Principles: Life and Work

The book first comes into my mind is Principles(Ray Dalio). It not only inspires me but also teach me how to shape my mindset, thinking process to achieve what you want in life.

Reading this is likely to make being around crappy, toxic office politics feel even worse, without offering a solution if you’re not already in an empowered position. I otherwise strongly recommend it as an excellent read; the first section (“Life Principles”) is relevant for everyone, even if the latter section (“Work Principles”) is pretty heavily weighted towards those with managerial/ownership status or aspirations.

Principles by Ray Dalio

"Island" - Aldous Huxley. "Principles" - Ray Dalio. "On the shortness of life" - Seneca.

“Thinking in Bets” by Annie Duke takes you through a specific model. “Principles” by Ray Dalio gives a mesh of models that Ray has learnt or improved.

0: Ray Dalio, Principles I'm halfway through it right now, I like it a lot. It's good for helping me reflect on how I learn through my experience and how I best form habits. 1: Daniel Yergin, The Quest I loved The Prize and will follow it up with Yergin's other book on energy. 2: Thomas S. Mullaney, The Chinese Typewriter: A History I love tech history and in this case I go into it with all these prejudices about how awful it must be for Chinese people to use modern keyboards, without any real knowledge about it. I will keep an open mind and see how culture and tech clashed and what solutions were spawned from this conflict.

Totally agree with mountbranch here. Principles is fantastic. At the same time you may read and think "sure, common sense" but then did you think that before you read the item -- probably not. I feel this is a book to keep for a lifetime. Can't wait for Ray's economics book. Cool animated summary here: https://www.principles.com/principles-for-success/ The Dao of Capital is deeper. The chapter on Conifers (yeah, pine trees) and how they exist with and balance times of trouble versus opportunity is well worth the price of the book. Also, and not least, Nassim Taleb's books: Fooled By Randomness, Black Swan, and Anti-fragile. Poetic, deep, useful, and entertaining. Fantastic. A pleasure to read and listen to in audio while driving/traveling.

Principles by Ray Dalio. I worked, somewhat briefly and largely unsuccessfully, at Bridgewater Associates several years ago and while I strongly disagree with the utopian description of BW as a bastion of egoless radical transparency and all the great things that are supposed to come out of that sort of an environment, the book and the principles behind it are really enlightening. I do honestly think if all workplaces operated in the way the book describes there would be more successful companies in the world and happier people working in them.

Principles by Ray Dalio This is a good start for crafting better mental models and thought frameworks before engaging others in meetings.

I have read "Principles". Good ideas in the first 2 chapters, but I got tired of the relentless, religious-like search for improvement no matter the psychological cost, the weirdness, and, ultimately, the boredom. He reminded me of a former housemate who was constantly searching for the deep truth when he was talking to his girlfriends. Don't be that weirdo.

Principles by Ray Dalio. My interpretation is that this book shows 'how to get what you want'. That sounds so far up the chain of abstraction and generality, that it’s easy to dismiss the book. Don’t! The book is impressive partially because it manages to distill useful truths which are applicable at such a general level. It's written by Ray Dalio, who is undoubtedly extraordinarily intelligent and remarkably determined to self-improve. He is the founder of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates and consequently the 69th richest person in the world in 2015. The firm itself is noted for it’s unique company culture. He believes that people can only improve through feedback and that there are strong social conventions and cognitive barriers which prevent people receiving the feedback they need. At Bridgewater, every meeting is recorded and broadcasted to the company. At any level in the company, if someone is being considered for a promotion, they will be invited for a discussion. Senior executives will discuss, in front of the candidate, the merits of whether to promote them or not.…