The Values Compass is a book written by Mandeep Rai on ‘What 101 Countries Teach Us About Purpose, Life, and Leadership’.
I was fascinated by the author’s unique idea of using values to illustrate our planet’s colourful diversity. Therefore, I thought it’d be fun to map out the featured countries and each of their attributed value. This is purely a summary of the book and not an arbitrary culture map of the world, as pointed out in my short review below the embedded map.
Each chapter is completely different, dedicating 3 to 4 pages to a country and its associated value, based on the writer’s personal experience. A few that stood out to me: Singapore – Order, New Zealand – Environmentalism, France – Protest, United States – Entrepreneurship. The book reads like a travel column series, a kind of bite-sized introduction to the backstories of places foreign and familiar, and a great way to explore the world from the couch during current times when international borders are shut. It also brought me back to my past travels as I compare and validate the writing with my own encounters.
While I enjoyed reading the author’s vibrant stories and perspectives, I can also see how a book that attempts to cover 101 countries briefly + assign one specific value to each runs the risk of over-generalizing or even stereotypical. So instead of reading it as a culture map, pick this book up with an open mind and simply be inspired by someone who has had a wide range of human experiences, so that it becomes more of a journey to contemplate on one’s personal values as they come alive through 101 stories around the world.