Bill Gates Book Recommendations

Army of None

Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War

by Paul Scharre

"The book I had been waiting for. I can’t recommend it highly enough." - Bill Gates (Source)

Business Adventures

Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street

by John Brooks

"The best business book I've ever read." - Bill Gates (Source)

Educated

A Memoir

by Tara Westover

"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 (Source)

The Feynman Lectures on Physics (3 books)

"You don't have to take a course [to learn physics]. If you're hardcore, read [this series] and do the problems." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Checklist Manifesto

How to Get Things Right

by Atul Gawande

"A great read." - Bill Gates (Source)

Why We Sleep

Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

by Matthew Walker

"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 (Source)

Enlightenment Now

The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

by Steven Pinker

"My new favorite book of all time." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Art of Computer Programming (4 books)

"You want to learn to do software? Read [this series]. Good luck doing the problems." - Bill Gates (Source)

How Not to Be Wrong

The Power of Mathematical Thinking

by Jordan Ellenberg

"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 (Source)

Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

by Joshua Foer

"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 (Source)

13 Things That Don't Make Sense

The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time

by Michael Brooks

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Factfulness

Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think

by Hans Rosling

"A fantastic book, and I hope a lot of people read it." - Bill Gates (Source)

Hyperbole and a Half

Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

by Allie Brosh

"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 (Source)

Energy

A Beginner's Guide

by Vaclav Smil

"There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil." - Bill Gates (Source)

Sapiens

A Brief History of Humankind

by Yuval Noah Harari

"I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness

How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day

by Andy Puddicombe

"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 (Source)

Should We Eat Meat?

Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory

by Vaclav Smil

"I can’t think of anyone better equipped to present a clear-eyed analysis of this subject than Vaclav Smil." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Better Angels of Our Nature

Why Violence Has Declined

by Steven Pinker

"One of the most important books I’ve read—not just this year, but ever." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Rosie Effect

Don Tillman, Book 2

by Graeme Simsion

"[Melinda and I] enjoyed [this book] so much that we invited Graeme to come to Seattle to talk to us about it." - Bill Gates (Source)

Brain Rules

12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

by John Medina

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

When Breath Becomes Air

by Paul Kalanithi

"This book left me in tears." - Bill Gates (Source)

Stuff Matters

Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World

by Mark Miodownik

"Read this book and you’ll never look at a pencil or razor the same way." - Bill Gates (Source)

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

by Yuval Noah Harari

"A guide to worrying in the 21st century." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Moment of Lift

How Empowering Women Changes the World

by Melinda Gates

"I would say this even if I weren’t married to the author: [this book] is a terrific read." - Bill Gates (Source)

Mindset

The New Psychology of Success

by Carol S. Dweck

"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 (Source)

Turtles All the Way Down

by John Green

"My family loved reading this book together." - Bill Gates (Source)

Poor Charlie's Almanack

The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

by Charlie Munger

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Black Swan

Incerto, Book 2

by Nassim Taleb

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Rational Optimist

How Prosperity Evolves

by Matt Ridley

"Its subject is the history of humanity, focusing on why our species has succeeded and how we should think about the future." - Bill Gates (Source)

On Immunity

An Inoculation

by Eula Biss

"[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 (Source)

Blitzscaling

The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies

by Reid Hoffman

"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 (Source)

How Asia Works

by Joe Studwell

"A good read for anyone who wants to understand what actually determines whether a developing economy will succeed." - Bill Gates (Source)

String Theory

David Foster Wallace on Tennis

by David Foster Wallace

"I would say to anyone who likes tennis as much as I do, you have to read [this book]." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Bottom Billion

Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It

by Paul Collier

"On the short list of books that I recommend to people." - Bill Gates (Source)

In FED We Trust

Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic

by David Wessel

"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 (Source)

Life Is What You Make It

Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment

by Peter Buffett

"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 (Source)

How to Lie with Statistics

by Darrell Huff

"A great introduction to the use of statistics, and a great refresher for anyone who’s already well versed in it." - Bill Gates (Source)

