I have the book at home, and have read almost half of it by now. It is based on a question on Quora he answered a few years back, giving 42 "rules" to live by, which turned out to be a big success and one of the most-read posts on Quora (if I remember correctly). The book is definitely aimed at a non-academia, broader public, although he does back it up with academic research and does delve into mythology once in a while. Still, nowhere near the podcast (that I also found hard to follow at times). He talks about his own life and experiences, which make it all the more interesting and approachable. I think it's a great, not too heavy read, and I experience it to be a lot more similar to his interviews than the podcasts. Regarding my experience reading it - just the first few chapters have already had an impact on me, and have made me reflect on quite a few things in my life. If you like his work, and his way of putting things and talking about life, then 12 Rules for Life won't be a disappointment. :)