Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief (Unabridged‪)‬

Finally took a deep dive into the so-called Jordan Peterson phenomenon. This book is dense and Peterson’s constant use of the words “affect”, “manifest”, and “potential” make it seem less lively than it is. However, it’s much easier to grasp than a lot of popular physics books I’ve read so don’t be turned off by its academic glow.

So what Peterson attempts to do in Maps of Meaning is use psychology, neuropsychology, and a heavy dose of Carl Jung, to formulate an explanation of why myths exist and why, more importantly, they make sense out of human existence, i.e. they tell us not what was or is in an empirical way, but instruct us how to act in the face of the tragedy of life.

I’m not totally on board with all his conclusions but he forces the reader to take religion, faith, myth, whatever you want to call it, seriously and not just some fever dream of primitive witch doctors. More importantly, he points a way near the end that by taking the path of the mythic hero, we can actually make the world better.

Admittedly, there are some ideas that will turn off post-modern readers, like Petersons anachronistic use of man to describe humanity in general and archetypal phrases from earlier writers like “terrible mother.” But I found nothing in the book that was alt-right or right wing. In fact, traditionalists may be turned off by his allusions to Christ as stand in for a sun deity or alchemy as an attempt by medieval man to complete Christianity in contrast to the church.

Either way, it’s certainly worth reading (or listening to) and will help you get a better understanding of JP’s ideas.

This and the Gulag Archipelago should be required reading in all schools

The book is great but why haven’t. Gotten the PDF file. It says it comes with it. That is disappointing.