Guns, Germs, and Steel

The Fates of Human Societies

by Jared Diamond

"Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Magic of Reality

by Richard Dawkins

"An engaging, well-illustrated science textbook offering compelling answers to big questions, from how the universe formed to what causes earthquakes." - Bill Gates (Source)

Billion Dollar Whale

The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World

by Tom Wright

"As Bad Blood is to biotech, Billion Dollar Whale is to international finance... a wonderful read... Thrilling." - Bill Gates (Source)

A World-Class Education

Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation

by Vivien Stewart

"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 (Source)

Collapse

How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

by Jared Diamond

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Thinking, Fast and Slow

by Daniel Kahneman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China

by Ezra F. Vogel

"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 (Source)

The Gene

An Intimate History

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

"Mukherjee once again shows his gift for making hard science easily accessible." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Man Who Fed the World

by Leon Hesser

"A biography of Norman Borlaug, a brilliant agricultural scientist who [...] saved a billion people from starvation." - Bill Gates (Source)

Creating the Twentieth Century

Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting Impact

by Vaclav Smil

"My favorite [Vaclav Smil] book." - Bill Gates (Source)

Sustainable Energy

Without the Hot Air

by David JC MacKay

"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 (Source)

Energy and Civilization

A History

by Vaclav Smil

"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 (Source)

The Idealist

Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty

by Nina Munk

"I’ve told everyone at our foundation that I think it is worth taking the time to read [this book]." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Rosie Project

Don Tillman, Book 1

by Graeme Simsion

"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 (Source)

xkcd

volume 0

by Randall Munroe

"This is one of two Randall Munroe books I’ve read, and it is (by design) the funnier of the pair." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Vital Question

Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life

by Nick Lane

"One of those original thinkers who makes you say: More people should know about this guy’s work." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Road to Character

by David Brooks

"It got me thinking about my own motivations and limitations in new ways." - Bill Gates (Source)

Measure What Matters

How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs

by John Doerr

"I’d recommend [John Doerr]’s book for anyone interested in becoming a better manager." - Bill Gates (Source)

Growth

From Microorganisms to Megacities

by Vaclav Smil

"The newest of 39 brilliant books by one of my favorite thinkers." - Bill Gates (Source)

What If?

Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

by Randall Munroe

"Munroe’s approach is a great way to learn about science." - Bill Gates (Source)

Seveneves

A Novel

by Neal Stephenson

"Belongs in the subgenre of hard science fiction, which means it emphasizes scientific accuracy." - Bill Gates (Source)

SuperFreakonomics

Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

by Steven D. Levitt

"I recommend this book to anyone who reads nonfiction. It is very well written and full of great insights." - Bill Gates (Source)

Origin Story

A Big History of Everything

by David Christian

"Lifelong learners will appreciate this book about the history of everything." - Bill Gates (Source)

The World Is Flat

A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

by Thomas L. Friedman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

by David Foster Wallace

List of books Bill Gates read in 2019. (Source)

The Art of Being Unreasonable

Lessons in Unconventional Thinking

by Eli Broad

"As a creator of successful companies, Eli Broad has few equals, and [this book] clearly shows why." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Future of Capitalism

Facing the New Anxieties

by Paul Collier

"About something I’m also keenly interested in—the polarization we’re seeing in the U.S., Europe, and other places." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Most Powerful Idea in the World

A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention

by William Rosen

"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 (Source)

The Sixth Extinction

An Unnatural History

by Elizabeth Kolbert

"Makes a compelling case that all this [human] activity is leading to the sixth mass extinction in the Earth’s history." - Bill Gates (Source)

The World Until Yesterday

What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?

by Jared Diamond

"Made me think about how we have had to overcome some deeply ingrained behaviors in order to develop a modern, interconnected society." - Bill Gates (Source)

Too Big to Fail

The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves

by Andrew Ross Sorkin

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Cat's Table

by Michael Ondaatje

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Myth of the Strong Leader

Political Leadership in the Modern Age

by Archie Brown

"Most people think strength is a positive quality in a leader, but this book proves them wrong." - Bill Gates (Source)

Where Good Ideas Come From

The Natural History of Innovation

by Steven Johnson

"Quite good at giving examples of how you create environments that can encourage good ideas." - Bill Gates (Source)

Becoming Steve Jobs

The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader

by Brent Schlender

"Has me thinking of my old friend. A true visionary." - Bill Gates (Source)

Identity

The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment

by Francis Fukuyama

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. (Source)

Showing Up for Life

Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime

by Bill Gates Sr.

