Canadian psychologist, professor and prolific author, Jordan Peterson is the mind behind philosophically-charged, personal development books like 12 Rules for Life and Beyond Order.
To offer his admirers a glimpse into his influences, new learnings and world views, Peterson has, over the years, fed a collection of his personal reads that can be found as a “recommended literature” section on his website. There, fans can have a look at what the author’s favourite books are.
An educator, Peterson has often spoken about the importance of classic literature in understanding human nature, politics and culture.
It might come as no surprise, then that among the books he’s recommended is I, Claudius by British writer Robert Graves – a compelling portrait of ancient Rome and a reflection on the use – and abuse – of power, and an influential historical novel first published in 1934.
I, Claudius is written as the fictionalised autobiography of Roman Emperor Claudius, who ruled from AD 41 to 54. The book spans decades of Roman political history, chronicling the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula, before Claudius reluctantly comes to power.
Presented as a first-person narrative, Claudius describes how he survived numerous palace intrigues and assassinations by appearing weak, stammering and harmless – traits that allowed him to remain in the background while others fell around him.
Graves based the novel on historical sources such as Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio but blended them with dramatic storytelling.
The result is a gripping, often darkly humorous account of a deeply dysfunctional empire, full of manipulation, betrayal and power struggles. Until today, it remains one of the most celebrated examples of historical fiction in the English language.
Comments under Peterson’s post about his I, Claudius recommendation generally agreed with his praise of the novel, and highlighted its cultural significance. “Quite the piece of literature. Witty. Humane. Dark. Fun”, one fan wrote.
“Epic, it’s one my favourites too. I didn’t know it was highly regarded!”, another commented.
The book was also made into an acclaimed 1976 BBC TV adaptation, starring Derek Jacobi as Claudius, which brought the story to life for a new generation of viewers.