Books Recommended by Bill Gates
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Why We Sleep
Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Matthew Walker
Source: "Explains how neglecting sleep undercuts your creativity, problem solving, decision-making, learning, memory, heart health, brain health, mental health, emotional well-being, immune system, and even your life span." - Bill Gates
Energy and Civilization
A History
Vaclav Smil
Source: "Goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans’ ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Most Powerful Idea in the World
A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention
William Rosen
Source: "An entertaining narrative weaving together the clever characters, incremental innovations and historical context behind the steam engines that gave birth to our modern world." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
The Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 books)
Richard P. Feynman
Source: "You don't have to take a course [to learn physics]. If you're hardcore, read [this series] and do the problems." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Source: "Melinda and I really like [this book]. When we were first dating, she had a green light that she would turn on when her office was empty and it made sense for me to come over." - Bill Gates
Mindset
The New Psychology of Success
Carol S. Dweck
Source: "Dweck and her research have helped my foundation colleagues and me understand more about the attitudes and habits that allow some students to persevere in school despite big challenges." - Bill Gates
Blitzscaling
The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies
Reid Hoffman
Source: "The case studies you’re about to explore and the tools you’re about to gain have never been more relevant. This is an ideal moment to be reading this book." - Bill Gates
The Art of Computer Programming (4 books)
Donald Knuth
Source: "You want to learn to do software? Read [this series]. Good luck doing the problems." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
On Immunity
An Inoculation
Eula Biss
Source: "[I] had no idea how informative [this book] would be, even for someone like me who has been supporting and learning about vaccine research for many years." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Change.edu
Rebooting for the New Talent Economy
Andrew S Rosen
Source: "Builds a persuasive case that many non-traditional students, such as working adults, parents and those at risk of dropping out, are not well served by traditional institutions." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
A World-Class Education
Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation
Vivien Stewart
Source: "Looks at five countries—Singapore, Canada, Finland, China, and Australia—where students are doing significantly better on global assessments than students in the U.S." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Cost of Hope
A Memoir
Amanda Bennett
Source: "Amanda’s story is personal, filled with moments of anguish, grief and love but she also tries to draw attention to what she discovers is a flawed health care system." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Jim Grant
UNICEF Visionary
Peter Adamson
Source: "The amazing story of Jim Grant, whose influence in making vaccines widely available in the developing world is credited with saving the lives of 25 million children." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Sustainable Energy
Without the Hot Air
David JC MacKay
Source: "If someone wants an overall view of how energy gets used, where it comes from, and the challenges in switching to new sources, this is the book to read." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The World Until Yesterday
What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?
Jared Diamond
Source: "Made me think about how we have had to overcome some deeply ingrained behaviors in order to develop a modern, interconnected society." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Polio
An American Story
David M. Oshinsky
Source: "Influenced the decision that Melinda and I made to make polio eradication the top priority of the foundation, as well as my own personal priority." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Magic of Reality
Richard Dawkins
Source: "An engaging, well-illustrated science textbook offering compelling answers to big questions, from how the universe formed to what causes earthquakes." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Future Forward
Leadership Lessons from Patrick McGovern, the Visionary Who Circled the Globe and Built a Technology Media Empire
Glenn Rifkin
Source: "Patrick McGovern shaped the way that millions of people grew to understand the enormous potential of computers and how they would change the world." - Bill Gates
Breath from Salt
A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever
Bijal P. Trivedi
Source: "Documents a story of remarkable scientific innovation and how it has improved the lives of almost all cystic fibrosis patients and their families." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Moonwalking with Einstein
The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Joshua Foer
Source: "I never thought much about whether I could improve my memory across a wider set of domains, but now I think I could, after reading [this book]." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Life Is What You Make It
Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment
Peter Buffett
Source: "Peter Buffett writes about the values he absorbed growing up as one of three children of Warren Buffett and the late Susan Buffett." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Bet
Paul Sabin
Source: "Gave me new perspective on why so many big challenges get bogged down in political battles rather than being focused on problem-solving." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Power to Compete
