Bill Gates - Wisdom Shelf

Bill Gates Book Recommendations (200 Books)

Bill Gates is an American business magnate, software developer, investor, and philanthropist.

200 Recommended 4 Written

Books Recommended by Bill Gates

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Why We Sleep

Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

Matthew Walker

Source: "Explains how neglecting sleep undercuts your creativity, problem solving, decision-making, learning, memory, heart health, brain health, mental health, emotional well-being, immune system, and even your life span." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Energy and Civilization

A History

Vaclav Smil

Source: "Goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans’ ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Most Powerful Idea in the World

A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention

William Rosen

Source: "An entertaining narrative weaving together the clever characters, incremental innovations and historical context behind the steam engines that gave birth to our modern world." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Great Gatsby

Source: "Melinda and I really like [this book]. When we were first dating, she had a green light that she would turn on when her office was empty and it made sense for me to come over." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Mindset

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck

Source: "Dweck and her research have helped my foundation colleagues and me understand more about the attitudes and habits that allow some students to persevere in school despite big challenges." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Blitzscaling

The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies

Reid Hoffman

Source: "The case studies you’re about to explore and the tools you’re about to gain have never been more relevant. This is an ideal moment to be reading this book." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

On Immunity

An Inoculation

Eula Biss

Source: "[I] had no idea how informative [this book] would be, even for someone like me who has been supporting and learning about vaccine research for many years." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Change.edu

Rebooting for the New Talent Economy

Andrew S Rosen

Source: "Builds a persuasive case that many non-traditional students, such as working adults, parents and those at risk of dropping out, are not well served by traditional institutions." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

A World-Class Education

Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation

Vivien Stewart

Source: "Looks at five countries—Singapore, Canada, Finland, China, and Australia—where students are doing significantly better on global assessments than students in the U.S." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Cost of Hope

A Memoir

Amanda Bennett

Source: "Amanda’s story is personal, filled with moments of anguish, grief and love but she also tries to draw attention to what she discovers is a flawed health care system." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Jim Grant

UNICEF Visionary

Peter Adamson

Source: "The amazing story of Jim Grant, whose influence in making vaccines widely available in the developing world is credited with saving the lives of 25 million children." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Sustainable Energy

Without the Hot Air

David JC MacKay

Source: "If someone wants an overall view of how energy gets used, where it comes from, and the challenges in switching to new sources, this is the book to read." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The World Until Yesterday

What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?

Jared Diamond

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

0 recommenders

Polio

An American Story

David M. Oshinsky

Source: "Influenced the decision that Melinda and I made to make polio eradication the top priority of the foundation, as well as my own personal priority." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Magic of Reality

Richard Dawkins

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

0 recommenders

Future Forward

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

Glenn Rifkin

Source: "Patrick McGovern shaped the way that millions of people grew to understand the enormous potential of computers and how they would change the world." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Breath from Salt

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

Bijal P. Trivedi

Source: "Documents a story of remarkable scientific innovation and how it has improved the lives of almost all cystic fibrosis patients and their families." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

Joshua Foer

Source: "I never thought much about whether I could improve my memory across a wider set of domains, but now I think I could, after reading [this book]." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Life Is What You Make It

Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment

Peter Buffett

Source: "Peter Buffett writes about the values he absorbed growing up as one of three children of Warren Buffett and the late Susan Buffett." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Bet

Paul Sabin

Source: "Gave me new perspective on why so many big challenges get bogged down in political battles rather than being focused on problem-solving." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Power to Compete

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

Hiroshi Mikitani

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

0 recommenders

Educated

Source: "I thought I was pretty good at teaching myself—until I read [this book]. Her ability to learn on her own blows mine right out of the water." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Rosie Project

Don Tillman, Book 1

Graeme Simsion

Source: "Anyone who occasionally gets overly logical will identify with the hero. [...] one of the most profound novels I’ve read in a long time." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Play Nice But Win

