Jordan Peterson’s Beyond Order quickly became one of the most dog-eared books I’ve read this year. A meandering blend of psychology, religion, history, & philosophy disguised in a self-help book there were a lot of diamonds in the rough!

My favorite thing about reading long form content written by apparently polarizing figures in modern time is that when you take the time to read 300 pages of their ideas they can express the nuance of a point of view that makes it much less polarizing.

Side note: I was listening to an interview recently with an entrepreneur who quickly built a large following on Twitter. His formula: say something controversial to get the tweet traction, reply to the thread expressing the nuance.

In chapter one of beyond order Jordan introduces The Fool:

The Fool is a young, handsome man, eyes lifted upward, journeying in the mountains, sun shining brightly upon him – about to carelessly step over a cliff (or is he?). His strength, however, is precisely his willingness to risk such a drop; to risk being once again at the bottom. No one unwilling to be a foolish beginner can learn.

Beyond Order, Jordan Peterson

Jordan goes on to explain how the fool has the potential to become the hero if they can be patient with themselves and with others, strive toward competence while learning humility, self-control, and discipline.

He explains this archetypal character through references we would all know such as Harry Potter, Pinocchio, or The Lion King which then allows you to see The Fool in other “hero’s journey’s” type movies (I noticed it when watching Kung Foo Panda last month).

The question then becomes, if you want to be a hero, are you willing to be foolish enough to learn? Today’s beginner can be tomorrow’s master. You cannot fill a cup that is already full.