I try to read every day, whether I have a busy day at the office or am out for a hike. It’s one of my favorite ways to learn new things and better understand the world.
— Bill Gates
This list is curated from 343 mentions and sorted by most mentioned, then by date of most recent mention. The more a book is mentioned, the more likely it's recommended and a favorite... or they just like talking about it a lot!
Last updated: .
Why We’re Polarized
by Ezra Klein
Summer’s almost over. If you have time to sneak in another book or two – here are a few I recommend.
— Bill Gates
The Power
by Naomi Alderman
Summer’s almost over. If you have time to sneak in another book or two – here are a few I recommend.
— Bill Gates
The Lincoln Highway
by Amor Towles
Summer’s almost over. If you have time to sneak in another book or two – here are a few I recommend.
— Bill Gates
The Ministry for the Future
by Kim Stanley Robinson
Summer’s almost over. If you have time to sneak in another book or two – here are a few I recommend.
— Bill Gates
An Elegant Defense
by Matt Richtel
Matt Richtel’s fascinating book about the immune system
— Bill Gates
Under a White Sky
by Elizabeth Kolbert
More recently, I’ve gained a lot from reading a diverse set of books and authors including Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert, On Immunity by Eula Biss, The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Eradication by Nancy Stepan.
— Bill Gates
The Splendid and the Vile
by Erik Larson
This book has nothing to do with viruses or pandemics. But it is surprisingly relevant for these times. @exlarson provides a brilliant and gripping account of another era of widespread anxiety: the years 1940 and 1941.
— Bill Gates
A Thousand Brains
by Jeff Hawkins
Understanding how the connections in our brains give rise to consciousness and our ability to learn may help lead to great breakthroughs in the way we solve the world’s hardest problems. This is one of the most fascinating books I read this year.
— Bill Gates
The Gene
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
More recently, I’ve gained a lot from reading a diverse set of books and authors including Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert, On Immunity by Eula Biss, The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Eradication by Nancy Stepan.
— Bill Gates
A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles
I put Towles’s A Gentleman in Moscow on my summer books list back in 2019
— Bill Gates
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
a fun read even if you aren’t a sci-fi fan. I finished the whole thing in one weekend.
— Bill Gates
On Immunity
by Eula Biss
More recently, I’ve gained a lot from reading a diverse set of books and authors including Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert, On Immunity by Eula Biss, The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Eradication by Nancy Stepan.
— Bill Gates
Eradication
by Nancy Leys Stepan
More recently, I’ve gained a lot from reading a diverse set of books and authors including Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert, On Immunity by Eula Biss, The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Eradication by Nancy Stepan.
— Bill Gates
The Code Breaker
by Walter Isaacson
Isaacson does a good job highlighting the most important ethical questions around gene editing.
— Bill Gates
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
by Robert A. Heinlein
I read every book by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert Heinlein. (The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress was a particular favorite.)
— Bill Gates
Tarzan of the Apes
by Edgar Rice Burroughs
I read every book by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert Heinlein.
— Bill Gates
The Vital Question
by Nick Lane
As I was reading about Rocky, I couldn’t help but think about Nick Lane’s excellent book The Vital Question.
— Bill Gates
The Martian
by Andy Weir
He reminded me a lot of Mark Watney, the protagonist in The Martian. The two books deal with similar themes about how people work together in challenging situations, although the big difference with Project Hail Mary is that not all of the collaborators are human.
— Bill Gates
Numbers Don't Lie
by Vaclav Smil
My favorite author’s new book might be his best one yet. Each chapter covers one of 71 facts about the world that help you understand how history ties together. I unabashedly recommend it to anyone who loves learning.
— Bill Gates
Lights Out
by Thomas Gryta
How could a company as big and successful as GE fail? I’ve been thinking about that question for several years, and Lights Out finally gave me many of the answers I was seeking. The authors give you an unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership. If you’re in any kind of leadership role—whether at a company, a non-profit, or somewhere else—there’s a lot you can learn here.