An Economist and an Entrepreneur on Revitalizing Japan in the Global Economy
Hiroshi Mikitani
Source: "A series of dialogues between Hiroshi—founder of the Internet company Rakuten—and his father, Ryoichi, a respected economist and author." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Educated
A Memoir
Tara Westover
Source: "I thought I was pretty good at teaching myself—until I read [this book]. Her ability to learn on her own blows mine right out of the water." - Bill Gates
The Rosie Project
Don Tillman, Book 1
Graeme Simsion
Source: "Anyone who occasionally gets overly logical will identify with the hero. [...] one of the most profound novels I’ve read in a long time." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Play Nice But Win
A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader
Michael Dell
Source: "Walks you through every step of his journey, from starting a company in his college dorm to pulling off the largest all-tech acquisition in history." - Bill Gates
In FED We Trust
Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic
David Wessel
Source: "If someone wants to understand what happened during what they call the 'Great Panic,' this is one of the books they should be read." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The New Jim Crow
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Michelle Alexander
Source: "Offers an eye-opening look into how the criminal justice system unfairly targets communities of color, and especially Black communities." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness
How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day
Andy Puddicombe
Source: "If you want to try meditation for yourself, one good way to ease into it—especially if you’re as skeptical as I was—is to pick up a copy of [this book]." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Reinventing American Health Care
How the Affordable Care Act will Improve our Terribly Complex, Blatantly Unjust, Outrageously Expensive, Grossly Inefficient, Error Prone System
Ezekiel J. Emanuel
Source: "Makes the case for why the U.S. health care system needed reform and how Obamacare sets out to fix the problems." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Interventions
A Life in War and Peace
Kofi Annan
Source: "For anybody who wants to understand the complexities of the role of the Secretary General, this book is an illuminating read." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Inner Game of Tennis
The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
W. Timothy Gallwey
Source: "Gives excellent advice about how to move on constructively from mistakes, which I’ve tried to follow both on and off the court over the years." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Energy Myths and Realities
Bringing Science to the Energy Policy Debate
Vaclav Smil
Source: "Examines the various predictions that have been made in the past and are still being made about energy use." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
How the World Really Works
The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
Vaclav Smil
Source: "If you want a brief but thorough education in numeric thinking about many of the fundamental forces that shape human life." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Under a White Sky
The Nature of the Future
Elizabeth Kolbert
Source: "About a number of the ways that people are intervening with nature, including gene drive and geoengineering." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
The Power
Naomi Alderman
Source: "I gained a stronger and more visceral sense of the abuse and injustice many women experience today." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
How to Lie with Statistics
Darrell Huff
Source: "A great introduction to the use of statistics, and a great refresher for anyone who’s already well versed in it." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Evicted
Poverty and Profit in the American City
Matthew Desmond
Source: "Gave me a better sense of what it is like to be very poor in this country than anything else I have read." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
That Used to Be Us
How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back
Thomas L. Friedman
Source: "I mostly agree with their message that the answers to America’s economic challenges are to be found in its past." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
How Asia Works
Joe Studwell
Source: "A good read for anyone who wants to understand what actually determines whether a developing economy will succeed." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
The Future of Capitalism
Facing the New Anxieties
Paul Collier
Source: "About something I’m also keenly interested in—the polarization we’re seeing in the U.S., Europe, and other places." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Hit Refresh
The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone
Satya Nadella
Source: "Has charted a course for making the most of the opportunities created by technology while also facing up to the hard questions." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Surrender
40 Songs, One Story
Bono
Source: "A super fun read about how a boy from the suburbs of Dublin grew up to become a world-famous rock star and philanthropist." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Lincoln Highway
A Novel
Amor Towles
Source: "Seems to be saying that our personal journeys are never as linear or predictable as we might hope." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
Ezra F. Vogel
Source: "If you’re going to read one book about modern China in the period after Mao, then this is the book you should read." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Should We Eat Meat?
Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory
Vaclav Smil
Source: "I can’t think of anyone better equipped to present a clear-eyed analysis of this subject than Vaclav Smil." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Billion Dollar Whale
The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World
Tom Wright
Source: "As Bad Blood is to biotech, Billion Dollar Whale is to international finance... a wonderful read... Thrilling." - Bill Gates
The Man Who Fed the World
Leon Hesser
Source: "A biography of Norman Borlaug, a brilliant agricultural scientist who [...] saved a billion people from starvation." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Energy Transitions
Global and National Perspectives
Vaclav Smil
Source: "Explains the energy transitions that have driven social, economic and technological change worldwide over time." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Great Escape
Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality
Angus Deaton
Source: "If you want to learn about why human welfare overall has gone up so much over time, you should read [this book]." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Poor Numbers
How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics and What to Do about It
Morten Jerven
Source: "Makes a strong case that a lot of GDP measurements we thought were accurate are far from it." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Box
How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger
Marc Levinson
Source: "Mostly about globalization, but there is also a larger story here that touches on business and philanthropy more broadly."- Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Lincoln in the Bardo
A Novel
George Saunders
Source: "Despite being a work of fiction, it offered fresh insight that made me rethink parts of [Abraham Lincoln's] life." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
How Not to Be Wrong
The Power of Mathematical Thinking
Jordan Ellenberg
Source: "On the surface it’s about math, but it’s really about how much math plays into our daily lives without our even knowing it." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Hyperbole and a Half
Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
Allie Brosh
Source: "You will rip through it in three hours, tops. But you’ll wish it went on longer, because it’s funny and smart as hell." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
These Truths
A History of the United States
Jill Lepore
Source: "The most honest account of the American story I’ve ever read, and one of the most beautifully written." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Epic Measures
One Doctor. Seven Billion Patients.
Jeremy N. Smith
Source: "A highly readable account for anyone who wants to know more about [Chris Murray]’s work and why it matters." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Tomorrow's Table
Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food
Pamela C. Ronald
Source: "For anyone who wants to learn about the science of seeds and the challenges faced by farmers." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
SuperFreakonomics
Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance
Steven D. Levitt
Source: "I recommend this book to anyone who reads nonfiction. It is very well written and full of great insights." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Sixth Extinction
An Unnatural History
Elizabeth Kolbert
Source: "Makes a compelling case that all this [human] activity is leading to the sixth mass extinction in the Earth’s history." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Why Does College Cost So Much?
Robert B. Archibald
Source: "Looks at college costs in the context of the larger economy, and offers suggestions for policy to increase access." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Harvesting the Biosphere
What We Have Taken from Nature
Vaclav Smil
Source: "Gives as clear and as numeric a picture as is possible of how humans have altered the biosphere." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Principles
Life and Work
Ray Dalio
Source: "Ray Dalio has provided me with invaluable guidance and insights that are now available to you in Principles." - Bill Gates
25 recommendersArianna HuffingtonBen GreenfieldBill GatesBryan JohnsonDiddyDoug McMillonDrew HoustonDustin MoskovitzGary VaynerchukHoward MarksJack DorseyKevin SystromLex FridmanMarc BenioffMark CubanMichael BloombergNaval RavikantReed HastingsTim FerrissTony RobbinsAusten AllredPatrick O'ShaughnessyTom BilyeuMarty CaganJames Clear
Sapiens
A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
Source: "I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history." - Bill Gates
32 recommendersAshton KutcherBill GatesBill GurleyDaniel EkDemis HassabisJames CameronJoe RoganKarlie KlossKeith RaboisKishore BiyaniLex FridmanMark ZuckerbergNaval RavikantPeter AttiaRay DalioReid HoffmanRichard BransonRyan SheaSam KassSebastian JungerVinod KhoslaWhitney CummingsPewDiePieMelinda GatesAnthony PomplianoChangpeng ZhaoPatrick O'ShaughnessyChris EvansMark MansonSimon MayoPenn JilletteJames Clear
The Rosie Effect
Don Tillman, Book 2
Graeme Simsion
Source: "[Melinda and I] enjoyed [this book] so much that we invited Graeme to come to Seattle to talk to us about it." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Measure What Matters
How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs
John Doerr
Source: "I’d recommend [John Doerr]’s book for anyone interested in becoming a better manager." - Bill Gates
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Katherine Boo
Source: "If you want to read an unvarnished, first-hand account of life in one of India’s slums you should pick up [this book]." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Work Hard. Be Nice.