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Why Nations Fail

The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

by Daron Acemoglu

"A major disappointment. I found the authors’ analysis vague and simplistic." - Bill Gates (Source)

Tools and Weapons

The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age

by Brad Smith

"A clear, compelling guide to some of the most pressing debates in technology today." - Bill Gates (Source)

A Separate Peace

by John Knowles

"My second favorite book." - Bill Gates (Source)

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity

by Katherine Boo

"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 (Source)

Broken Genius

The Rise and Fall of William Shockley, Creator of the Electronic Age

by Joel N. Shurkin

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Prepared

What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life

by Diane Tavenner

"Offers amazing tips on preparing kids for college, a career, and life." - Bill Gates (Source)

Modernist Cuisine

The Art and Science of Cooking

by Nathan Myhrvold

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Energy Transitions

Global and National Perspectives

by Vaclav Smil

"Explains the energy transitions that have driven social, economic and technological change worldwide over time." - Bill Gates (Source)

Why America Is Not a New Rome

by Vaclav Smil

"Points out [why comparisons of the US] with the decline of the Roman Empire fall short." - Bill Gates (Source)

Awakening Joy

10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness

by James Baraz

"Even if you don’t read many inspirational books, try this is one." - Bill Gates (Source)

Big History

From the Big Bang to the Present

by Cynthia Stokes Brown

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Evicted

Poverty and Profit in the American City

by Matthew Desmond

"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 (Source)

Team of Rivals

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

"I loved [this book]." - Bill Gates (Source)

Who's Teaching Your Children?

Why the Teacher Crisis Is Worse Than You Think and What Can Be Done About It

by Vivian Troen

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Catcher in the Rye

by J.D. Salinger

"My favorite book." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Great Escape

Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality

by Angus Deaton

"If you want to learn about why human welfare overall has gone up so much over time, you should read [this book]." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Perfect Weapon

War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age

by David E. Sanger

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. (Source)

Why Don't Students Like School?

A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom

by Daniel T. Willingham

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Capitalism without Capital

The Rise of the Intangible Economy

by Jonathan Haskel

"Explains how things we can’t touch are reshaping the economy." - Bill Gates (Source)

Dad Is Fat

by Jim Gaffigan

List of books Bill Gates read in 2019. (Source)

Hot, Flat, and Crowded

Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America

by Thomas L. Friedman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Poor Economics

A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty

by Abhijit V. Banerjee

"Does a great job of bringing alive the complexities of poor people’s lives." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Emperor of All Maladies

A Biography of Cancer

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

"I loved [this] brilliant book about cancer." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Heart

A Novel

by Maylis de Kerangal

"Melinda thought I would love [this book]. She was right." - Bill Gates (Source)

Leonardo da Vinci

by Walter Isaacson

"Sheds light on every facet of [Leonardo da Vinci]’s life." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

"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 (Source)

The New Science of Strong Materials

Or Why You Don't Fall through the Floor

by J.E. Gordon

"A recapitulation of the history of materials told in an interesting and approachable way." - Bill Gates (Source)

Value-Added Measures in Education

What Every Educator Needs to Know

by Douglas N. Harris

"An economist explores a controversial subject: teacher accountability." - Bill Gates (Source)

Work Hard. Be Nice.