— Bill Gates
A Promised Land
by Barack Obama
I am almost always interested in books about American presidents, and I especially loved A Promised Land. The memoir covers his early career up through the mission that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. President Obama is unusually honest about his experience in the White House, including how isolating it is to be the person who ultimately calls the shots. It’s a fascinating look at what it’s like to steer a country through challenging times.
— Bill Gates
The Overstory
by Richard Powers
This is one of the most unusual novels I’ve read in years. The Overstory follows the lives of nine people and examines their connection with trees. Some of the characters come together over the course of the book, while others stay on their own. Even though the book takes a pretty extreme view towards the need to protect forests, I was moved by each character’s passion for their cause and finished the book eager to learn more about trees.
— Bill Gates
The New Jim Crow
by Michelle Alexander
Like many white people, I’ve tried to deepen my understanding of systemic racism in recent months. Alexander’s book offers an eye-opening look into how the criminal justice system unfairly targets communities of color, and especially Black communities.
— Bill Gates
Range
by David Epstein
I started following Epstein’s work after watching his fantastic 2014 TED talk on sports performance. In this fascinating book, he argues that although the world seems to demand more and more specialization—in your career, for example—what we actually need is more people “who start broad and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives while they progress.”
— Bill Gates
The Spy and the Traitor
by Ben Macintyre
This nonfiction account focuses on Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB officer who became a double agent for the British, and Aldrich Ames, the American turncoat who likely betrayed him. Macintyre’s retelling of their stories comes not only from Western sources (including Gordievsky himself) but also from the Russian perspective. It’s every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels.
— Bill Gates
Breath from Salt
by Bijal P. Trivedi
This book is truly uplifting. It documents a story of remarkable scientific innovation and how it has improved the lives of almost all cystic fibrosis patients and their families. This story is especially meaningful to me because I know families who’ve benefited from the new medicines described in this book. I suspect we’ll see many more books like this in the coming years, as biomedical miracles emerge from labs at an ever-greater pace.
— Bill Gates
The Choice
by EDITH EGER
Melinda recommended that I read The Choice, and I’m glad she did. I think many people will find comfort right now from Dr. Edith Eva Eger's suggestions on how to handle difficult situations.
— Bill Gates
The Ride of a Lifetime
by Robert Iger
This is one of the best business books I’ve read in several years. Iger does a terrific job explaining what it’s really like to be the CEO of a large company. Whether you’re looking for business insights or just an entertaining read, I think anyone would enjoy his stories about overseeing Disney during one of the most transformative times in its history.
— Bill Gates
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness
by Andy Puddicombe
For years, I was a skeptic about meditation. Now I do it as often as I can—three times a week, if time allows. Andy’s book and the app he created, Headspace, are what made me a convert. Andy, a former Buddhist monk, offers lots of helpful metaphors to explain potentially tricky concepts in meditation. At a time when we all could use a few minutes to de-stress and re-focus each day, this is a great place to start.
— Bill Gates
Moonwalking with Einstein
by Joshua Foer
If you’re looking to work on a new skill, you could do worse than learning to memorize things. Foer is a science writer who got interested in how memory works, and why some people seem to have an amazing ability to recall facts. He takes you inside the U.S. Memory Championship—yes, that’s a real thing—and introduces you to the techniques that, amazingly, allowed him to win the contest one year.
— Bill Gates
The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion
All three of the Rosie novels made me laugh out loud. They’re about a genetics professor with Asperger’s Syndrome who (in the first book) goes looking for a wife and then (in the second and third books) starts a family. Ultimately the story is about getting inside the mind and heart of someone a lot of people see as odd, and discovering that he isn’t really that different from anybody else. Melinda got me started on these books, and I’m glad she did.
— Bill Gates
The Best We Could Do
by Thi Bui
In her memoir The Best We Could Do, for example, Thi Bui gains a new appreciation for what her parents—who survived the Vietnam War—went through. It’s a deeply personal book that explores what it means to be a parent and a refugee.
— Bill Gates
Hyperbole and a Half
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. I must have read Melinda a dozen hilarious passages out loud.
— Bill Gates
What If?
by Randall Munroe
Finally, I love the way that former NASA engineer Randall Munroe turns offbeat science lessons into super-engaging comics. The two books of his that I’ve read and highly recommend are What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, and XKCD Volume 0.
