241 Books recommended by Bill Gates

Under a White Sky
The Nature of the Future
Author :Elizabeth Kolbert

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

Hot, Flat, and Crowded
Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
Author :Thomas L. Friedman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Rise and Fall of American Growth
The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War
Author :Robert J. Gordon

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

Guns, Germs, and Steel
The Fates of Human Societies
Author :Jared Diamond

"Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history." - Bill Gates [Source]


Becoming Steve Jobs
The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader
Author :Brent Schlender

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

The Future of Capitalism
Facing the New Anxieties
Author :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]

I Contain Multitudes
The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
Author :Ed Yong

"Helped me see microorganisms in a whole new light." - Bill Gates [Source]

Breath from Salt
A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever
Author :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]


The Better Angels of Our Nature
Why Violence Has Declined
Author :Steven Pinker

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

That Used to Be Us
How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back
Author :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]


Who's Teaching Your Children?
Why the Teacher Crisis Is Worse Than You Think and What Can Be Done About It
Author :Vivian Troen

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Frank Stewart's Bridge Club
Author :Frank Stewart

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Ride of a Lifetime
Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Author :Robert Iger

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



Energy Transitions
Global and National Perspectives
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

The Rational Optimist
How Prosperity Evolves
Author :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]



Blitzscaling
The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies
Author :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]

Lincoln in the Bardo
A Novel
Author :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]

The Sixth Extinction
An Unnatural History
Author :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]

Eradication
Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?
Author :Nancy Leys Stepan

"A useful history of efforts to eliminate diseases." - Bill Gates [Source]


When Breath Becomes Air
Author :Paul Kalanithi

"This book left me in tears." - Bill Gates [Source]

Prime Movers of Globalization
The History and Impact of Diesel Engines and Gas Turbines
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

Money Well Spent
A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy
Author :Paul Brest

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. [Source]

Energy and Civilization
A History
Author :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]

Epic Measures
One Doctor. Seven Billion Patients.
Author :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]

Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
Author :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 Cost of Hope
A Memoir
Author :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]

Sustainable Energy
Without the Hot Air
Author :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]

The Sympathizer
A Novel
Author :Viet Thanh Nguyen

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


A Gentleman in Moscow
A Novel
Author :Amor Towles

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

The Great Gatsby
Author :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 Jim Crow
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Author :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]

21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Author :Yuval Noah Harari

"A guide to worrying in the 21st century." - Bill Gates [Source]

The Bully Pulpit
Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism
Author :Doris Kearns Goodwin

"How Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft changed America." - Bill Gates [Source]

Why Nations Fail
The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
Author :Daron Acemoglu

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

Stress Test
Reflections on Financial Crises
Author :Timothy F. Geithner

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

Academically Adrift
Limited Learning on College Campuses
Author :Richard Arum

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

The Man Who Stayed Behind
Author :Sidney Rittenberg

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Author :Charlie Munger

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]



Class Warfare
Inside the Fight to Fix America's Schools
Author :Steven Brill

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


Army of None
Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War
Author :Paul Scharre

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

Leonardo da Vinci
Author :Walter Isaacson

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

Stranger in a Strange Land
Author :Robert A. Heinlein

"One of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time." - Bill Gates [Source]

The City That Became Safe
New York's Lessons for Urban Crime and Its Control
Author :Franklin E. Zimring

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

13 Things That Don't Make Sense
The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time
Author :Michael Brooks

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Power to Compete
An Economist and an Entrepreneur on Revitalizing Japan in the Global Economy
Author :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]

An American Marriage
A Novel
Author :Tayari Jones

"A moving look at how incarceration changes relationships." - Bill Gates [Source]

Harvesting the Biosphere
What We Have Taken from Nature
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

A Full Life
Reflections at Ninety
Author :Jimmy Carter

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

Global Warming
The Complete Briefing
Author :John Theodore Houghton

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games, Book 1
Author :Suzanne Collins

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

The New Science of Strong Materials
Or Why You Don't Fall through the Floor
Author :J.E. Gordon