How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America

by Jay Mathews

"Gives a great sense of how hard it was to get KIPP going and how intense the focus on good teaching is." - Bill Gates (Source)

A Gentleman in Moscow

A Novel

by Amor Towles

"Technically historical fiction, but you’d be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story." - Bill Gates (Source)

Beyond Smoke and Mirrors

Mexican Immigration in an Era of Economic Integration

by Douglas S. Massey

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Making the Modern World

Materials and Dematerialization

by Vaclav Smil

"[I] gained a new appreciation for all the materials that make modern life possible." - Bill Gates (Source)

Open

An Autobiography

by Andre Agassi

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

This Time Is Different

Eight Centuries of Financial Folly

by Carmen M. Reinhart

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Unlocking the Gates

How and Why Leading Universities Are Opening Up Access to Their Courses

by Taylor Walsh

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Why Does College Cost So Much?

by Robert B. Archibald

"Looks at college costs in the context of the larger economy, and offers suggestions for policy to increase access." - Bill Gates (Source)

Change.edu

Rebooting for the New Talent Economy

by Andrew S Rosen

"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 (Source)

Einstein

His Life and Universe

by Walter Isaacson

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Everything Happens for a Reason

And Other Lies I've Loved

by Kate Bowler

"A wise and funny memoir from a young woman facing her own mortality." - Bill Gates (Source)

For the Love of Physics

From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge Of Time - A Journey Through the Wonders of Physics

by Walter Lewin

"Helps you appreciate that physics is pretty basic stuff." - Bill Gates (Source)

Getting Better

Why Global Development Is Succeeding--And How We Can Improve the World Even More

by Charles Kenny

"Shines a light on the real successes of aid." - Bill Gates (Source)

Hit Refresh

The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone

by Satya Nadella

"Has charted a course for making the most of the opportunities created by technology while also facing up to the hard questions." - Bill Gates (Source)

How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place

by Bjørn Lomborg

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Poor Numbers

How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics and What to Do about It

by Morten Jerven

"Makes a strong case that a lot of GDP measurements we thought were accurate are far from it." - Bill Gates (Source)

Prime Movers of Globalization

The History and Impact of Diesel Engines and Gas Turbines

by Vaclav Smil

"An entire book about the development and impact of gas turbines and diesel engines." - Bill Gates (Source)

Six Days of the Condor

Condor, Book 1

by James Grady

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. (Source)

The Bet

by Paul Sabin

"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 (Source)

The Grid

A Journey Through the Heart of Our Electrified World

by Phillip F. Schewe

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Hair of the Dog

And Other Scientific Surprises

by Karl Sabbagh

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Signal and the Noise

Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't

by Nate Silver

"About predictions in many domains besides politics." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Sympathizer

A Novel

by Viet Thanh Nguyen

"This thrilling story about a double agent lived up to the hype." - Bill Gates (Source)

These Truths

A History of the United States

by Jill Lepore

"The most honest account of the American story I’ve ever read, and one of the most beautifully written." - Bill Gates (Source)

Titan II

A History of a Cold War Missile Program

by David Stumpf

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Energy Myths and Realities

Bringing Science to the Energy Policy Debate

by Vaclav Smil

"Examines the various predictions that have been made in the past and are still being made about energy use." - Bill Gates (Source)

Academically Adrift

Limited Learning on College Campuses

by Richard Arum

"Raises some fundamental and surprising questions about the quality of U.S. undergraduate education." - Bill Gates (Source)

Class Warfare

Inside the Fight to Fix America's Schools

by Steven Brill

"Shows just how difficult it is going to be to improve education." - Bill Gates (Source)

The City That Became Safe

New York's Lessons for Urban Crime and Its Control

by Franklin E. Zimring

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Path Between the Seas

The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

by David McCullough

List of books Bill Gates read in 2013. (Source)

World on the Edge

How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse

by Lester R. Brown

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

A Champion's Mind

Lessons from a Life in Tennis

by Pete Sampras

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Blueprint

The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society

by Nicholas A. Christakis

"Explains that humans have evolved to work together and be social." - Bill Gates (Source)

Energies

An Illustrated Guide to the Biosphere and Civilization

by Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Presidents of War

The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times

by Michael Beschloss

"Gave me insights about leadership." - Bill Gates (Source)

