Principles

by Ray Dalio
Principles cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Business and Economics
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Waterstones
Hardback • £28.00
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 265
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781982112387
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2018-08-07
  • Formats: 37
  • Reviews: 4

Ray Dalio, one of the world's most successful investors, reveals the principles that have guided his remarkable career and the growth of Bridgewater Associates. He argues that life, management, and investing can be systemized into rules, emphasizing 'radical truth' and 'radical transparency' to achieve meaningful work and relationships. /n/nDalio's principles include innovative tools like creating 'baseball cards' for employees and using computerized decision-making systems. His insights offer practical lessons for individuals and organizations, providing a clear approach to decision-making that anyone can apply to achieve their goals.

Reviews
reddit.com · Unknown · 2025-09-18
insightful 4.50

Principles by Ray Dalio offers valuable insights into leadership and personal growth, emphasizing radical transparency and open-mindedness. The book's principles are seen as crucial for effective leadership and problem-solving, making it a recommended read for anyone seeking to make meaningful changes in their life and work.

Principles by Ray Dalio is a book that transcends its financial background to offer universal lessons on leadership and personal development. The author's turbulent journey in the financial markets, filled with both success and failure, provides a rich backdrop for the principles he shares. Two key takeaways are the importance of radical transparency in organizations and being radically open-minded as an individual. These principles help address fundamental human flaws like ego and blind spots, making them essential for effective leadership. The book is praised for its unconventional wisdom, which is particularly valuable for those in challenging roles, such as military personnel. It is recommended for anyone looking to align their actions with their values and make meaningful changes in their work and life.

Quick quotes

    Principles are what allow you to live consistent with those values. Principles connect your values to your actions.

    The two most insightful principles that I have learnt is the concept of radical transparency in an organisation and being radically open-minded as an individual.

    For the ADF to stand firm in its values, it starts with the individual and their principles, regardless of rank.

groundedcuriosity.com · Unknown · 2020-05-21
excellent 4.50

Principles by Ray Dalio offers valuable insights into business decision-making, emphasizing the importance of considering second and third-order consequences. It provides actionable advice on finding mentors and working with a team open to feedback and continuous improvement.

Principles by Ray Dalio stands out as a practical guide for business owners, focusing on the thought processes behind successful business practices. The book teaches readers to think deeply about the consequences of their decisions and to seek guidance from those who have achieved what they aspire to. It also highlights the importance of working with a team that values feedback and is committed to continuous improvement. The objective approach presented in the book is refreshing and provides actionable insights that are not commonly found in other self-help business books. For those looking to enhance their business acumen, this book is a valuable resource.

Quick quotes

    This book has taught me to think of the second and third order consequences of each of my business decisions and to work with a select group of people who are open to feedback and always looking to improve.

    Its shown me how to find mentors - by looking for people who have successfully achieved what I'm looking to achieve - and to ask them for guidance.

    I haven't found a book that teaches successful business practices with actionable insights as precise as this one.

Medium · Tosin Adeoti · 2019-01-01
mixed 3.00

The first part of the book is highly praised, but the latter parts are considered disappointing due to poor execution.

Tosin Adeoti starts off very positively about the book, particularly the initial sections which they found really good. However, they feel that the later parts of the book fall short, possibly due to poor attempts at expanding on the initial ideas. Despite this, the reviewer acknowledges that the book has some valuable principles that can be useful in one's toolbox.

Quick quotes

    The first part of the book was really good but the other parts were really disappointing and I think it's because they were poor attempts at ...

    The individual principles are good to have in one's toolbox.

    The organizational structuring advice is good if not ...

veronicastenberg.com · Unknown · 2018-07-17
insightful 4.50

Principles by Ray Dalio is praised for its beautiful design and insightful life and work principles. The book offers valuable takeaways on believability, thoughtful disagreement, and validating one's opinions, making it a must-read for curious thinkers seeking personal and professional growth.

Principles by Ray Dalio is not just aesthetically pleasing but also packed with wisdom. The book shares Dalio's life and work principles, which he developed over the years to navigate challenges and achieve his goals. It's particularly useful for those looking to improve their decision-making processes and understand the importance of believability and thoughtful disagreement. The biography section provides a humbling insight into Dalio's journey, making the book a compelling read for anyone interested in personal and professional development. The key takeaways, such as the importance of validating one's opinions and seeking feedback from the right people, are particularly valuable for those aiming to refine their skills and strategies.

Quick quotes

    Everything is cyclical and that you can look to nature to get the answers you seek.

    Not only is this book aesthetically beautiful in the design and typography, that makes it a real treat to read.

    This is really useful when seeking out feedback, you want feedback on how and what to improve from the right people how actually has believability within the field you seek to evolve.

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