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

Tropical Infectious Diseases
Principles, Pathogens and Practice
Author :Richard L. Guerrant

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]


Beyond Smoke and Mirrors
Mexican Immigration in an Era of Economic Integration
Author :Douglas S. Massey

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Poor Economics
A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty
Author :Abhijit V. Banerjee

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

Why Don't Students Like School?
A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom
Author :Daniel T. Willingham

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

Play Nice But Win
A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader
Author :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]



Dirt and Disease
Polio Before FDR
Author :Naomi Rogers

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Tomorrow's Table
Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food
Author :Pamela C. Ronald

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


Stretching the School Dollar
How Schools and Districts Can Save Money While Serving Students Best
Author :Frederick M. Hess

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

These Truths
A History of the United States
Author :Jill Lepore

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

Why We Sleep
Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Author :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]


Presidents of War
The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times
Author :Michael Beschloss

"Gave me insights about leadership." - Bill Gates [Source]

Turtles All the Way Down
Author :John Green

"My family loved reading this book together." - Bill Gates [Source]

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Author :Robert A. Heinlein

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

Why America Is Not a New Rome
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

Educational Economics
Where Do School Funds Go?
Author :Marguerite Roza

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

Why Does College Cost So Much?
Author :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]

Tools and Weapons
The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age
Author :Brad Smith

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

Future Forward
Leadership Lessons from Patrick McGovern, the Visionary Who Circled the Globe and Built a Technology Media Empire
Author :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]

SuperFreakonomics
Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance
Author :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]

Team of Rivals
The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Author :Doris Kearns Goodwin

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

In FED We Trust
Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic
Author :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]

The Splendid and the Vile
A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
Author :Erik Larson

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

Global Health
An Introductory Textbook
Author :Ann Lindstrand

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]


The Road to Character
Author :David Brooks

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

Six Days of the Condor
Condor, Book 1
Author :James Grady

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. [Source]


Only the Paranoid Survive
How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
Author :Andrew S. Grove

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

Work Hard. Be Nice.
How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America
Author :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]


Everything Happens for a Reason
And Other Lies I've Loved
Author :Kate Bowler

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

The Bottom Billion
Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It
Author :Paul Collier

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

Being Nixon
A Man Divided
Author :Evan Thomas

"Explores the different sides of a complicated man." - Bill Gates [Source]

Showing Up for Life
Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime
Author :Bill Gates Sr.

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
Author :Hans Rosling

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

Should We Eat Meat?
Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory
Author :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 Hair of the Dog
And Other Scientific Surprises
Author :Karl Sabbagh

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Business Adventures
Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street
Author :John Brooks

"The best business book I've ever read." - Bill Gates [Source]

Too Big to Fail
The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System--and Themselves
Author :Andrew Ross Sorkin

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]


The Overstory
A Novel
Author :Richard Powers

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

Interventions
A Life in War and Peace
Author :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]

The Spy and the Traitor
The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
Author :Ben Macintyre

"Every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels." - Bill Gates [Source]

Give Smart
Philanthropy that Gets Results
Author :Thomas J. Tierney

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]


Reinventing American Health Care
How the Affordable Care Act will Improve our Terribly Complex, Blatantly Unjust, Outrageously Expensive, Grossly Inefficient, Error Prone System
Author :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]

An Elegant Defense
The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives
Author :Matt Richtel

"A super interesting look at the science of immunity." - Bill Gates [Source]

The Lincoln Highway
A Novel
Author :Amor Towles

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

Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Author :Thomas Piketty

"A 700-page treatise on economics translated from French." - Bill Gates [Source]


Poor Numbers
How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics and What to Do about It
Author :Morten Jerven

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

Thinking, Fast and Slow
Author :Daniel Kahneman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

The Post-American World
Author :Fareed Zakaria

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]


Born a Crime
Stories from a South African Childhood
Author :Trevor Noah

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

Enriching the Earth
Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Transformation of World Food Production
Author :Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Making of a Tropical Disease
A Short History of Malaria
Author :Randall M. Packard