Railroader

The Unfiltered Genius and Controversy of Four-Time CEO Hunter Harrison

by Howard Green

List of books Bill Gates read in 2019. (Source)

Science Business

The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech

by Gary P. Pisano

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Stretching the School Dollar

How Schools and Districts Can Save Money While Serving Students Best

by Frederick M. Hess

"Argues that schools can and must improve dramatically without additional resources – even, despite budget cuts." - Bill Gates (Source)

Tap Dancing to Work

Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2013

by Carol J. Loomis

"A compilation of forty-plus years’ worth of coverage of Warren [Buffett] by the writers of Fortune." - Bill Gates (Source)

The End of Poverty

Economic Possibilities for Our Time

by Jeffrey D. Sachs

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

by Robert A. Heinlein

"Probably the [science fiction book] I read the most when I was younger." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Power to Compete

An Economist and an Entrepreneur on Revitalizing Japan in the Global Economy

by Hiroshi Mikitani

"A series of dialogues between Hiroshi—founder of the Internet company Rakuten—and his father, Ryoichi, a respected economist and author." - Bill Gates (Source)

Only the Paranoid Survive

How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company

by Andrew S. Grove

"[This] basic theme is in the culture of Microsoft." - Bill Gates (Source)

Educational Economics

Where Do School Funds Go?

by Marguerite Roza

"For a basic understanding of where education money comes from and how it gets spent." - Bill Gates (Source)

Tomorrow's Table

Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food

by Pamela C. Ronald

"For anyone who wants to learn about the science of seeds and the challenges faced by farmers." - Bill Gates (Source)

Bad Blood

Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

by John Carreyrou

"I couldn’t put down this thriller with a tragic ending." - Bill Gates (Source)

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

by Thomas Piketty

"A 700-page treatise on economics translated from French." - Bill Gates (Source)

Epic Measures

One Doctor. Seven Billion Patients.

by Jeremy N. Smith

"A highly readable account for anyone who wants to know more about [Chris Murray]’s work and why it matters." - Bill Gates (Source)

Global Catastrophes and Trends

The Next 50 Years

by Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Homo Deus

A Brief History of Tomorrow

by Yuval Noah Harari

"A thoughtful look at what may be in store for humanity." - Bill Gates (Source)

Reinventing American Health Care

How the Affordable Care Act will Improve our Terribly Complex, Blatantly Unjust, Outrageously Expensive, Grossly Inefficient, Error Prone System

by Ezekiel J. Emanuel

"Makes the case for why the U.S. health care system needed reform and how Obamacare sets out to fix the problems." - Bill Gates (Source)

Steve Jobs

by Walter Isaacson

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Stress Test

Reflections on Financial Crises

by Timothy F. Geithner

"The former Treasury Secretary's front-row view of the financial crisis." - Bill Gates (Source)

Sustainable Materials

Without the Hot Air

by Julian M. Allwood

"An excellent book about another key factor: how we make stuff." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Box

How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger

by Marc Levinson

"Mostly about globalization, but there is also a larger story here that touches on business and philanthropy more broadly."- Bill Gates (Source)

The Making of a Tropical Disease

A Short History of Malaria

by Randall M. Packard

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Man Who Stayed Behind

by Sidney Rittenberg

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Post-American World

by Fareed Zakaria

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Quest

Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World

by Daniel Yergin

"Quite comprehensive in looking at many different kinds of energy." - Bill Gates (Source)

Unlocking Energy Innovation

How America Can Build a Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy System

by Richard K. Lester

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Upheaval

Turning Points for Nations in Crisis

by Jared Diamond

"Explains why some nations flourish in tough times." - Bill Gates (Source)

Jim Grant

UNICEF Visionary

by Peter Adamson

"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 (Source)

Being Nixon

A Man Divided

by Evan Thomas

"Explores the different sides of a complicated man." - Bill Gates (Source)

Believe Me

A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens

by Eddie Izzard

"If you have seen Eddie’s stuff and you like it [...] I promise you’ll love this book." - Bill Gates (Source)

