12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There are several nuggets of good advice here. However, Peterson definitely could have pulled out his psychology professor card more often and cited a few more sources. Peterson uses this book largely to assert his own personal opinions about how people should live. I felt as if I were reading a book by just "some guy" who thinks he has some good ideas. It's not that Peterson's opinions are necessarily bad; they're just not as clear or convincing as they could have been had Peterson presented them more systematically and in the context of real, cited research.

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The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well

The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a quick, pleasant read. But its message is too banal to be worth recommending. Here’s the whole book: (1) keep your living space cozy (preferably with designer lamps, colorful accents, and lots of candles); (2) keep your workday short (like, leave by 4:00 PM if you have kids short); (3) layer your clothing with several cozy, functional items (think sweaters, scarves, and elbow-patched blazers); (4) increase your consumption of alcohol, sweets, and comfort foods; and (5) maximize time with small groups of friends (4-6 is ideal).

This review also appears in Goodreads.