— Bill Gates
xkcd
by Randall Munroe
Finally, I love the way that former NASA engineer Randall Munroe turns offbeat science lessons into super-engaging comics. The two books of his that I’ve read and highly recommend are What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, and XKCD Volume 0.
— Bill Gates
Growth
by Vaclav Smil
Vaclav Smil is one of my favorite thinkers, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his new book about the growth of *everything*.
— Bill Gates
These Truths
by Jill Lepore
I’ve read a lot of books about history over the years, and These Truths by Jill Lepore is the most honest and unflinching account of the American story I’ve ever seen. It’s also one of the most beautifully written.
— Bill Gates
Radical Inclusion
by David Moinina Sengeh
When I first met @dsengeh in 2011, I was blown away by his intellect, his ambition, and his sense of humor. His new book is a must-read for anyone who wants to help create a truly inclusive world. https://b-gat.es/40WpcKk
— Bill Gates
Preventable
by Devi Sridhar
I’m excited to see @devisridhar‘s book in paperback. Her way of thinking about preparing for the next pandemic is one we should all pay attention to.
— Bill Gates
Weather for Dummies
by John Cox
Recently I was telling a friend about Weather for Dummies. This was not unusual—it’s actually one of the first books I recommend to anyone who wants to understand the weather and how it’s affected by climate change.
— Bill Gates
The Atmosphere
by Frederick K. Lutgens, Edward Tarbuck
Although it’s intended as a textbook for a college-level course, it’s quite accessible for anyone who’s motivated to learn about how the Earth’s climate works.
— Bill Gates
Physical Geology
by James S. Monroe, Reed Wicander, Richard Hazlett
Part of the joy of reading it is that you get into subjects you probably learned about in elementary school—like plate tectonics and volcanoes—but in way more depth, which makes them even more interesting.
— Bill Gates
Planet Earth
by John Renton
I appreciate this book for two reasons: because it’s fascinating on its own, and because it introduced me to John Renton as a teacher. After reading Planet Earth, I watched his series of video lectures, Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology, on The Great Courses.
— Bill Gates
The Song of the Cell
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
And I recently read Mukherjee’s newest book, The Song of the Cell, which is about how understanding cells is key to improving human health.
— Bill Gates
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
by Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Physics for Scientists and Engineers Study Guide
by Gene Mosca, Todd Ruskell
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Portable TA
by Andrew Elby
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Calculus 8th Edition
by James Stewart
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Biology
by Neil Campbell, Jane Reece
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Chemistry
by Geoffery Davies
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Physics For Dummies
by Steve Holzner
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Chemical, Biochemical, and Engineering Thermodynamics
by Stanley I. Sandler
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Materials Science and Engineering
by William D. Callister Jr., David G. Rethwisch
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactor Physics
by Elmer E. Lewis
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Nuclear and Particle Physics
by Brian R. Martin
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Nuclear Physics (Milestones Series)
by Harry Henderson
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Introduction to Nuclear Engineering
by John R. Lamarsh, Anthony Baratta
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Advanced Engineering Mathematics
by Erwin Kreyszig
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Structure of Materials
by Marc De Graef, Michael E. McHenry
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
The Basics of Crystallography and Diffraction
by C. Hammond
An email from my younger self. In 2008 I wanted a bunch of science textbooks.
— Bill Gates
Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro
This book made me think about what life with super intelligent robots might look like—and whether we’ll treat these kinds of machines as pieces of technology or as something more.
— Bill Gates
Hamnet
by Maggie O’Farrell
O’Farrell has built her story on two facts we know to be true about “The Bard”: his son Hamnet died at the age of 11, and a couple years later, Shakespeare wrote a tragedy called Hamlet. I especially enjoyed reading about his wife, Anne, who is imagined here as an almost supernatural figure.
— Bill Gates
Speed & Scale
by John Doerr
I read a lot of great books this year—including John Doerr’s latest about climate change
— Bill Gates
Foundation (7 books)
by Isaac Asimov
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with science fiction. Paul Allen and I would spend countless hours discussing Isaac Asimov’s original Foundation trilogy.
