Ray Dalio
Founder of Bridgewater Associates
Ray Dalio built the world's largest hedge fund on the belief that most things have happened before. His recommendations lean toward books that compress big sweeps of history and myth into patterns you can act on. These are his picks from the index.
2 books Ray recommends
In Ray's order. Each note is our paraphrase of why they rate it, drawn from their public lists and interviews, not a quote.
The Lessons of History
Why Ray rates itDalio recommends the Durants constantly and says this little book shaped how he thinks about repeating cycles of wealth, power, and conflict.
Intermediate~3hRead the breakdown →Also picked by James Clear
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Why Ray rates itHe cites Campbell's hero's journey in Principles as a map for the arc of a meaningful life: the call, the abyss, and the return.
Advanced~9hRead the breakdown →
More shelves to borrow
Other readers, other shelves.
The Microsoft founder turned full-time reader , sweeping history and the science of how we think.
Angel investor and philosopher of wealth , first-principles books on the mind, evolution, and the good life.
The relentless interviewer , tactics, negotiation, and Stoic fundamentals distilled from hundreds of deep dives.