Al Ries
Born: November 14, 1926 – Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Al Ries is an American marketing strategist and author best known for shaping modern brand positioning theory. He coauthored Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind and The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing with Jack Trout, writing widely on branding, advertising, and strategy. His work has strongly influenced marketers and executives worldwide.
Biography & Author's Journey
Al Ries was born Alfred Paul Ries in Indianapolis on November 14, 1926, the son of a schoolteacher and a homemaker. After service as a merchant mariner and then in the Army in Korea shortly after World War II, he graduated from DePauw University in 1950 with a mathematics degree. He began his career in the advertising department of General Electric, then moved through New York agencies including Needham, Louis & Brorby and Marsteller. That combination of quantitative training and agency experience helped shape his lifelong belief that marketing was fundamentally a matter of strategy, not ornament. ((https://www.alries.com/nyt))
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Popular Books
Focus
Al Ries
Master strategic clarity to dominate your market through focus and specialization.
The 22 immutable laws of branding
Al Ries & Laura Ries
A definitive guide to building powerful brands through 22 fundamental principles, with real-world examples and actionable strategies.
The 22 immutable laws of marketing
Al Ries & Jack Trout
Essential marketing principles for business success, offering timeless strategies to build strong brands and dominate markets.
Positioning
Al Ries and Jack Trout
Master the art of branding by positioning your product in consumers' minds.
Focus
Al Ries
Master strategic clarity to dominate your market through focus and specialization.
The 22 immutable laws of branding
Al Ries & Laura Ries
A definitive guide to building powerful brands through 22 fundamental principles, with real-world examples and actionable strategies.
The 22 immutable laws of marketing
Al Ries & Jack Trout
Essential marketing principles for business success, offering timeless strategies to build strong brands and dominate markets.
Positioning
Al Ries and Jack Trout
Master the art of branding by positioning your product in consumers' minds.
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Community Voices
"The New York Times called Al Ries an influential marketing strategist who popularized positioning"
— The New York Times ((
"AMA New York called Al Ries a legendary marketing strategist and author"
— AMA New York ((
"Storyboard18 said Al Ries is a positioning pioneer behind one of marketing's most powerful principles"
— Storyboard18 ((
"Bob Liodice said Al Ries's work on positioning marked a milestone in the evolution of modern marketing"
— Bob Liodice ((
"Marketing Hall of Fame called Al Ries a legendary marketing strategist and bestselling author"
— Marketing Hall of Fame ((
"B&T said Al Ries and Jack Trout revolutionised marketing with their Positioning concept"
— B&T ((
"Ravi Dhar said Al Ries's big contribution was proving marketers must simplify messages to make them stick"
— Ravi Dhar ((
"Speakers.com called Al Ries the father of positioning and one of the world's greatest marketing pioneers"
— Speakers.com ((
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