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Path Between the Seas
The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
Author :David McCullough

List of books Bill Gates read in 2013. [Source]


Railroader
The Unfiltered Genius and Controversy of Four-Time CEO Hunter Harrison
Author :Howard Green

List of books Bill Gates read in 2019. [Source]

Why We're Polarized
Author :Ezra Klein

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

Science Business
The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech
Author :Gary P. Pisano

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

How Asia Works
Author :Joe Studwell

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

Energy at the Crossroads
Global Perspectives and Uncertainties
Author :Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Reinventing Fire
Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era
Author :Amory Lovins

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]


How the World Really Works
The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
Author :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 Perfect Weapon
War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age
Author :David E. Sanger

List of books Bill Gates read in 2018. [Source]


Limits to Growth
The 30-Year Update
Author :Donella H. Meadows

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place
Author :Bjørn Lomborg

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]


Principles
Life and Work
Author :Ray Dalio

"Ray Dalio has provided me with invaluable guidance and insights that are now available to you in Principles." - Bill Gates [Source]
Also Recommended by

Moonwalking with Einstein
The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Author :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]

The Inner Game of Tennis
The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
Author :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]

The Vital Question
Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life
Author :Nick Lane

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

One Billion Hungry
Can We Feed the World?
Author :Gordon Conway

"Provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world." - Bill Gates [Source]

How Not to Be Wrong
The Power of Mathematical Thinking
Author :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]


Life Is What You Make It
Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment
Author :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
Author :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]

Origin Story
A Big History of Everything
Author :David Christian

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

Where Good Ideas Come From
The Natural History of Innovation
Author :Steven Johnson

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

The World Until Yesterday
What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?
Author :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]

The Checklist Manifesto
How to Get Things Right
Author :Atul Gawande

"A great read." - Bill Gates [Source]

Mountains Beyond Mountains
The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
Author :Tracy Kidder

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Global Catastrophes and Trends
The Next 50 Years
Author :Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Value-Added Measures in Education
What Every Educator Needs to Know
Author :Douglas N. Harris

"An economist explores a controversial subject: teacher accountability." - Bill Gates [Source]

Hit Refresh
The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone
Author :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]

The Foundation
A Great American Secret; How Private Wealth is Changing the World
Author :Joel L. Fleishman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

A World-Class Education
Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation
Author :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]

Thing Explainer
Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
Author :Randall Munroe

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

Nine Pints
A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood
Author :Rose George

"Everything you wanted to know about blood." - Bill Gates [Source]


The Best We Could Do
An Illustrated Memoir
Author :Thi Bui

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

Big History
From the Big Bang to the Present
Author :Cynthia Stokes Brown

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Earth's Biosphere
Evolution, Dynamics, and Change
Author :Vaclav Smil

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
Author :David Foster Wallace

List of books Bill Gates read in 2019. [Source]

Mendeleyev's Dream
The Quest for the Elements
Author :Paul Strathern

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

String Theory
David Foster Wallace on Tennis
Author :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]


Behind the Beautiful Forevers
Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Author :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]

Health Care Will Not Reform Itself
A User's Guide to Refocusing and Reforming American Health Care
Author :George C. Halvorson

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Idealist
Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty
Author :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]

Awakening Joy
10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness
Author :James Baraz

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

Hillbilly Elegy
A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Author :J. D. Vance

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

Liberating Learning
Technology, Politics, and the Future of American Education
Author :Terry M. Moe

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

A Champion's Mind
Lessons from a Life in Tennis
Author :Pete Sampras

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Energy Myths and Realities
Bringing Science to the Energy Policy Debate
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

The Magic of Reality
Author :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]
Sustainable Materials
Without the Hot Air
Author :Julian M. Allwood

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

The Black Swan
Incerto, Book 2
Author :Nassim Taleb

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

On Immunity
An Inoculation
Author :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]

Lights Out
Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric
Author :Thomas Gryta

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

The Art of Being Unreasonable
Lessons in Unconventional Thinking
Author :Eli Broad

