The Rules to Break: A personal code for living your life, your way

by Richard Templar

A personal code for living your life your way. From a very young age you've been inundated with other people's well-intended rules. Whether from teachers, friends or parents, these helpful principles and bits of gracious advice are supposed to help you get on in life. The trouble is, many of these rules aren't true (at least not all the time) and yet they have a major influence on your life whether you realise it or not. How do you sort the gold dust from the sawdust? In The Rules to Break , international bestselling author Richard Templar exposes the most common phoney rules, explains what's wrong with them and then offers a refreshing alternative and a new way of thinking. Above all, he'll help you master the ability to truly think for yourself, so than you can follow a path that you've chosen, rather than blindly following someone else's.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Education, Personal Development

264 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2013

About the author

Richard Templar is an astute observer of human behavior and understands what makes the difference between those of us who effortlessly glide towards success and those of us who struggle against the tide. He has distilled these observations into his Rules titles. More than 1 million people around the world have enjoyed and now play by Richard Templar's Rules.

Reviews

[Johanna Seger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about 80% in one sitting but after that some rules became obvious. Personally, I tried to read this like a normal book, page by page, rule by rule. I do think that not all of these rules will be new to whoever decides to read this book; some will be obvious. What I would advice is to skip those. Read the rule to break and then read the rule the author has written in its stead, but do not read everything about said rule if it is obvious to you. I found a lot of great rules to follow and the book was very inspiring. It would be a shame to get stuck on a rule because it is so obvious and then decide that the book is tedious. Flick through it and read the rules that surprise you or the rules you find interesting. It's a great book to go back to and when I say "I've finished it" there are still probably 7 or so rules I have not read yet, but then again there a total 93 rules in this book..

[Ashwaq Alshammari · Rating 4 out of 5]

As his other books, his way of opening your mind to new things is admirable.

[meemzreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Templar defies the common sayings of our community in his book, The Rules to Break. It urges readers to think and reconsider what is heard and told, and produce new and relatable opinions on the matter.

Templar's writing style was very engaging. The word choice and style in his book grip readers' attention until the very last page!! He also reflects on past events that occurred in his life so as to relate to his newly-founded set of rules. I cannot begin to describe the overall success of this book; it was overwhelmingly useful and relatable. Furthermore, a lot was learned from these pages... But this information can only be accessed if it is read; I highly recommend it as a sort of guide to help direct us toward our goals and further increase our ways of decision-making.

[ZAINAB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well at least now I know these kind of books aren’t my best!
I think they State things that are either irrational or completely obvious!

[мєℓ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been my 1st Richard Templar reading.

I just picked the book and didn't have much expectations.

I have to admit there is very few rules that aren't false...but...

There isn't something I hadn't know before. Anyhoo, the book in itself isn't bad but isn't good either.

As I said previously, there is rules which are much more complicated to apply in certain situations. It isn't so simple to pretend giving rules like that, I am aware of that. However, careful when you imply an idea Mr Templar. As I said, IT ISN'T SO SIMPLE. "Do this" "Don't do that" "It is wrong" "It's not good for you" "You mustn't act like this" ...etc

Come on, every life is different from another, do not pretend to understand all of them. You just can't.

Sometimes I had the impression being a little girl at school...and didn't like it!

[Mark Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know me, I'm not a rule breaker.

(stop laughing at the back)

RULES TO BREAK is a twist on his best-selling series, which I have to admit, I haven't read. But if this is anything to go buy, I would definitely read the rest. Digested wisdom that covers like two pages a piece and dispels all of those myths and every day lessons that you are taught as a kid and beaten into you by soulless jobs and teachers. So bullshit, basically. Each time we are given alternative and clever thought or are reminded of common fucking sense.

Things like, You have to do this a certain way and think a certain way. This is how the world and society works. Well, this is a book for those who disagree with the general consensus. And each instance, they give you a nice way (not revolutionary) and approach to a better life.

I normally don't entertain books like this. But I was not only entertained, but also a bit enlightened too.

[MuuLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book, simple, nice for passingtime

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. I didn’t agree with everything but, still, I might read some more of this guy’s “rules.”

[Юра Мельник · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ну, так, звісно, ці правила варто порушити. Щоправда більшість із нас це вже давно роблять. Життя дуже складне і не піддається настільки простому хакінгу. Сама книга складається із десятків повчальних заохочень, які уже в цьому тисячолітті багатьох занудили до смерті.

[Nadia Leona Yunis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book written by a fellow Brit about the 'Rules' or maxims we grew up on and how they are not carved in or set on stone. He gives examples of how we can actively change these rules or break them to create more empowering ones for our life and how this will help us break age-old rules that not only do not apply to our lives but don't benefit us at all. The author has an awesome sense of hunour and i enjoyed his style of writing especially as a fellow Brit. I will also be reading further books by this author with the same theme 'Rule to Break'. I recommend this to everyone - it's a MUST read and it'll give you instant clarity about your life and help you create the life you want now!

[Arisa Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has given me a deep insight on th common 'rules' we hear and how it's best to question them.

From "Success is a good job earning lots of money", and have that substitute with "Success is what you say it is" because just like beauty, th definition of success to an individual is subjective.

Or this one in which I love - "Feelings should be rational", and have it altered to "Feelings are not right or wrong - they just are". We all know that feelings are innate and at most times you can't control them. You can, however, control how you express them, and this is where you may question th principles of right and wrong.

A perceptive read that I would recommend to all, if you're keen on exploring ways to craft your inner thinking.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

EST: "See, mida teised inimesed teevad, on nende valik ja nad ei täna sind selle eest, kui väidad, et nende valikud on valed."
Aus, otsekohene, valehäbita, praktiline raamat. Saab omajagu naeruhetki, kui ka pisaraid vaikselt silmanurgast pühkida. Põhimõtteliselt- vastuta ise oma elu eest ja püüa iga hinna eest oma kinganinade ette pilk naelutada, et naabri kritiseerimise hoos ei avastaks, et ise hooletusest silmini mutta kukud. Õpi ja mine edasi ning ära ole teise elu suhtes nii uudishimulik, uudista pigem raamatuid!

"Sa ei saa kunagi näha tervet ookeani, aga sa näed kindlasti palju rohkem, kui sõuad paadiga ookeani keskele, selle asemel, et ainult varbad vette pista."

[Hariz Said · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Rules To Break" is an excellent book that deals with the presumed rules of life heavily quoted by, well, everyone. It challenges our attitude to life and whether we had been blaming these unwritten rules that we enforce upon ourselves when life don't go the way we want. Mr Templar will not just tell you what rules are bad to follow but also provide 100 alternative rules that you can CHOOSE to follow if you like them. Recommended read.

[Nino Meladze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book by Richard Templar, which was second one I read after "rules of life". I love his general approach of positivity and extreme simplicity. He has a very straightforward, logical and easy way to explain complexities of life. He is making a lot of sense with simple words and humour. Highly recommended ✨

[NAD · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read! This book is my best friend, I found the advice I absolutely needed in it.

هذا الكتاب من أفضل الكتب التي قرأتها، بحق! لا أعلم ماذا يجب عليّ تسمية هذا ولكن، عندما أواجه مشكلة ما أو عندما تجول في ذهني فكرة سلبية، دائما ما أجد النصيحة التي تلائم مشاكلي والتي أحتاجها بالضبط في هذا الكتاب!

[Aisha Alsoulah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completed reading The Rules To Break book by Richard Templar today 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book talks about 100 rules to break, how to break them, and why... Its an interesting book & I enjoyed reading it a lot in our tent... I was enjoying my time so much that I didn't want it to pass so quickly. Most importantly, the book opened my eyes to things that I do before just because....
Because I was raised to do them, school taught us to do them... or simply because our society was built that way... etc.
But now after reading this book I want to do only the things I believe in, not just because everyone else is doing them... I want to do them because I believe they're right for me. "I set norms for myself"
I posted some of the pages I liked on twitter... And there are some of the pages I didn't agree with. But, if you read the book yourself, I'm sure you'll find your own pages to like....
I also have The Rules Of Work book by the same writer. I can't wait to read it too.. I listed it for year 2020. 🙂📚 The writer has others books too like; The Rules Of Life. The Rules Of Love. The Rules Of Wealth... etc.

