Heather

I read this book after seeing the movie. It is definitely more journalistic rather than non-fiction, but excellent writing. I am so impressed with the author's investigative journalism. She told a story that needed to be told. What amazing women these are! I also hold a degree in mathematics and got so excited reading about their love for their work and the “behind the scenes” work that gave them purpose.

I started my Stegner reading with Crossing to Safety and picked this one up recently. While I felt that the conclusion was not quite as satisfying, I was captivated by Stegner's intense realism. He creates characters so realistic one can hardly believe that they aren't real people (although I'm well aware he draws upon real life for many of his characters). I love his uncanny descriptions of human perception and use of analogy. The novel is truly one of the best I've read.

A lot of people I know have read this book or have strong opinions (in both directions) on Jordan Peterson. I tried to take the information as it was presented without reading through the lens of “what so-and-so would think of this”, but sometimes that was difficult.

On the whole I enjoyed it. I thought Peterson had some valuable observations about culture, history, psychology, spirituality, all sorts of things. I didn't feel that most of his opinions were revolutionary to me - I have already heard most of his ideas in different forms. In that respect this was not a life-changing book.

Peterson is a good writer. I found myself highlighting and saving quotes all the way through, not because I agreed with everything he said, but because he captured an old idea in a poignant or clever way. A lot of this book is clearly his opinion, and it comes across as such. He isn't afraid to say what he thinks, sometimes caustically, which is refreshing.

Peterson put a lot of his own personal history into this book. If you care to know who he is, and how he came to be that way, you can find out by reading 12 Rules for Life. He has endured some tragedies, lost friends to suicide, intently studied the dark parts of history (Soviet Russia, the Holocaust etc.), and come out fairly whole. Despite heavy references to Christianity, God, and the Bible I would categorize this as a staunchly secular book.

He proposes a worldview that is moral and emotional, not at all austere or intellectual as many modern philosophers tend to do, but without the accoutrements of religious tradition or mysticism. It is an attractive modern worldview for modern times, but personally I am left unsatisfied. It would take a much longer review and a much closer reading of 12 Rules to pinpoint the source of my dissatisfaction. Perhaps it is something in me that craves the mystical and transcendent explanations for life, despite their caprices and inconsistencies.

12 Rules was a worthwhile read and provides fodder for many excellent campfire conversations down the road.