— Bill Gates
Grand Transitions
by Vaclav Smil
If you read Numbers Don’t Lie and like it, you might also enjoy Vaclav’s latest book Grand Transitions.
— Bill Gates
Cloud Atlas
by David Mitchell
This is the kind of novel you’ll think and talk about for a long time after you finish it. The plot is a bit hard to explain, because it involves six inter-related stories that take place centuries apart (including one I particularly loved about a young American doctor on a sailing ship in the South Pacific in the mid-1800s). But if you’re in the mood for a really compelling tale about the best and worst of humanity, I think you’ll find yourself as engrossed in it as I was.
— Bill Gates
The Great Influenza
by John M. Barry
We’re living through an unprecedented time right now. But if you’re looking for a historical comparison, the 1918 influenza pandemic is as close as you’re going to get. Barry will teach you almost everything you need to know about one of the deadliest outbreaks in human history. Even though 1918 was a very different time from today, The Great Influenza is a good reminder that we’re still dealing with many of the same challenges.
— Bill Gates
Good Economics for Hard Times
by Abhijit V. Banerjee, Esther Duflo
Banerjee and Duflo won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences last year, and they’re two of the smartest economists working today. Fortunately for us, they’re also very good at making economics accessible to the average person. Their newest book takes on inequality and political divisions by focusing on policy debates that are at the forefront in wealthy countries like the United States.
— Bill Gates
How To
by Randall Munroe
I also have Randall’s latest book, How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems, on my bookshelf and hope to read it soon.
— Bill Gates
When Breath Becomes Air
by Paul Kalanithi
This book definitely earned my admiration—and tears
— Bill Gates
The Last Lecture
by Jeffrey Zaslow, Randy Pausch
I didn’t love The Last Lecture or Tuesdays with Morrie.
— Bill Gates
Tuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch Albom
I didn’t love The Last Lecture or Tuesdays with Morrie
— Bill Gates
Only the Paranoid Survive
by Andrew S. Grove
[This] basic theme is in the culture of Microsoft.
— Bill Gates
Becoming Steve Jobs
by Brent Schlender
Has me thinking of my old friend. A true visionary.
— Bill Gates
Billion Dollar Whale
by Tom Wright
As Bad Blood is to biotech, Billion Dollar Whale is to international finance... a wonderful read... Thrilling.
— Bill Gates
Guns, Germs, and Steel
by Jared Diamond
Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history.
— Bill Gates
Life 3.0
by Max Tegmark
Anyone who wants to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the world should read this book.
— Bill Gates
The Art of Being Unreasonable
by Eli Broad
As a creator of successful companies, Eli Broad has few equals, and [this book] clearly shows why.
— Bill Gates
Future Forward
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
Principles
by Ray Dalio
Ray Dalio has provided me with invaluable guidance and insights that are now available to you in Principles.
— Bill Gates
Blitzscaling
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
Energy
by Vaclav Smil
There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil.
— Bill Gates
Hit Refresh
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
Tools and Weapons
by Brad Smith
A clear, compelling guide to some of the most pressing debates in technology today.
— Bill Gates
Measure What Matters
by John Doerr
I’d recommend [John Doerr]’s book for anyone interested in becoming a better manager.
— Bill Gates
Play Nice But Win
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
The Inner Game of Tennis
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
Surrender
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
Mendeleyev's Dream
by Paul Strathern
A fascinating look at how science develops and how human curiosity has evolved over the millennia.
— Bill Gates
Stranger in a Strange Land
by Robert A. Heinlein
One of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time.
— Bill Gates
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
by Yuval Noah Harari
A guide to worrying in the 21st century.
— Bill Gates
In FED We Trust
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
A Full Life
by Jimmy Carter
A quick, condensed tour of [Jimmy Carter]’s fascinating life.
— Bill Gates
Energy Myths and Realities
by Vaclav Smil
Examines the various predictions that have been made in the past and are still being made about energy use.
