Ray Dalio

Ray Dalio

Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates

Ray Dalio is an investor and philanthropist who built Bridgewater Associates into the world's largest hedge fund. He shares insights on decision-making, history, and personal development through curated reading.

Billionaires

Ray Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates in 1975 and grew it into a multi-billion dollar investment firm known for algorithmic trading and systematic decision-making. He has become a prominent voice on economics, leadership, and radical transparency in organizations. Dalio is also a dedicated philanthropist focused on education and economic mobility.

52 Books Recommended by Ray Dalio

Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site

Atlas Shrugged book cover
#2

Atlas Shrugged

by Ayn Rand

23 people recommended

Regarding economics, if you haven’t read [this author] lately, I suggest that you do.

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, Peter Thiel, Steve Jobs, Brian Armstrong, Ev Williams, Travis Kalanick, Amelia Boone, Bob Metcalfe, Austen Allred, Blake Scholl, Patrick Bet David, Fred Wilson, Gabby Reece, Joe De Sena, John Carmack, Paul Krugman, Peter Diamandis, Phil Jackson, Rand Paul, Russell Brunson, Shah Rukh Khan

The Fountainhead book cover
#4

The Fountainhead

by Ayn Rand

17 people recommended

Regarding economics, if you haven’t read [this author] lately, I suggest that you do.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, Ev Williams, Travis Kalanick, Emma Watson, Fred Wilson, Jesse Williams, Jim Carrey, Kevin Kelly, Noah Kagan, Shah Rukh Khan, Tim Urban, Vince Vaughn, Deep Kalra, Kalyan Krishnamurthy

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#5

by

14 people recommended

Takes you into the real world of building and transforming an empire.

Also recommended by: Bill Gates, Eric Schmidt, Howard Schultz, Jamie Dimon, Marc Andreessen, Marc Benioff, Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant, Malcolm Gladwell, Matthew Mcconaughey, Satya Nadella, Walter Isaacson

The Lessons of History book cover
#6

The Lessons of History

by Will & Ariel Durant

12 people recommended

This is the Durants. They were maybe the greatest historians of all time.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Balaji Srinivasan, Eric Jorgenson, Kevin Systrom, Balaji S. Srinivasan, James Clear, Lyn Alden, Mark Manson, Shane Parrish, Tim Ferriss, Derek Sivers

Endurance book cover
#7

Endurance

by Alfred Lansing

12 people recommended

Ray Dalio can be seen reading this book on the article's main image.

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Also recommended by: Sam Altman, Bryan Johnson, Andrew Klavan, Barry Ritholtz, Dominic Dagostino, Fred Wilson, Jason Fried, Jordan Peterson, Max Levchin, Ryan Holiday, Scott Belsky

Originals book cover
#8

Originals

by Adam Grant

12 people recommended

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Peter Thiel, Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandberg, Arianna Huffington, Anthony Pompliano, Jodie Cook, Kat Cole, Seth Godin, Tim Urban, Tony Hsieh, Whitney Wolfe Herd

The Power of Habit book cover
#9

The Power of Habit

by Charles Duhigg

10 people recommended

Fantastic. I got [this book] and I gave it to everyone in my company.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Danny Miranda, Patrick Bet David, Kelly Starrett, Max Levchin, Mr Money Mustache, Scott Adams, Tim Ferriss, Derek Sivers

Steve Jobs book cover
#10

Steve Jobs

by Walter Isaacson

9 people recommended

I noticed a number of similarities between [Steve Jobs and I], especially when [the author] quoted Jobs’s own words. [...] but to be clear, I didn’t think that Bridgewater or I held a candle to Apple and Jobs.

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Gary Vaynerchuk, Bill Gates, Chris Fussell, Ed Zschau, George Raveling, Scott Adams, Scott Belsky

Benjamin Franklin book cover
#11

Benjamin Franklin

by Benjamin Franklin

8 people recommended

I read [this book and "Einstein"] and probed [Walter Isaacson] about them to try to glean what characteristics they had in common.

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Brandon Stanton, Charlie Munger, Ed Zschau, George Raveling, Scott Belsky, Tim Ferriss

Einstein book cover
#12

Einstein

by Walter Isaacson

8 people recommended

I read [this book and "Benjamin Franklin"] and probed [Walter Isaacson] about them to try to glean what characteristics they had in common.