A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader

Michael Dell

Source: "Walks you through every step of his journey, from starting a company in his college dorm to pulling off the largest all-tech acquisition in history." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

In FED We Trust

Ben Bernanke's War on the Great Panic

David Wessel

Source: "If someone wants to understand what happened during what they call the 'Great Panic,' this is one of the books they should be read." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The New Jim Crow

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

0 recommenders

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness

How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day

Andy Puddicombe

Source: "If you want to try meditation for yourself, one good way to ease into it—especially if you’re as skeptical as I was—is to pick up a copy of [this book]." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Reinventing American Health Care

How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day

Andy Puddicombe

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

0 recommenders

Interventions

A Life in War and Peace

Kofi Annan

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

0 recommenders

The Inner Game of Tennis

The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

W. Timothy Gallwey

Source: "Gives excellent advice about how to move on constructively from mistakes, which I’ve tried to follow both on and off the court over the years." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Energy Myths and Realities

Bringing Science to the Energy Policy Debate

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

How the World Really Works

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

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

Under a White Sky

The Nature of the Future

Elizabeth Kolbert

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

0 recommenders

The Power

Naomi Alderman

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

0 recommenders

How to Lie with Statistics

Darrell Huff

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

0 recommenders

Evicted

Poverty and Profit in the American City

Matthew Desmond

Source: "Gave me a better sense of what it is like to be very poor in this country than anything else I have read." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

That Used to Be Us

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

Thomas L. Friedman

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

0 recommenders

How Asia Works

Joe Studwell

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

0 recommenders

The Future of Capitalism

Facing the New Anxieties

Paul Collier

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

0 recommenders

Hit Refresh

Satya Nadella

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

0 recommenders

Surrender

40 Songs, One Story

Bono

Source: "A super fun read about how a boy from the suburbs of Dublin grew up to become a world-famous rock star and philanthropist." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

The Lincoln Highway

A Novel

Amor Towles

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

0 recommenders

Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China

Ezra F. Vogel

Source: "If you’re going to read one book about modern China in the period after Mao, then this is the book you should read." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Should We Eat Meat?

Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

Billion Dollar Whale

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

Tom Wright

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

0 recommenders

The Man Who Fed the World

Leon Hesser

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

0 recommenders

Energy Transitions

Global and National Perspectives

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

The Great Escape

Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality

Angus Deaton

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

0 recommenders

Poor Numbers

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

Morten Jerven

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

0 recommenders

The Box

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

Marc Levinson

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

0 recommenders

Lincoln in the Bardo

A Novel

George Saunders

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

0 recommenders

How Not to Be Wrong

The Power of Mathematical Thinking

Jordan Ellenberg

Source: "On the surface it’s about math, but it’s really about how much math plays into our daily lives without our even knowing it." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Hyperbole and a Half

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

Allie Brosh

Source: "You will rip through it in three hours, tops. But you’ll wish it went on longer, because it’s funny and smart as hell." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

These Truths

A History of the United States

Jill Lepore

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

0 recommenders

Epic Measures

One Doctor. Seven Billion Patients.

Jeremy N. Smith

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

0 recommenders

Tomorrow's Table

Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food

Pamela C. Ronald

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

0 recommenders

SuperFreakonomics

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

Steven D. Levitt

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

0 recommenders

The Sixth Extinction

An Unnatural History

Elizabeth Kolbert

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

0 recommenders

Why Does College Cost So Much?

Robert B. Archibald

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

0 recommenders

Harvesting the Biosphere

What We Have Taken from Nature

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

Principles

Life and Work

Ray Dalio

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

0 recommenders

Sapiens

A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari

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

0 recommenders

The Rosie Effect

Don Tillman, Book 2

Graeme Simsion

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

0 recommenders

Measure What Matters

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

John Doerr

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

0 recommenders

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity

Katherine Boo

Source: "If you want to read an unvarnished, first-hand account of life in one of India’s slums you should pick up [this book]." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Work Hard. Be Nice.