[luminous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the ideas in this book felt pretty basic—almost like “common sense.” It seemed as though the author was trying to fill space, jotting down the first thoughts that came to mind. I can’t say it added much value to me, aside from a small portion that served as helpful reminders. Some points were just plain and obvious, others felt very intuitive, and a few I simply disagreed with.

Each rule was no longer than a page and a half, so the ideas only skimmed the surface without any real depth or analytical approach. The tone and writing style were casual, almost as if the author were just having a chat with you.

That said, I’ll admit some of the rules did resonate with me. A few were exactly what I needed to hear, offering gentle, reassuring advice. I picked this book up because I wanted a light, surface-level self-help read—something that could refresh my mind and remind me of the most basic advice out there, as I was going through what you might call a “slump.” In that sense, the book did its job perfectly.

Did I enjoy reading it? Yes.
Did I walk away with deeply thought-provoking ideas? No.

[Sofia Balderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I borrowed about 20 good pieces of advice and some of them made me think quite deeply about my beliefs. I do think that I will change some of my behaviour as some points are quite profound. So that’s why four stars. Overall great format and quite enjoyed reading it!

Some criticism:

I think this book should be targeted towards teenagers and twenty-year-olds because a lot of the advice is quite early life specific and quite basic.

I’m also not a 100% fan of Richard’s slightly too simplistic and spoken style of writing. He’s probably just trying to come across as friendly but I didn’t always enjoy it.

I also think that some “false” rules seed to have been invented just for Richard to debunk them into the rule he wanted to present. Sometimes I thought that people don’t really believe this rule or don’t say it, but maybe that’s exactly why this advice should have been targeted for 20 year olds.

[Fairul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a rule player 2
The book is pretty similar to the last book, The Rules of Life, I even find myself feeling like I was reading the same thing. So I just copy-paste my review of that last book here. That is how lazy I am. cheers.

I am not a rule player
I thought I am but after a while, the apathy returns and therefore I am not.

I bought this cheap at a local bookstore after I find it quite expensive in ebook form.
The content is very readable and the way the author explained his point is quite straightforward. ELI5 even.

I just think most of the point there can be summarized using bullet-points, in a single page.. just like many other self-help books. The upside was it really motivates me somehow, reading those long anecdotes and experiences.

The main rules: DONT BE A DICK, NICE TO EACH OTHER, HELP OTHERS FIRST

[GleeGMJournal · Rating 3 out of 5]

ประเดิมเล่มแรกกับแอปหนังสือเสียง Storytel ราคาพิเศษปีละ 300 จากปกติปีละ 1800.- กรีสสสสส
ชื่อภาษาไทย แหกกฏเดิม เติมวิธีคิด ด้วยกฎใหม่

ฟังเพลินๆ คนแปล ใช้ภาษาแปลสวยลื่น สำบัดสำนวนดี คนพากย์เองก็พากย์สนุก จริงๆ เนื้อหามันเป็นเรื่อง common sense พูดเรื่องที่รู้อยู่แล้ว ถึงมันจะไม่ใช่ความรู้สดใหม่ แต่พอคนเขียนแกมาเล่าแบบนี้ก็ชักเข้าใจหัวอกแล้วก็ทำให้เห็นความสำคัญที่เราอาจมองข้ามเรื่องง่ายๆไป เออ มันก็จริงนะ เช่น บางคนแค่ผ่านเข้ามาแล้วก็ผ่านไปในชีวิตเรา แต่ตลอดทั้งเล่มแกจะพูดดักคอกันพวกคนสายสุดโต่ง เช่น ผมบอกแบบนี้ไม่ได้แปลว่าจะไม่ให้ญาติดีกับใครนะครับ แต่เราต้องเลือกคนที่จะเชื่อใจ ซึ่งจริงๆ ทักษะการหาจุดกึ่งกลาง ความพอดี นี่แหละ Soft Skill ที่ทำได้อย่างยากเลยยย