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Also recommended by: Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Sam Altman, Charlie Munger, Ed Zschau, George Raveling, Scott Belsky

Destined for War book cover
#13

Destined for War

by Graham Allison

7 people recommended

Reminds us that over the last 500 years there have been 16 times in which there has been [...] an empire challenging another. In 12 of those cases there have been wars.

Also recommended by: Elon Musk, Lloyd Blankfein, Anthony Scaramucci, David Sacks, Fareed Zakaria, Walter Isaacson

Titan book cover
#14

Titan

by Ron Chernow

7 people recommended

Fabolous.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Charlie Munger, Anthony Pompliano, Austen Allred, David Friedberg, Jason Calacanis, Ryan Holiday

No Rules Rules book cover
#15

No Rules Rules

by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer

6 people recommended

[The author], his people, and his culture are all of star quality. I recommend his book.

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Also recommended by: Ankur Warikoo, Ben Horowitz, Jim Collins, Satya Nadella, Peyush Bansal

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#16

by

5 people recommended

Masterfully distills the essence of [Transcendental Meditation] so that anyone can understand how it worksβ€”and why they should learn it.

Also recommended by: Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, Ellen Degeneres, Hugh Jackman

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#17

by

5 people recommended

I love [this book] because it’s essentially a collection of great principles from people who have accomplished great things.

Also recommended by: Ben Greenfield, Jocko Willink, Jodie Cook, Tony Robbins

Trailblazer book cover
#18

Trailblazer

by Marc Benioff

5 people recommended

The gold standard on how to use business as a platform for change.

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Also recommended by: Jamie Dimon, Richard Branson, Jim Cramer, Susan Wojcicki

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#19

by

4 people recommended

A little bit dense, but it’s so rich, it’s a good one.

Also recommended by: Darren Aronofsky, Kyle Maynard, Patrick Oshaughnessy

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#20

by

4 people recommended

Provides me a valuable and entertaining view of past presidents during analogous difficult times.

Also recommended by: Eric Schmidt, Ashton Kutcher, Dana Perino

Keeping At It book cover
#21

Keeping At It

by Paul A. Volcker

4 people recommended

[The author] is an American hero who has seen more and done more to shape the world economy than anyone else over the last 50 years. [This book] is a must read.

Buy on Amazon β†’

Also recommended by: Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Jason Calacanis

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#22

by

4 people recommended

Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.

Also recommended by: Mark Cuban, Anthony Pompliano, Raoul Pal

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#23

by

3 people recommended

Wonderful book.

Also recommended by: Patrick Oshaughnessy, Tom Bilyeu

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#24

by

3 people recommended

Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.

Also recommended by: Vinod Khosla, Esther Dyson

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#25

by

3 people recommended

Combining ancient wisdom with the practicalities of today.

Also recommended by: Arianna Huffington, Ali Abdaal

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#26

by

2 people recommended

A good book.

Also recommended by: Ev Williams

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#27

by

2 people recommended

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

Also recommended by: Graham Duncan

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#28

by

2 people recommended

Excellent book.

Also recommended by: Tai Lopez

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#29

by

2 people recommended

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

Also recommended by: Mark Manson

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#30

by

2 people recommended

Another very short book on evolution. It just really puts things in perspective.

Also recommended by: Derek Sivers

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#31

by

2 people recommended

The real story of what it takes from a man who could turn dreams into realities.

Also recommended by: Eric Schmidt

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#32

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#33

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#34

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#35

by

I recommended [this book to the Dalai Lama] (which I also recommend to you).

The Gift of Adversity book cover
#36

The Gift of Adversity

by Norman E Rosenthal M.D.

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

Buy on Amazon β†’
Creativity and the Brain book cover
#37

Creativity and the Brain

by Mario Tokoro

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

Buy on Amazon β†’
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#38

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#39

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.

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#40

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.

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#41

by

Surmises that between one million and two million years ago, [...] the brain evolved in ways supporting cooperation so man could hunt and do other activities.

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#42

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#43

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.

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#44

by

β€œ[One of the books that] showed how the same things happened over and over again throughout history.

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#45

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#46

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#47

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#48

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#49

by

If you’re interested in learning more [about the Dalai Lama's thinking].

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#50

by

Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#51

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Ray Dalio mentioned this book in his book, "Principles.

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#52

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[This book] was given to me because people know that I like that stuff.