How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America
Jay Mathews
Source: "Gives a great sense of how hard it was to get KIPP going and how intense the focus on good teaching is." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Hillbilly Elegy
A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
J. D. Vance
Source: "I came away with new insights into the multifaceted cultural and family dynamics that contribute to poverty." - Bill Gates
Liberating Learning
Technology, Politics, and the Future of American Education
Terry M. Moe
Source: "Looks at current efforts to use technology for online learning and to measure achievement." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Ride of a Lifetime
Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Robert Iger
Source: "A short, readable book with smart insights, and along the way he crosses paths with some colorful characters." - Bill Gates
The Rational Optimist
How Prosperity Evolves
Matt Ridley
Source: "Its subject is the history of humanity, focusing on why our species has succeeded and how we should think about the future." - Bill Gates
Academically Adrift
Limited Learning on College Campuses
Richard Arum
Source: "Raises some fundamental and surprising questions about the quality of U.S. undergraduate education." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Stretching the School Dollar
How Schools and Districts Can Save Money While Serving Students Best
Frederick M. Hess
Source: "Argues that schools can and must improve dramatically without additional resources – even, despite budget cuts." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
xkcd
volume 0
Randall Munroe
Source: "This is one of two Randall Munroe books I’ve read, and it is (by design) the funnier of the pair." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Where Good Ideas Come From
The Natural History of Innovation
Steven Johnson
Source: "Quite good at giving examples of how you create environments that can encourage good ideas." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Making the Modern World
Materials and Dematerialization
Vaclav Smil
Source: "[I] gained a new appreciation for all the materials that make modern life possible." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Mendeleyev's Dream
The Quest for the Elements
Paul Strathern
Source: "A fascinating look at how science develops and how human curiosity has evolved over the millennia." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The New Science of Strong Materials
Or Why You Don't Fall through the Floor
J.E. Gordon
Source: "A recapitulation of the history of materials told in an interesting and approachable way." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Prime Movers of Globalization
The History and Impact of Diesel Engines and Gas Turbines
Vaclav Smil
Source: "An entire book about the development and impact of gas turbines and diesel engines." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Tap Dancing to Work
Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2013
Carol J. Loomis
Source: "A compilation of forty-plus years’ worth of coverage of Warren [Buffett] by the writers of Fortune." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Educational Economics
Where Do School Funds Go?
Marguerite Roza
Source: "For a basic understanding of where education money comes from and how it gets spent." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Moment of Lift
How Empowering Women Changes the World
Melinda Gates
Source: "I would say this even if I weren’t married to the author: [this book] is a terrific read." - Bill Gates
The Idealist
Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty
Nina Munk
Source: "I’ve told everyone at our foundation that I think it is worth taking the time to read [this book]." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Seveneves
A Novel
Neal Stephenson
Source: "Belongs in the subgenre of hard science fiction, which means it emphasizes scientific accuracy." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
A Gentleman in Moscow
A Novel
Amor Towles
Source: "Technically historical fiction, but you’d be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story." - Bill Gates
The Art of Being Unreasonable
Lessons in Unconventional Thinking
Eli Broad
Source: "As a creator of successful companies, Eli Broad has few equals, and [this book] clearly shows why." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Myth of the Strong Leader
Political Leadership in the Modern Age
Archie Brown
Source: "Most people think strength is a positive quality in a leader, but this book proves them wrong." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Ministry for the Future
A Novel
Kim Stanley Robinson
Source: "Presents a stimulating and engaging story, spanning decades and continents." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
The Vital Question
Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life
Nick Lane
Source: "One of those original thinkers who makes you say: More people should know about this guy’s work." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Everything Happens for a Reason
And Other Lies I've Loved
Kate Bowler
Source: "A wise and funny memoir from a young woman facing her own mortality." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Shoe Dog
A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Phil Knight
Source: "A refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like." - Bill Gates
Stuff Matters
Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World
Mark Miodownik
Source: "Read this book and you’ll never look at a pencil or razor the same way." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
String Theory
David Foster Wallace on Tennis
David Foster Wallace
Source: "I would say to anyone who likes tennis as much as I do, you have to read [this book]." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Prepared
What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life
Diane Tavenner
Source: "Offers amazing tips on preparing kids for college, a career, and life." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Life 3.0
Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Max Tegmark
Source: "Anyone who wants to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the world should read this book." - Bill Gates
The Gene
An Intimate History
Siddhartha Mukherjee
Source: "Mukherjee once again shows his gift for making hard science easily accessible." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Tools and Weapons
The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age
Brad Smith
Source: "A clear, compelling guide to some of the most pressing debates in technology today." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Why America Is Not a New Rome
Vaclav Smil
Source: "Points out [why comparisons of the US] with the decline of the Roman Empire fall short." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Stress Test
Reflections on Financial Crises
Timothy F. Geithner
Source: "The former Treasury Secretary's front-row view of the financial crisis." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
The Fever
How Malaria Has Ruled Humankind for 500,000 Years
Sonia Shah
Source: "If you want to read just one book about malaria, [this book] is probably the best choice." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Why We're Polarized
Ezra Klein
Source: "Fundamentally about American politics, but it’s also a fascinating look at human psychology." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
The Splendid and the Vile
A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
Erik Larson
Source: "A great addition to the literature focused on that [World War II] tragic period." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
A Promised Land
Barack Obama
Source: "A fascinating look at what it’s like to steer a country through challenging times." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Rise and Fall of American Growth
The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War
Robert J. Gordon
Source: "I did find his historical analysis, which makes up the bulk of the book, utterly fascinating." - Bill Gates
Believe Me
A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens
Eddie Izzard
Source: "If you have seen Eddie’s stuff and you like it [...] I promise you’ll love this book." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Army of None
Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War
Paul Scharre
Source: "The book I had been waiting for. I can’t recommend it highly enough." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Energy
A Beginner's Guide
Vaclav Smil
Source: "There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
The Better Angels of Our Nature
Why Violence Has Declined
Steven Pinker
Source: "One of the most important books I’ve read—not just this year, but ever." - Bill Gates
Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Fates of Human Societies
Jared Diamond
Source: "Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history." - Bill Gates
The Road to Character
David Brooks
Source: "It got me thinking about my own motivations and limitations in new ways." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Why Nations Fail
The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
Daron Acemoglu
Source: "A major disappointment. I found the authors’ analysis vague and simplistic." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
The Quest
Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World
Daniel Yergin
Source: "Quite comprehensive in looking at many different kinds of energy." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Best We Could Do
An Illustrated Memoir
Thi Bui
Source: "This powerful graphic novel explores parenthood and life during wartime." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Lights Out
Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric
Thomas Gryta
Source: "An unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Origin Story
A Big History of Everything
David Christian
Source: "Lifelong learners will appreciate this book about the history of everything." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Poor Economics
A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty
Abhijit V. Banerjee
Source: "Does a great job of bringing alive the complexities of poor people’s lives." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Robert A. Heinlein
Source: "Probably the [science fiction book] I read the most when I was younger." - Bill Gates
What If?
Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Randall Munroe
Source: "Munroe’s approach is a great way to learn about science." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Awakening Joy
10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness
James Baraz
Source: "Even if you don’t read many inspirational books, try this is one." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Value-Added Measures in Education
What Every Educator Needs to Know
Douglas N. Harris
Source: "An economist explores a controversial subject: teacher accountability." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Blueprint
The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society
Nicholas A. Christakis
Source: "Explains that humans have evolved to work together and be social." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Thomas Piketty
Source: "A 700-page treatise on economics translated from French." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Born a Crime
Stories from a South African Childhood
Trevor Noah
Source: "Trevor Noah’s funny and moving account of growing up in South Africa." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Range
Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
David J. Epstein
Source: "I think [the author's] ideas even help explain some of Microsoft's success." - Bill Gates
Growth
From Microorganisms to Megacities
Vaclav Smil
Source: "The newest of 39 brilliant books by one of my favorite thinkers." - Bill Gates
1 recommenderSustainable Materials
Without the Hot Air
Julian M. Allwood
Source: "An excellent book about another key factor: how we make stuff." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
One Billion Hungry
Can We Feed the World?