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

Believe Me
A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens
Author :Eddie Izzard

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

The Most Powerful Idea in the World
A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention
Author :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]

Capitalism without Capital
The Rise of the Intangible Economy
Author :Jonathan Haskel

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

Priorities in Health
Author :Dean T. Jamison

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Brain Rules
12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School
Author :John Medina

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

Billion Dollar Whale
The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World
Author :Tom Wright

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

The Rosie Effect
Don Tillman, Book 2
Author :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]

For the Love of Physics
From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge Of Time - A Journey Through the Wonders of Physics
Author :Walter Lewin

"Helps you appreciate that physics is pretty basic stuff." - Bill Gates [Source]

Stuff Matters
Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World
Author :Mark Miodownik

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


Beyond the Crash
Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalization
Author :Gordon Brown

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]



House on Fire
The Fight to Eradicate Smallpox
Author :William H. Foege

"The amazing story of the eradication of smallpox." - Bill Gates [Source]

Change.edu
Rebooting for the New Talent Economy
Author :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]

Hyperbole and a Half
Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
Author :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]

Broken Genius
The Rise and Fall of William Shockley, Creator of the Electronic Age
Author :Joel N. Shurkin

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Moment of Lift
How Empowering Women Changes the World
Author :Melinda Gates

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

The Myth of the Strong Leader
Political Leadership in the Modern Age
Author :Archie Brown

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


Modernist Cuisine
The Art and Science of Cooking
Author :Nathan Myhrvold

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Tap Dancing to Work
Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2013
Author :Carol J. Loomis

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

Measure What Matters
How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs
Author :John Doerr

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

Making the Modern World
Materials and Dematerialization
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

The Great Escape
Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality
Author :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]

A Promised Land
Author :Barack Obama

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


The Man Who Fed the World
Author :Leon Hesser

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

This Time Is Different
Eight Centuries of Financial Folly
Author :Carmen M. Reinhart

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]


Creating the Twentieth Century
Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting Impact
Author :Vaclav Smil

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

Enlightenment Now
The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress
Author :Steven Pinker

"My new favorite book of all time." - Bill Gates [Source]


The World Is Flat
A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Author :Thomas L. Friedman

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness
How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day
Author :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]

Unlocking the Gates
How and Why Leading Universities Are Opening Up Access to Their Courses
Author :Taylor Walsh

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

The Signal and the Noise
Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't
Author :Nate Silver

"About predictions in many domains besides politics." - Bill Gates [Source]

World on the Edge
How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse
Author :Lester R. Brown

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]

Also Recommended by


The Ministry for the Future
A Novel
Author :Kim Stanley Robinson

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



Getting Better
Why Global Development Is Succeeding--And How We Can Improve the World Even More
Author :Charles Kenny

"Shines a light on the real successes of aid." - Bill Gates [Source]

The End of Poverty
Economic Possibilities for Our Time
Author :Jeffrey D. Sachs

List of books Bill Gates read in 2011. [Source]


Unlocking Energy Innovation
How America Can Build a Low-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy System
Author :Richard K. Lester

List of books Bill Gates read in 2012. [Source]

The Emperor of All Maladies
A Biography of Cancer
Author :Siddhartha Mukherjee

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

The Rosie Project
Don Tillman, Book 1
Author :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]
FAQs
Q1: How often does Bill Gates share his book recommendations?
Bill Gates regularly shares his book recommendations, especially in his annual summer and winter reading lists on his personal blog, Gates Notes.
Q2: Has Bill Gates written any books himself?
Yes, Bill Gates has authored several books. Some of his notable works include 'The Road Ahead' and 'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster'.
Q3: Does Bill Gates offer his own personal recommendations on books?
Yes, Bill Gates regularly shares his own personal recommendations on books via his blog, as well as his annual reading list.
Q4: Does Bill Gates focus on a specific genre or topic when recommending books?
While Bill Gates reads a wide range of genres, his recommendations often gravitate towards non-fiction titles that discuss global health, history, technology, and economics. However, he occasionally suggests fiction and other genres as well.