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The Values Compass

What 101 Countries Teach Us About Purpose, Life, and Leadership

About The Book

Winner of a 2020 Nautilus Book Award
An International Bestseller

The Values Compass takes us into the hearts, minds, and traditions of the cultures and people of the world. It demonstrates how interconnected we are and how the divisions that exist between us stem from acting with narrow self-interest rather than concern for the good of our human family. I hope that the book will contribute to making our world a happier place.” —THE DALAI LAMA

Every day we make decisions based on what we believe in: values that define the ambitions we set, the choices we make, and the relationships we choose. In The Values Compass, Dr. Mandeep Rai shows how the countries of the world epitomize the power of values, provide an ideal guide to help us understand our own, and teach us important lessons about success.

From Moroccan compromise to Armenian survival and American entrepreneurship, The Values Compass shows how we can incorporate the values that animate nations into our own lives—seeing ourselves through the eyes of the world, and shedding new light on the opportunities and challenges that define us. The result is an insightful and readable collection that helps us reflect on the values that matter most, last longest, and have the greatest power to create change.

About The Author

(c) Nicholas Dawkes

Dr. Mandeep Rai is a global authority on values, working with companies, institutions, and individuals around the world. She has traveled to more than 150 countries and reported as a broadcast journalist for the BBC World Service and Reuters, among others. She began her career in private banking at JPMorgan, and later worked for the United Nations, the European Commission, and grassroots NGOs before setting up the UAE’s first media venture capital fund. Mandeep studied philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE), has an MSc in development from the London School of Economics, and completed an MBA at London Business School, with a year at Harvard Business School and MIT. She also holds a PhD in global values.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (January 7, 2020)
  • Length: 368 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781501183409

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Raves and Reviews

The Values Compass takes us into the hearts, minds, and traditions of the cultures and people of the world. It demonstrates how interconnected we are and how the divisions that exist between us stem from acting with narrow self-interest rather than concern for the good of our human family. I hope that the book will contribute to making our world a happier place.” —THE DALAI LAMA

"The Values Compass is a fresh, engaging and eye-opening guide to understanding ourselves and others in the most profound and practical ways." —DEEPAK CHOPRA

“A wonderful, humanistic, timely book! The Values Compass offers powerful lessons on how to live a more meaningful life in our modern era. Rai takes us on an intellectual and emotional journey to 101 countries, shining the light on values that define our world and ourselves. Through this voyage, we gain deep insight into who we are and how best to approach the most important decisions in our lives.” —DANIEL L. SHAPIRO, Founder and Director, Harvard International Negotiation Program and author, Negotiating the Nonnegotiable

“In today’s busy lives we get on with whatever we have to do without stopping to think. Rai’s book will make you do just that – stop and think. Her powers of observation and insight are remarkable. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and you will too.” —SIR CHRISTOPHER PISSARIDES, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences and Professor, London School of Economics

“It is more important than ever to have a foundation of values and the right moral compass to shape how you approach taking thoughtful risks. Dr. Rai’s book is a critical guide to building that foundation and finding your North Star.” —AJAY BANGA, President and CEO, Mastercard

“Mandeep Rai has spent a lifetime exploring the idea of values, and that work is compiled here in a readable, insightful guide. It distills our most important driving forces so that anyone can understand the ways in which people lead, live, and interact.” —PAUL POLMAN, former CEO of Unilever

“In this practical as well as thoughtful book, Rai makes the case that understanding and embracing our core values is the best path toward fulfillment – and I agree! Decision-makers of every stripe will find wisdom here.”

—DAVID GERGEN, former White House Advisor to four U.S. Presidents and Professor of Public Service, Harvard Kennedy School

“Whether it's the respect of Japan or the impact of Slovakia, the values explored by Dr. Rai changed the way I look at the world around me. Her methods for incorporating these lessons into one's life are both intuitive and actionable. I highly recommend this book.” —ANNETTE RICHARDSON, former Senior Advisor at the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP)

The Values Compass is a fresh, engaging and eye-opening guide to understanding ourselves and others in the most profound and practical way – required reading for anyone wanting to enhance their perspective on the world.” —TIM RYAN, US Chairman and Senior Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers

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