wisdom about obstacles and disadvantages. He uses the biblical story of David and Goliath as a starting point to explore various cases where underdogs have triumphed over more powerful opponents. The book delves into topics such as the benefits of 'desirable difficulties', the impact of dyslexia on successful individuals, and the dynamics of successful and unsuccessful strategies in different contexts, including warfare, education, and social movements. Gladwell argues that what appears to be a weakness can often be a strength, and that too much power or advantage can sometimes be counterproductive.

#240

• Mentioned in 102 episodes

The hero with a thousand faces

Joseph Campbell

In this book, Joseph Campbell explores his theory of the 'monomyth', a universal pattern found in the mythological narratives of various cultures. He details the stages of the 'hero's journey', which include departure from the ordinary world, initiation into a supernatural world, and return with a boon. Campbell draws on a wide range of mythological sources and integrates insights from psychology, particularly from Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, to illustrate the common elements of heroic myths across different cultures.

Origin Story is back. The critically-acclaimed podcast uncovering the hidden histories of concepts, people and events you thought you knew.

To kick off Series 4 Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey turn their sights on Jordan B Peterson, the bestselling author, diehard culture warrior and, allegedly, the most influential intellectual in the western world. In part one they discuss Peterson’s life up to the publication of 12 Rules for Life in 2018, from his childhood in rural Canada to his first book, Maps of Meaning, his role as a star professor at the University of Toronto and his first taste of public controversy.

How did an obscure academic come to the brink of global celebrity? Why did a young left-leaning activist grow into a ferocious conservative? And what ideas led him to his multi-million-dollar 12 rules? Featuring Nietzsche, Karl Jung, the absence of God and nightmares about the end of the world. Buckle up, bucko.

Support Origin Story on Patreon for exclusive benefits: www.Patreon.com/originstorypod

Reading list:

Books:

Ben Burgis, Conrad Hamilton, Matthew McManus and Marion Trejo — Myth and Mayhem: A Leftist Critique of Jordan Peterson, 2020

Jordan B Peterson — Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, 1999

Jordan B Peterson — 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, 2018

Jordan B Peterson — Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life, 2021

Sandra Woien, ed. — Critical Responses to Jordan Peterson, 2022

Online:

Jason McBride — ‘The Pronoun Warrior’, Toronto Life, 2017

https://torontolife.com/city/u-t-professor-sparked-vicious-battle-gender-neutral-pronouns/

David Brooks — ‘The Jordan Peterson Moment’, The New York Times, 2018

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/opinion/jordan-peterson-moment.html

Dorian Lynskey — ‘How dangerous is Jordan Peterson, the rightwing professor who “hit a hornets’ nest”?’, The Guardian, 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/how-dangerous-is-jordan-b-peterson-the-rightwing-professor-who-hit-a-hornets-nest

Kelefa Sanneh — ‘Jordan Peterson’s Gospel of Masculinity’, The New Yorker, 2018

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/jordan-petersons-gospel-of-masculinity

Pankaj Mishra — ‘Jordan Peterson & Fascist Mysticism’, The New York Review of Books, 2018

https://www.nybooks.com/online/2018/03/19/jordan-peterson-and-fascist-mysticism/

Nellie Bowles — ‘Jordan Peterson, Custodian of the Patriarchy’, The New York Times, 2018

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/style/jordan-peterson-12-rules-for-life.html

Vinay Menon — ‘Jordan Peterson is trying to make sense of the world — including his own strange journey’, Toronto Star, 2018

https://web.archive.org/web/20191219104703/https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2018/03/16/jordan-peterson-is-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-world-including-his-own-strange-journey.html

Bernard Schiff — ‘I was Jordan Peterson’s strongest supporter. Now I think he’s dangerous’, Toronto Star, 2018

https://web.archive.org/web/20200115120600/https:/www.thestar.com/opinion/2018/05/25/i-was-jordan-petersons-strongest-supporter-now-i-think-hes-dangerous.html

Johanna Thomas-Corr — ‘Jordan Peterson, Agent of Chaos’, The New Statesman, 2021

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2023/02/jordan-peterson-agent-chaos-psychology

James Marriott — ‘Beyond Order by Jordan Peterson review’, The Times, 2021

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/beyond-order-by-jordan-b-peterson-review-qnhtgs2zj

Helen Lewis — ‘What Happened to Jordan Peterson?’, The Atlantic, 2021

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/04/what-happened-to-jordan-peterson/618082/

Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey and Ian Dunt. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Jade Bailey. Logo art by Mischa Welsh. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Origin Story is a Podmasters production.

https://twitter.com/OriginStorycast

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