Enriching the Earth

Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Transformation of World Food Production

by Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Frank Stewart's Bridge Club

by Frank Stewart

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Hillbilly Elegy

A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

by J. D. Vance

"I came away with new insights into the multifaceted cultural and family dynamics that contribute to poverty." - Bill Gates (Source)

I Contain Multitudes

The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

by Ed Yong

"Helped me see microorganisms in a whole new light." - Bill Gates (Source)

Limits to Growth

The 30-Year Update

by Donella H. Meadows

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Money Well Spent

A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy

by Paul Brest

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. (Source)

Nine Pints

A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood

by Rose George

"Everything you wanted to know about blood." - Bill Gates (Source)

That Used to Be Us

How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back

by Thomas L. Friedman

"I mostly agree with their message that the answers to America’s economic challenges are to be found in its past." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Rise and Fall of American Growth

The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War

by Robert J. Gordon

"I did find his historical analysis, which makes up the bulk of the book, utterly fascinating." - Bill Gates (Source)

Thing Explainer

Complicated Stuff in Simple Words

by Randall Munroe

"Nuclear physics, space travel, and other topics made easy." - Bill Gates (Source)

Vaccine

The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver

by Arthur Allen

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

A Full Life

Reflections at Ninety

by Jimmy Carter

"A quick, condensed tour of [Jimmy Carter]’s fascinating life." - Bill Gates (Source)

An American Marriage

A Novel

by Tayari Jones

"A moving look at how incarceration changes relationships." - Bill Gates (Source)

Beyond the Crash

Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalization

by Gordon Brown

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Lincoln in the Bardo

A Novel

by George Saunders

"Despite being a work of fiction, it offered fresh insight that made me rethink parts of [Abraham Lincoln's] life." - Bill Gates (Source)

Priorities in Health

by Dean T. Jamison

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Best We Could Do

An Illustrated Memoir

by Thi Bui

"This powerful graphic novel explores parenthood and life during wartime." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Bully Pulpit

Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

"How Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft changed America." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Cost of Hope

A Memoir

by Amanda Bennett

"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 (Source)

The Foundation

A Great American Secret; How Private Wealth is Changing the World

by Joel L. Fleishman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Prize

The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power

by Daniel Yergin

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Liberating Learning

Technology, Politics, and the Future of American Education

by Terry M. Moe

"Looks at current efforts to use technology for online learning and to measure achievement." - Bill Gates (Source)

Buffett

The Making of an American Capitalist

by Roger Lowenstein

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Dirt and Disease

Polio Before FDR

by Naomi Rogers

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Energy at the Crossroads

Global Perspectives and Uncertainties

by Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Eradication

Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?

by Nancy Leys Stepan

"A useful history of efforts to eliminate diseases." - Bill Gates (Source)

Give Smart

Philanthropy that Gets Results

by Thomas J. Tierney

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Harvesting the Biosphere

What We Have Taken from Nature

by Vaclav Smil

"Gives as clear and as numeric a picture as is possible of how humans have altered the biosphere." - Bill Gates (Source)

Health Care Will Not Reform Itself

A User's Guide to Refocusing and Reforming American Health Care

by George C. Halvorson

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Interventions

A Life in War and Peace

by Kofi Annan

"For anybody who wants to understand the complexities of the role of the Secretary General, this book is an illuminating read." - Bill Gates (Source)

Tropical Infectious Diseases

Principles, Pathogens and Practice

by Richard L. Guerrant

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Global Warming

The Complete Briefing

by John Theodore Houghton

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

One Billion Hungry

Can We Feed the World?

by Gordon Conway

"Provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world." - Bill Gates (Source)

Polio

An American Story

by David M. Oshinsky

"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 (Source)

Reinventing Fire

Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era

by Amory Lovins

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Earth's Biosphere

Evolution, Dynamics, and Change

by Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The Fever

How Malaria Has Ruled Humankind for 500,000 Years

by Sonia Shah

"If you want to read just one book about malaria, [this book] is probably the best choice." - Bill Gates (Source)