— Bill Gates
A World-Class Education
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
Academically Adrift
by Richard Arum
Raises some fundamental and surprising questions about the quality of U.S. undergraduate education.
— Bill Gates
The Rational Optimist
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
An American Marriage
by Tayari Jones
A moving look at how incarceration changes relationships.
— Bill Gates
Army of None
by Paul Scharre
The book I had been waiting for. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
— Bill Gates
Awakening Joy
by James Baraz
Even if you don’t read many inspirational books, try this is one.
— Bill Gates
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
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
Believe Me
by Eddie Izzard
If you have seen Eddie’s stuff and you like it [...] I promise you’ll love this book.
— Bill Gates
Blueprint
by Nicholas A. Christakis
Explains that humans have evolved to work together and be social.
— Bill Gates
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
by David Foster Wallace
List of books Bill Gates read in 2019.
— Bill Gates
Why Don't Students Like School?
by Daniel T. Willingham
List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.
— Bill Gates
How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place
by Bjørn Lomborg
List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
— Bill Gates
The Making of a Tropical Disease
by Randall M. Packard
List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
— Bill Gates
Tropical Infectious Diseases
by Richard L. Guerrant
List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
— Bill Gates
Health Care Will Not Reform Itself
by George C. Halvorson
List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.
— Bill Gates
Born a Crime
by Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah’s funny and moving account of growing up in South Africa.
— Bill Gates
Capitalism without Capital
by Jonathan Haskel
Explains how things we can’t touch are reshaping the economy.
— Bill Gates
Change.edu
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
Class Warfare
by Steven Brill
Shows just how difficult it is going to be to improve education.
— Bill Gates
Sustainable Energy
by David J.C. 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
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
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
Educated
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
Work Hard. Be Nice.
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
Liberating Learning
by Terry M. Moe
Looks at current efforts to use technology for online learning and to measure achievement.
— Bill Gates
Energy and Civilization
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
Epic Measures
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
Everything Happens for a Reason
by Kate Bowler
A wise and funny memoir from a young woman facing her own mortality.
— Bill Gates
Evicted
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
For the Love of Physics
by Walter Lewin
Helps you appreciate that physics is pretty basic stuff.
— Bill Gates
The Great Escape
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
Harvesting the Biosphere
by Vaclav Smil
Gives as clear and as numeric a picture as is possible of how humans have altered the biosphere.
— Bill Gates
Hillbilly Elegy
by J.D. Vance
I came away with new insights into the multifaceted cultural and family dynamics that contribute to poverty.
— Bill Gates
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
How Not to Be Wrong
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
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
Interventions
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
Jim Grant
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
Leonardo da Vinci
by Walter Isaacson
Sheds light on every facet of [Leonardo da Vinci]’s life.
— Bill Gates
Life Is What You Make It
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
Lincoln in the Bardo
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
Making the Modern World
by Vaclav Smil
[I] gained a new appreciation for all the materials that make modern life possible.
— Bill Gates
Mindset
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
One Billion Hungry
by Gordon Conway
Provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world.
— Bill Gates
Origin Story
by David Christian
Lifelong learners will appreciate this book about the history of everything.
— Bill Gates
Polio
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
Poor Economics
by Abhijit V. Banerjee
Does a great job of bringing alive the complexities of poor people’s lives.
— Bill Gates
Poor Numbers
by Morten Jerven
Makes a strong case that a lot of GDP measurements we thought were accurate are far from it.
— Bill Gates
Prepared
by Diane Tavenner
Offers amazing tips on preparing kids for college, a career, and life.
— Bill Gates
Prime Movers of Globalization
by Vaclav Smil
An entire book about the development and impact of gas turbines and diesel engines.
— Bill Gates
Reinventing American Health Care
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
Sapiens
by Yuval Noah Harari
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history.
— Bill Gates
Seveneves
by Neal Stephenson
Belongs in the subgenre of hard science fiction, which means it emphasizes scientific accuracy.
— Bill Gates
Shoe Dog
by Phil Knight
A refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like.
— Bill Gates
Should We Eat Meat?
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
Stress Test
by Timothy F. Geithner
The former Treasury Secretary's front-row view of the financial crisis.