How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America

Jay Mathews

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

0 recommenders

Hillbilly Elegy

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

0 recommenders

Liberating Learning

Technology, Politics, and the Future of American Education

Terry M. Moe

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

0 recommenders

The Ride of a Lifetime

Bob Iger

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

0 recommenders

The Rational Optimist

How Prosperity Evolves

Matt Ridley

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

0 recommenders

Academically Adrift

Limited Learning on College Campuses

Richard Arum

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

0 recommenders

Stretching the School Dollar

How Schools and Districts Can Save Money While Serving Students Best

Frederick M. Hess

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

0 recommenders

xkcd

volume 0

Randall Munroe

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

0 recommenders

Where Good Ideas Come From

The Natural History of Innovation

Steven Johnson

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

0 recommenders

Making the Modern World

Materials and Dematerialization

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

Mendeleyev's Dream

The Quest for the Elements

Paul Strathern

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

0 recommenders

The New Science of Strong Materials

Or Why You Don't Fall through the Floor

J.E. Gordon

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

0 recommenders

Prime Movers of Globalization

The History and Impact of Diesel Engines and Gas Turbines

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

Tap Dancing to Work

Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2013

Carol J. Loomis

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

0 recommenders

Educational Economics

Where Do School Funds Go?

Marguerite Roza

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

0 recommenders

The Moment of Lift

Melinda Gates

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

0 recommenders

The Idealist

Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty

Nina Munk

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

0 recommenders

Seveneves

A Novel

Neal Stephenson

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

0 recommenders

A Gentleman in Moscow

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

0 recommenders

The Art of Being Unreasonable

Lessons in Unconventional Thinking

Eli Broad

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

0 recommenders

The Myth of the Strong Leader

Political Leadership in the Modern Age

Archie Brown

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

0 recommenders

The Ministry for the Future

A Novel

Kim Stanley Robinson

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

0 recommenders

The Vital Question

Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life

Nick Lane

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

0 recommenders

Everything Happens for a Reason

And Other Lies I've Loved

Kate Bowler

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

0 recommenders

Shoe Dog

A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

Phil Knight

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

0 recommenders

Stuff Matters

Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World

Mark Miodownik

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

0 recommenders

String Theory

David Foster Wallace on Tennis

David Foster Wallace

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

0 recommenders

Prepared

What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life

Diane Tavenner

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

0 recommenders

Life 3.0

Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Max Tegmark

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

0 recommenders

The Gene

An Intimate History

Siddhartha Mukherjee

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

0 recommenders

Tools and Weapons

The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age

Brad Smith

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

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Why America Is Not a New Rome

Vaclav Smil

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

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Stress Test

Reflections on Financial Crises

Timothy F. Geithner

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

0 recommenders

The Fever

How Malaria Has Ruled Humankind for 500,000 Years

Sonia Shah

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

0 recommenders

Why We're Polarized

Ezra Klein

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

0 recommenders

The Splendid and the Vile

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

Erik Larson

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

0 recommenders

A Promised Land

Barack Obama

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

0 recommenders

The Rise and Fall of American Growth

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

Robert J. Gordon

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

0 recommenders

Believe Me

A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens

Eddie Izzard

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

0 recommenders

Army of None

Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War

Paul Scharre

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

0 recommenders

Energy

A Beginner's Guide

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

The Better Angels of Our Nature

Why Violence Has Declined

Steven Pinker

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

0 recommenders

Guns, Germs, and Steel

The Fates of Human Societies

Jared Diamond

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

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The Road to Character

David Brooks

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

0 recommenders

Why Nations Fail

The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

Daron Acemoglu

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

0 recommenders

The Quest

Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World

Daniel Yergin

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

0 recommenders

The Best We Could Do

An Illustrated Memoir

Thi Bui

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

0 recommenders

Lights Out

Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric

Thomas Gryta

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

0 recommenders

Origin Story

A Big History of Everything

David Christian

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

0 recommenders

Poor Economics

A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty

Abhijit V. Banerjee

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

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The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

Robert A. Heinlein

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

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What If?

Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

Randall Munroe

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

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Awakening Joy

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

James Baraz

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

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Value-Added Measures in Education

What Every Educator Needs to Know

Douglas N. Harris

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

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Blueprint

The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society

Nicholas A. Christakis

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

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Capital in the Twenty-First Century

Thomas Piketty

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

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Born a Crime

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

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Range

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David J. Epstein

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

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Growth

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David J. Epstein

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

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Sustainable Materials

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David J. Epstein

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

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One Billion Hungry

Can We Feed the World?

Gordon Conway

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

0 recommenders

Capitalism without Capital

The Rise of the Intangible Economy

Jonathan Haskel

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

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The Coming Wave

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

Mustafa Suleyman

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

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Thing Explainer

Complicated Stuff in Simple Words

Randall Munroe

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

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I Contain Multitudes

The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

Ed Yong

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

0 recommenders

The Overstory

A Novel

Richard Powers

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

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Becoming Steve Jobs

The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader

Brent Schlender

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

0 recommenders

An American Marriage

A Novel

Tayari Jones

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

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A Full Life

Reflections at Ninety

Jimmy Carter

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

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Factfulness

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

Hans Rosling

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

0 recommenders

Leonardo da Vinci

Walter Isaacson

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

0 recommenders

The Sympathizer

A Novel

Viet Thanh Nguyen

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

0 recommenders

An Elegant Defense

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

Matt Richtel

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

0 recommenders

The Bottom Billion

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

Paul Collier

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

0 recommenders

Homo Deus

A Brief History of Tomorrow

Yuval Noah Harari

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

0 recommenders

Being Nixon

A Man Divided

Evan Thomas

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

0 recommenders

The Bully Pulpit

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

Doris Kearns Goodwin

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

0 recommenders

House on Fire

The Fight to Eradicate Smallpox

William H. Foege

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

0 recommenders

Bad Blood

Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

John Carreyrou

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

0 recommenders

Stranger in a Strange Land

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

0 recommenders

The Spy and the Traitor

The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War

Ben Macintyre

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

0 recommenders

Getting Better

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

Charles Kenny

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

0 recommenders

Class Warfare

Inside the Fight to Fix America's Schools

Steven Brill

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

0 recommenders

Eradication

Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?

Nancy Leys Stepan

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

0 recommenders

The Signal and the Noise

Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't

Nate Silver

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

0 recommenders

For the Love of Physics

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

Walter Lewin

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

0 recommenders

Upheaval

Turning Points for Nations in Crisis

Jared Diamond

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

0 recommenders

Business Adventures

Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street

John Brooks

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

0 recommenders

The Heart

A Novel

Maylis de Kerangal

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

0 recommenders

Only the Paranoid Survive

How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company

Andrew S. Grove

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

0 recommenders

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari

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

0 recommenders

Turtles All the Way Down

John Green

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

0 recommenders

The Emperor of All Maladies

A Biography of Cancer

Siddhartha Mukherjee

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

0 recommenders

Enlightenment Now

The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

Steven Pinker

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

0 recommenders

Presidents of War

The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times

Michael Beschloss

Source: "Gave me insights about leadership." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

Nine Pints

A Journey Through the Mysterious, Miraculous World of Blood

Rose George

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

0 recommenders

When Breath Becomes Air

Paul Kalanithi

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

0 recommenders

Outliers

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

0 recommenders

Creating the Twentieth Century

Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting Impact

Vaclav Smil

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

0 recommenders

The Checklist Manifesto

How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

Source: "A great read." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

A Separate Peace

Source: "My second favorite book." - Bill Gates

0 recommenders

13 Things That Don't Make Sense

The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time

Michael Brooks

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Brain Rules

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

John Medina

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

The Black Swan

Incerto, Book 2

Nassim Taleb

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

Poor Charlie's Almanack

The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

Charlie Munger

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Collapse

How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Jared Diamond

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

The World Is Flat

Thomas L. Friedman

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Too Big to Fail

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

Andrew Ross Sorkin

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

David Foster Wallace

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2019.