Global Health

An Introductory Textbook

by Ann Lindstrand

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

House on Fire

The Fight to Eradicate Smallpox

by William H. Foege

"The amazing story of the eradication of smallpox." - Bill Gates (Source)

Smallpox

The Death of a Disease

by D.A. Henderson

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

The New Jim Crow

Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

by Michelle Alexander

"Offers an eye-opening look into how the criminal justice system unfairly targets communities of color, and especially Black communities." - Bill Gates (Source)

Range

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

by David J. Epstein

"I think [the author's] ideas even help explain some of Microsoft's success." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Splendid and the Vile

A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

by Erik Larson

"A great addition to the literature focused on that [World War II] tragic period." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Spy and the Traitor

The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War

by Ben Macintyre

"Every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels." - Bill Gates (Source)

Breath from Salt

A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever

by Bijal P. Trivedi

"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 (Source)

Lights Out

Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric

by Thomas Gryta

"An unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership." - Bill Gates (Source)

Under a White Sky

The Nature of the Future

by Elizabeth Kolbert

"About a number of the ways that people are intervening with nature, including gene drive and geoengineering." - Bill Gates (Source)

A Promised Land

by Barack Obama

"A fascinating look at what it’s like to steer a country through challenging times." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Overstory

A Novel

by Richard Powers

"One of the most unusual novels I’ve read in years." - Bill Gates (Source)

An Elegant Defense

The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives

by Matt Richtel

"A super interesting look at the science of immunity." - Bill Gates (Source)

Outliers

The Story of Success

by Malcolm Gladwell

"Makes a lot of great points." - Bill Gates (Source)

Life 3.0

Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

by Max Tegmark

"Anyone who wants to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the world should read this book." - Bill Gates (Source)

Principles

Life and Work

by Ray Dalio

"Ray Dalio has provided me with invaluable guidance and insights that are now available to you in Principles." - Bill Gates (Source)

Future Forward

Leadership Lessons from Patrick McGovern, the Visionary Who Circled the Globe and Built a Technology Media Empire

by Glenn Rifkin

"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 (Source)

Shoe Dog

A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

by Phil Knight

"A refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like." - Bill Gates (Source)

Born a Crime

Stories from a South African Childhood

by Trevor Noah

"Trevor Noah’s funny and moving account of growing up in South Africa." - Bill Gates (Source)

Abundance

The Future Is Better Than You Think

by Peter Diamandis

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

The Power

by Naomi Alderman

"I gained a stronger and more visceral sense of the abuse and injustice many women experience today." - Bill Gates (Source)

Why We're Polarized

by Ezra Klein

"Fundamentally about American politics, but it’s also a fascinating look at human psychology." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Lincoln Highway

A Novel

by Amor Towles

"Seems to be saying that our personal journeys are never as linear or predictable as we might hope." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Ministry for the Future

A Novel

by Kim Stanley Robinson

"Presents a stimulating and engaging story, spanning decades and continents." - Bill Gates (Source)

How the World Really Works

The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going

by Vaclav Smil

"If you want a brief but thorough education in numeric thinking about many of the fundamental forces that shape human life." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, Book 1

by Suzanne Collins

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. (Source)

Mountains Beyond Mountains

The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

by Tracy Kidder

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. (Source)

Stranger in a Strange Land

by Robert A. Heinlein

"One of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time." - Bill Gates (Source)

Surrender

40 Songs, One Story

by Bono

"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 (Source)

The Inner Game of Tennis

The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

by W. Timothy Gallwey

"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 (Source)

Mendeleyev's Dream

The Quest for the Elements

by Paul Strathern

"A fascinating look at how science develops and how human curiosity has evolved over the millennia." - Bill Gates (Source)

The Ride of a Lifetime

Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

by Robert Iger

"A short, readable book with smart insights, and along the way he crosses paths with some colorful characters." - Bill Gates (Source)

Play Nice But Win

A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader

by Michael Dell

"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 (Source)

The Coming Wave

Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma

by Mustafa Suleyman

"An excellent guide for navigating unprecedented times." - Bill Gates (Source)