Popular psychologist Jordan Peterson addresses a Florida audience—expanding his wife’s introduction into a wide-ranging discussion about politics and society.
Key Details
- Jordan Peterson’s Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life tour arrived in Tampa, Florida, last night.
- Rather than a list of rules, the night discussed totalitarian dangers, apocalyptic impulsivities, and views on politically correct authoritarianism.
- While Peterson’s style is prized on being direct, one rule’s seemingly metaphorical meaning—having at least one beautiful room in your home—underpins his thoughts on larger, more political issues.
Why It’s Important
Jordan Peterson is a leading Canadian clinical psychologist, professor, and bestselling author. The concepts from his 2018 bestselling book, 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote To Chaos, have been expanded upon with his latest book Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life. While his public perspectives have gained him a massive following, his controversial comments, particularly on his views on women and transgender identity, have garnered much criticism.
Key Takeaways
The night’s discussion began when Tammi Peterson, the author’s wife, took the stage. Speaking for about 10 minutes, she shared that in 2019, she was diagnosed with kidney cancer and given 10 months to live. She spoke of her challenges and how, ultimately, she chose to spend the time she had left renovating her house. As a cancer survivor, she opened the tour’s discussion by sharing one simple rule: Try to make one room in your home as beautiful as possible.
This one rule shared during the night’s discussion set the stage—literally—for Jordan Peterson’s thoughts on our current state of affairs. From foreign engagements and our involvement in what he calls World War III in Ukraine to his views on anti-political-correctness, Peterson held nothing back. He shared that he would proudly vote for former President Donald Trump if given the option. He also expressed skepticism toward anyone “who’s emergency is to take power—it’s too convenient,” referring to political figures and economic leaders whose political agendas he feels focus on power and not progress.
The discussion closed with a Q&A. An audience member asked: “What’s the secret to a long marriage?”
“No lying,” said Peterson. He expanded with insights into his and Tammi’s 20 plus years of marriage, saying that honesty and getting to the bottom of things have been key to their success.
The night’s 90-minute discussion fully engaged the little more than half-full arena of attendees as Peterson seemed to “get to the bottom of things” on everything both controversial and not. Still, rather than expanding on his new book’s 12 “more” rules, it seems that Peterson aimed to convey the importance of Tammi’s one opening rule in particular.
From Peterson’s discussions on America’s current political, economic, and social status to his views of those in power and suggestions for change, it seems his opening cardinal rule could be interpreted metaphorically. A bold, and slightly more poetic, presumption could be that the “room” Peterson’s rule is referring to isn’t an actual room—but rather, a country.