ใดๆ มันเป็นหนังสือแนวอ่านแล้วจบ ยืมอ่านแล้วคืน ไม่ถึงกับต้องตำต้องเอฟวางขึ้นหิ้ง แต่เนื้อหาหลายส่วนมันเตือนใจดีตรงที่ถ้าให้ผู้ใหญ่มาฟังก็น่าจะดีไม่ใช่น้อย

[Farid Zakeri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has some interesting insights and wisdom. I really like his style of writing, which resembles speaking or writing on social media! It really gives you a sense that author is talking to you personally. and that is very much in-line with the text, which is him giving us his own personal experience and anecdotes about life and rules we learnt that we should rethink. All in all, an interesting read. A lot of his wisdom I don't agree with, because I haven't got to his level of wisdom about life experience yet, but even those which I don't agree with, I can see that he might probably be on to something.

[Simin Moghadasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really recommend reading this book, because each two-page chapter gives you a life lesson. Almost everyone can relate to this book, because the rules presented by the author transcend cultural and national barriers. Human misunderstandings and misleading beliefs are quite the same across the globe and that's why you find yourself so interested in this book shortly after you start the first chapter. However, this book has numerous rules, so you probably forget the initial ones as you cover more rules. If English is not your first language, don't worry, only B2 level is enough to read this book with ease.

[Sairam Ramanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is kind of straight forward where the author brings up 100 commonly misconceived rules and debunks them. The theme is not novelle but food nevertheless. I didn't read it like a typical book page by page, rule by rule. I pick and chose the rules that apply to me the most. I might be a bit picky and say I would play devil's advocate for some of the rules he has commented on. The grass always looks green on the other side. Likewise, some rules can always be validated on either sides. Definitely eye opening in some cases though

[Alhanouf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about 40% of this book and I already like it. He wrote about rules that people most follow and they usually do this without thinking. He explains that you should break these rules and try a different way to solve problems. The author tried a new way of thinking. He encourage people to do things that they never did it before. I recomended to read this book it will make you to think in a new way.

[Gina Halim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good, but at the beginning I found it rather disturbing for someone to tell me stop doing this and just do that.. Like why would I trust you?
Some chapters the rule pretty much explained itself so the writer goes on explaining and explaining what is already understood and obvious so it was boring in some chapters
The good point is the book actually threw a lot of spotlights on things in my life and made me see some things in different ways. So after all it really helped somehow.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important takeaway: Not everything you believe to be true, or a good idea, or the right way to do things is such. Think about the rules you follow and, if you read this book, you might decide to ditch some of your limiting beliefs or those that don't necessarily serve you well. It's good to be reminded that some rules are meant to be broken.

[Amanda Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to find many of life's rules all in one place, and then why you shouldn't be following them! Us as Rule player (as Richard Templar calls the reader) innately know, for the most part, that not all rules are to be followed. I found his information to be well written with great bits of humour sprinkled throughout.

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twas actually quite a good book, I enjoyed reading it, learned some interesting ideas.
The writing in the book is very engaging and thought provoking.
It shouldn't really be read page to page, you should choose rules you think that should be different, and then go ahead and break them
I would thoroughly recommend reading it

[eshaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although in the beginning I didn't really feel the vibes of this book (as you can probably tell from the fact I only picked it up last week after an around 9 month gap), but as I went on I found some of the rules quite useful, and although I found some minor details disagreeable, and some rules quite obvious, it was a pleasant read.

[Sofianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend lent me their copy, thus 3 stars. If I had bought it, 2 stars. It's an easy read, but I personally found many of the rules "common sense" and obvious. Some of them I didn't even realise were "rules", many of which I was already breaking. Might be very helpful for some but personally not for me.