— Bill Gates
Stretching the School Dollar
by Frederick M. Hess
Argues that schools can and must improve dramatically without additional resources – even, despite budget cuts.
— Bill Gates
String Theory
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
Stuff Matters
by Mark Miodownik
Read this book and you’ll never look at a pencil or razor the same way.
— Bill Gates
Sustainable Materials
by Julian M. Allwood
An excellent book about another key factor: how we make stuff.
— Bill Gates
Tap Dancing to Work
by Carol J. Loomis
A compilation of forty-plus years’ worth of coverage of Warren [Buffett] by the writers of Fortune.
— Bill Gates
That Used to Be Us
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
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
The Better Angels of Our Nature
by Steven Pinker
One of the most important books I’ve read—not just this year, but ever.
— Bill Gates
The Box
by Marc Levinson
Mostly about globalization, but there is also a larger story here that touches on business and philanthropy more broadly.
— Bill Gates
The Bully Pulpit
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
How Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft changed America.
— Bill Gates
The Cost of Hope
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
Energy Transitions
by Vaclav Smil
Explains the energy transitions that have driven social, economic and technological change worldwide over time.
— Bill Gates
The Fever
by Sonia Shah
If you want to read just one book about malaria, [this book] is probably the best choice.
— Bill Gates
The Future of Capitalism
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
The Bottom Billion
by Paul Collier
On the short list of books that I recommend to people.
— Bill Gates
The Emperor of All Maladies
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
I loved [this] brilliant book about cancer.
— Bill Gates
The Idealist
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
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
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
The Moment of Lift
by Melinda Gates
I would say this even if I weren’t married to the author: [this book] is a terrific read.
— Bill Gates
The Most Powerful Idea in the World
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
The Myth of the Strong Leader
by Archie Brown
Most people think strength is a positive quality in a leader, but this book proves them wrong.
— Bill Gates
Tomorrow's Table
by Pamela C. Ronald
For anyone who wants to learn about the science of seeds and the challenges faced by farmers.
— Bill Gates
The New Science of Strong Materials
by J.E. Gordon
A recapitulation of the history of materials told in an interesting and approachable way.
— Bill Gates
The Power to Compete
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
The Quest
by Daniel Yergin
Quite comprehensive in looking at many different kinds of energy.
— Bill Gates
The Rise and Fall of American Growth
by Robert J. Gordon
I did find his historical analysis, which makes up the bulk of the book, utterly fascinating.
— Bill Gates
The Road to Character
by David Brooks
It got me thinking about my own motivations and limitations in new ways.
— Bill Gates
The Rosie Effect
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
The Signal and the Noise
by Nate Silver
About predictions in many domains besides politics.
— Bill Gates
The Sixth Extinction
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
The Sympathizer
by Viet Thanh Nguyen
This thrilling story about a double agent lived up to the hype.
— Bill Gates
Thing Explainer
by Randall Munroe
Nuclear physics, space travel, and other topics made easy.
— Bill Gates
SuperFreakonomics
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
Value-Added Measures in Education
by Douglas N. Harris
An economist explores a controversial subject: teacher accountability.
— Bill Gates
Educational Economics
by Marguerite Roza
For a basic understanding of where education money comes from and how it gets spent.
— Bill Gates
Where Good Ideas Come from
by Steven Johnson
Quite good at giving examples of how you create environments that can encourage good ideas.
— Bill Gates
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
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
by Thomas Piketty
A 700-page treatise on economics translated from French.
— Bill Gates
Why Nations Fail
by Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson
A major disappointment. I found the authors’ analysis vague and simplistic.
— Bill Gates
Why We Sleep
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
The World Until Yesterday
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
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
The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
I didn't actually read Catcher in the Rye until I was 13 and you know ever since then I've said that's my favorite book
— Bill Gates
A Princess of Mars
by Edgar Rice Burroughs
[Edgar] Rice Burroughs wrote a martian series and I read that
— Bill Gates
A Separate Peace
by John Knowles
My second favorite book is the book by John Knowles called A Separate Peace and that's a phenomenal book
— Bill Gates