Gordon Conway
Source: "Provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Capitalism without Capital
The Rise of the Intangible Economy
Jonathan Haskel
Source: "Explains how things we can’t touch are reshaping the economy." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Coming Wave
Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma
Mustafa Suleyman
Source: "An excellent guide for navigating unprecedented times." - Bill Gates
Thing Explainer
Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
Randall Munroe
Source: "Nuclear physics, space travel, and other topics made easy." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
I Contain Multitudes
The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
Ed Yong
Source: "Helped me see microorganisms in a whole new light." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Overstory
A Novel
Richard Powers
Source: "One of the most unusual novels I’ve read in years." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Becoming Steve Jobs
The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader
Brent Schlender
Source: "Has me thinking of my old friend. A true visionary." - Bill Gates
An American Marriage
A Novel
Tayari Jones
Source: "A moving look at how incarceration changes relationships." - Bill Gates
A Full Life
Reflections at Ninety
Jimmy Carter
Source: "A quick, condensed tour of [Jimmy Carter]’s fascinating life." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
Factfulness
Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Hans Rosling
Source: "A fantastic book, and I hope a lot of people read it." - Bill Gates
Leonardo da Vinci
Walter Isaacson
Source: "Sheds light on every facet of [Leonardo da Vinci]’s life." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
The Sympathizer
A Novel
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Source: "This thrilling story about a double agent lived up to the hype." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
An Elegant Defense
The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives
Matt Richtel
Source: "A super interesting look at the science of immunity." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
The Bottom Billion
Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It
Paul Collier
Source: "On the short list of books that I recommend to people." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Homo Deus
A Brief History of Tomorrow
Yuval Noah Harari
Source: "A thoughtful look at what may be in store for humanity." - Bill Gates
Being Nixon
A Man Divided
Evan Thomas
Source: "Explores the different sides of a complicated man." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Bully Pulpit
Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Source: "How Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft changed America." - Bill Gates
2 recommenders
House on Fire
The Fight to Eradicate Smallpox
William H. Foege
Source: "The amazing story of the eradication of smallpox." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Bad Blood
Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
John Carreyrou
Source: "I couldn’t put down this thriller with a tragic ending." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Stranger in a Strange Land
Robert A. Heinlein
Source: "One of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
The Spy and the Traitor
The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
Ben Macintyre
Source: "Every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
Getting Better
Why Global Development Is Succeeding--And How We Can Improve the World Even More
Charles Kenny
Source: "Shines a light on the real successes of aid." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Class Warfare
Inside the Fight to Fix America's Schools
Steven Brill
Source: "Shows just how difficult it is going to be to improve education." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Eradication
Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?
Nancy Leys Stepan
Source: "A useful history of efforts to eliminate diseases." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Signal and the Noise
Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't
Nate Silver
Source: "About predictions in many domains besides politics." - Bill Gates
3 recommenders
For the Love of Physics
From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge Of Time - A Journey Through the Wonders of Physics
Walter Lewin
Source: "Helps you appreciate that physics is pretty basic stuff." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Upheaval
Turning Points for Nations in Crisis
Jared Diamond
Source: "Explains why some nations flourish in tough times." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Business Adventures
Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street
John Brooks
Source: "The best business book I've ever read." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
The Heart
A Novel
Maylis de Kerangal
Source: "Melinda thought I would love [this book]. She was right." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Only the Paranoid Survive
How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
Andrew S. Grove
Source: "[This] basic theme is in the culture of Microsoft." - Bill Gates
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari
Source: "A guide to worrying in the 21st century." - Bill Gates
5 recommenders
Turtles All the Way Down
John Green
Source: "My family loved reading this book together." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
The Emperor of All Maladies
A Biography of Cancer
Siddhartha Mukherjee
Source: "I loved [this] brilliant book about cancer." - Bill Gates
4 recommenders
Enlightenment Now
The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress
Steven Pinker
Source: "My new favorite book of all time." - Bill Gates
Presidents of War
The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times
Michael Beschloss
Source: "Gave me insights about leadership." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Nine Pints
A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood
Rose George
Source: "Everything you wanted to know about blood." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
Creating the Twentieth Century
Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting Impact
Vaclav Smil
Source: "My favorite [Vaclav Smil] book." - Bill Gates
1 recommender
1 recommender
13 Things That Don't Make Sense
The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time
Michael Brooks
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Brain Rules
12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School
John Medina
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
2 recommenders
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Charlie Munger
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
Collapse
How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Jared Diamond
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
3 recommenders
The World Is Flat
A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Thomas L. Friedman
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
4 recommenders
Too Big to Fail
The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
4 recommenders
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
David Foster Wallace
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2019.
