Principles: Life and WorkPrinciples: Life and Work
Score Modern
What it's about
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds, shares the principles he developed over his career for making decisions, running an organization and getting what you want out of life, including a five-step process and his belief in radical transparency.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 107 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's one of the most influential business books of its decade.
You'll love it if you liked
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
The Psychology of Money
Shoe DogGood to know
It's long and best read in sections. Part one is autobiography.
By the numbers
- Readers39 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller66 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #60 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #806 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1504 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
More by Ray Dalio
Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order
How Countries Go BrokeIf you like this, read next
Becoming
Greenlights
Tuesdays with Morrie
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Steve JobsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,573 ranked
Books of the 2010sTop 25 · 736 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is Principles: Life and Work worth reading?
Yes. It spent 107 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,504 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Principles: Life and Work about?
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds, shares the principles he developed over his career for making decisions, running an organization and getting what you want out of life, including a five-step process and his belief in radical transparency.
How long does it take to read Principles: Life and Work?
About 15 hours (592 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Principles: Life and Work?
If you liked it, try Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel or Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.