0 recommenders

The Cat's Table

Michael Ondaatje

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

Showing Up for Life

Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime

Bill Gates Sr.

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Identity

Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv

Roman Mars

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2018.

0 recommenders

Broken Genius

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

Joel N. Shurkin

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Modernist Cuisine

The Art and Science of Cooking

Nathan Myhrvold

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Who's Teaching Your Children?

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

Vivian Troen

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Big History

From the Big Bang to the Present

Cynthia Stokes Brown

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Why Don't Students Like School?

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

Daniel T. Willingham

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

The Perfect Weapon

War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age

David E. Sanger

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2018.

0 recommenders

Hot, Flat, and Crowded

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

Thomas L. Friedman

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Dad Is Fat

Jim Gaffigan

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2019.

0 recommenders

Unlocking the Gates

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

Taylor Walsh

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

This Time Is Different

Eight Centuries of Financial Folly

Carmen M. Reinhart

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

Open

An Autobiography

Andre Agassi

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Beyond Smoke and Mirrors

Mexican Immigration in an Era of Economic Integration

Douglas S. Massey

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Titan II

A History of a Cold War Missile Program

David Stumpf

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

The Hair of the Dog

And Other Scientific Surprises

Karl Sabbagh

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

The Grid

A Journey Through the Heart of Our Electrified World

Phillip F. Schewe

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Six Days of the Condor

Condor, Book 1

James Grady

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2018.

0 recommenders

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

Bjørn Lomborg

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

Einstein

His Life and Universe

Walter Isaacson

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

World on the Edge

How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse

Lester R. Brown

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

The Path Between the Seas

The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

David McCullough

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2013.

0 recommenders

The City That Became Safe

New York's Lessons for Urban Crime and Its Control

Franklin E. Zimring

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2012.

0 recommenders

The End of Poverty

Economic Possibilities for Our Time

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Source: List of books Bill Gates read in 2011.

0 recommenders

How to Prevent the Next Pandemic

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need

Business @ the Speed of Thought

The Road Ahead

Other Experts

Caroline Paul

6 books

Cheryl Strayed

6 books

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WISDOM

SHELF

Bill Gates Book Recommendations (200 Books)

Why We Sleep

Energy and Civilization

The Most Powerful Idea in the World

The Great Gatsby

Mindset

Blitzscaling

On Immunity

Change.edu

A World-Class Education

The Cost of Hope

Jim Grant

Sustainable Energy

The World Until Yesterday

Polio

The Magic of Reality

Future Forward

Breath from Salt

Moonwalking with Einstein

Life Is What You Make It

The Bet

The Power to Compete

Educated

The Rosie Project

Play Nice But Win

In FED We Trust

The New Jim Crow

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness

Reinventing American Health Care

Interventions

The Inner Game of Tennis

Energy Myths and Realities

How the World Really Works

Under a White Sky

The Power

How to Lie with Statistics

Evicted

That Used to Be Us

How Asia Works

The Future of Capitalism

Hit Refresh

Surrender

The Lincoln Highway

Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China

Should We Eat Meat?

Billion Dollar Whale

The Man Who Fed the World

Energy Transitions

The Great Escape

Poor Numbers

The Box

Lincoln in the Bardo

How Not to Be Wrong

Hyperbole and a Half

These Truths

Epic Measures

Tomorrow's Table

SuperFreakonomics

The Sixth Extinction

Why Does College Cost So Much?

Harvesting the Biosphere

Principles

Sapiens

The Rosie Effect

Measure What Matters

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Work Hard. Be Nice.

Hillbilly Elegy

Liberating Learning

The Ride of a Lifetime

The Rational Optimist

Academically Adrift

Stretching the School Dollar

xkcd

Where Good Ideas Come From

Making the Modern World

Mendeleyev's Dream

The New Science of Strong Materials