1 recommender
1 recommender
Showing Up for Life
Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime
Bill Gates Sr.
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
2 recommenders
Identity
The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment
Francis Fukuyama
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2018.
1 recommender
Broken Genius
The Rise and Fall of William Shockley, Creator of the Electronic Age
Joel N. Shurkin
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Modernist Cuisine
The Art and Science of Cooking
Nathan Myhrvold
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Who's Teaching Your Children?
Why the Teacher Crisis Is Worse Than You Think and What Can Be Done About It
Vivian Troen
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Big History
From the Big Bang to the Present
Cynthia Stokes Brown
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Why Don't Students Like School?
A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom
Daniel T. Willingham
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
1 recommender
The Perfect Weapon
War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age
David E. Sanger
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2018.
1 recommender
Hot, Flat, and Crowded
Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
Thomas L. Friedman
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
1 recommender
Unlocking the Gates
How and Why Leading Universities Are Opening Up Access to Their Courses
Taylor Walsh
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
This Time Is Different
Eight Centuries of Financial Folly
Carmen M. Reinhart
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
1 recommender
Beyond Smoke and Mirrors
Mexican Immigration in an Era of Economic Integration
Douglas S. Massey
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Titan II
A History of a Cold War Missile Program
David Stumpf
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
1 recommender
The Hair of the Dog
And Other Scientific Surprises
Karl Sabbagh
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
The Grid
A Journey Through the Heart of Our Electrified World
Phillip F. Schewe
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
1 recommender
How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place
Bjørn Lomborg
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
World on the Edge
How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse
Lester R. Brown
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
The Path Between the Seas
The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
David McCullough
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2013.
1 recommender
The City That Became Safe
New York's Lessons for Urban Crime and Its Control
Franklin E. Zimring
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
1 recommender
The End of Poverty
Economic Possibilities for Our Time
Jeffrey D. Sachs
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Science Business
The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech
Gary P. Pisano
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
1 recommender
Railroader
The Unfiltered Genius and Controversy of Four-Time CEO Hunter Harrison
Howard Green
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2019.
1 recommender
Energies
An Illustrated Guide to the Biosphere and Civilization
Vaclav Smil
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
A Champion's Mind
Lessons from a Life in Tennis
Pete Sampras
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Unlocking Energy Innovation
How America Can Build a Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy System
Richard K. Lester
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
1 recommender
2 recommenders
1 recommender
The Making of a Tropical Disease
A Short History of Malaria
Randall M. Packard
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Global Catastrophes and Trends
The Next 50 Years
Vaclav Smil
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Vaccine
The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver
Arthur Allen
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Money Well Spent
A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy
Paul Brest
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2018.
1 recommender
1 recommender
1 recommender
Enriching the Earth
Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Transformation of World Food Production
Vaclav Smil
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
The Prize
The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power
Daniel Yergin
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
4 recommenders
The Foundation
A Great American Secret; How Private Wealth is Changing the World
Joel L. Fleishman
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
1 recommender
Beyond the Crash
Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalization
Gordon Brown
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Tropical Infectious Diseases
Principles, Pathogens and Practice
Richard L. Guerrant
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Health Care Will Not Reform Itself
A User's Guide to Refocusing and Reforming American Health Care
George C. Halvorson
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Give Smart
Philanthropy that Gets Results
Thomas J. Tierney
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Energy at the Crossroads
Global Perspectives and Uncertainties
Vaclav Smil
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
1 recommender
Buffett
The Making of an American Capitalist
Roger Lowenstein
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
2 recommenders
The Earth's Biosphere
Evolution, Dynamics, and Change
Vaclav Smil
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
Reinventing Fire
Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era
Amory Lovins
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
2 recommenders
Global Warming
The Complete Briefing
John Theodore Houghton
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
1 recommender
1 recommender
1 recommender
Mountains Beyond Mountains
The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
Tracy Kidder
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games, Book 1
Suzanne Collins
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
2 recommenders
Abundance
The Future Is Better Than You Think
Peter Diamandis
Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
4 recommenders
Team of Rivals
The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Source: "I loved [this book]." - Bill Gates
100 books
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