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halkony | 2 years ago

Could you expand on your other criticisms of the book? How does it conflict with your experience? I'm still learning.

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bcantrill|2 years ago

I honestly think the book is so bad that it's not worth a lengthy critique, but in short:

1. Dalio doesn't understand what a "principle" is -- but I can understand that "Aphorisms, Cliches and Hunches" is a less arresting title, if much more accurate. (See [0] for a fuller review on this.)

2. Dalio's version of Bridgewater doesn't line up with the experience of others -- which I have heard from so many people as to completely undermine whatever he might say.

Now, in the book's defense: I didn't get through it and perhaps it got suddenly palatable or interesting. However: I also couldn't get through it -- it was just that bad.

[0] https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2233988523

halkony|2 years ago

I agree that his descriptions are less "principles" and more like "heuristics". The overall message of the book, as the referenced reviewer points out, is "do what's sensible." As someone so young, what is sensible to me is not obvious, so I find value in this.

What, in your opinion, defines what is sensible in business and leads to your frustration with Dalio's message? Can you give personal anecdotes?