List of Books Recommended by Bill Gates
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most influential figures in the tech industry, is not only a successful entrepreneur but also an book lover. Throughout his career, Bill Gates has consistently emphasized the importance of reading in expanding one’s knowledge, sparking new ideas, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world. Over the years, he has shared his favorite books with the public, revealing a diverse range of titles that have inspired him, challenged his perspectives, and shaped his thinking. From thought-provoking memoirs to groundbreaking scientific works, Gates’ recommended books offer a unique window into his intellectual curiosity and passion for learning. In this post, we’ll delve into the list of books recommended by Bill Gates, exploring the themes, ideas, and insights that have resonated with one of the most innovative minds of our time.
Biographies & Memoirs
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- Becoming Steve Jobs by Brent Schlender
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
- The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
- Open by Andre Agassi
- Educated by Tara Westover
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- The Man Who Fed the World by Leon Hesser
- A Full Life by Jimmy Carter
- A Champion’s Mind by Pete Sampras
- Believe Me by Eddie Izzard
- Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
Science & Technology
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari
- The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
- The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
- The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
- The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Factfulness by Hans Rosling
- How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff
- Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
- The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson
- Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark
- Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
- How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil
- Energy and Civilization by Vaclav Smil
- The Vital Question by Nick Lane
- Global Catastrophes and Trends by Vaclav Smil
- Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik
- The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver
Business, Economics, & Leadership
- Principles by Ray Dalio
- Blitzscaling by Reid Hoffman
- Measure What Matters by John Doerr
- Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger
- Business Adventures by John Brooks
- The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
- The Prize by Daniel Yergin
- Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin
- The Box by Marc Levinson
- Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty
- The Future of Capitalism by Paul Collier
- The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- The Most Powerful Idea in the World by William Rosen
- Play Nice But Win by Michael Dell
- The Road to Character by David Brooks
- Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson
- Leadership by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella
Psychology, Self-Development, & Philosophy
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
- How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
- The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Range by David Epstein
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins
- The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
- The Art of Being Unreasonable by Eli Broad
- The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
- The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
- How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg
History & Politics
- Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
- The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
- 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
- The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
- Collapse by Jared Diamond
- Destined for War by Graham Allison
- The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Stress Test by Timothy F. Geithner
- Evicted by Matthew Desmond
- The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
- Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein
- Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China by Ezra F. Vogel
Fiction & Literature
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
- Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
- The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
- The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
- Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
- Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
- The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- The Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol. I, II, III by Richard P. Feynman
- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Health & Well-being
- Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- How Not to Die by Michael Greger
- The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
- Open by Andre Agassi
- The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
- Blueprint by Nicholas A. Christakis
- Brain Rules by John Medina
- On Immunity by Eula Biss
- Outbreak Culture by Pardis Sabeti
- Eradication by Nancy Leys Stepan
Environment & Sustainability
- