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–THE SUNDAY TIMES BUSINESS BESTSELLER–

–Thinkers50 Radar list–

–WINNER Signature Awards 2023–


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 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


Every day, whether we acknowledge it or not, we make decisions based on what we believe in. The choices, challenges, or opportunities facing us – and how we engage with them – in politics, family, relationships, work, and play reveal something important about our character, desires, and personality to ourselves and to others. When those values align and are shared by a single population, they have the power to transform a nation and teach the world valuable lessons about success.

In The Values Compass, Mandeep Rai explores this concept by taking 101 distinct countries and identifying a single key value in each that is represented throughout its history, geography, and culture in the hope that we may find a way to incorporate those values into our own lives. From India’s ‘faith’ to Vietnam’s ‘resilience’, Argentina’s ‘passion’ to Singapore’s ‘order’, Australia’s ‘mateship’ to Uganda’s ‘heritage’ and from Malta’s ‘community’ to Sri Lanka’s ‘joy’, we may all find something of ourselves in others and succeed together as a result.

This is an insightful and readable collection of profiles that open our eyes to the world around us, and in turn help us reflect on which values matter, last, and have the power to create change.

Reviews

His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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 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.
Deepak Chopra, global influential thinker and author of Metahuman
The Values Compass is a fresh, engaging and eye-opening guide to understanding ourselves and others in the most profound and practical ways.
Sir Christopher Pissarides, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and Regius Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics
Mandeep's powers of observation are astonishing. In a few well-written paragraphs she tells you what drives people do incredible things in the very large number of countries that she visited, distilled from what must have been very complex situations in unfamiliar environments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I am sure you will too.
Annette Richardson, former Senior Advisor to the UN Office for Partnerships, UN Women and the UN Sustainable Energy for All Initiative
Absolutely worth the read. Rai brings us into the hearts, minds, and traditions of cultures and people from around the world, to deliver a powerful lesson that we are more connected than we are divided. I highly recommend this book.
Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever
A readable, insightful guide. It distils our most important driving force so that anyone can understand the ways in which people lead, live, and interact.
Daniel L. Shapiro, Founder and Director, Harvard International Negotiation Program and author of Negotiating the Nonnegotiable
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. Practical and heartfelt, The Values Compass is a potent guidebook to flourish in our contemporary era.
Bill George, Senior Fellow, Harvard Business School; former CEO, Medtronic; and author of Discover Your True North
In The Values Compass, Mandeep Rai makes the case that acknowledging and understanding our values is the key to any successful life, personally or professionally-and she's right. This is a practical, cultural, and critical guide for today's decision makers.
Ajay Banga, President and CEO Mastercard
While we all know that without risk there is no reward, in today's world 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. Ms. Rai's book is a critical guide to building that foundation and finding your north star.
Richard Barrett, Director of the Academy for the Advancement of Human Values
A delightful book of personal insights on the predominant values of nations.
Paul Polman former CEO of Unilever
Mandeep Rai has spent a lifetime exploring the idea of values, and that work is compiled here in a readable, insightful guide. It distils our most important driving force so that anyone can understand the ways in which people lead, live, and interact.
Sam Collins, CEO and Founder of Aspire and Author of Radio Heaven
I am a huge fan, Mandeep Rai, once you have read The Values Compass, you have an inbuilt tool that will never leave you back pocket.
Tim Ryan, Chairman and Senior Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers US
In The Values Compass, Mandeep Rai makes the case that acknowledging and understanding our values is the key to any successful life, personally or professionally-and she's right. This is a practical, cultural, and critical guide for today's decision makers.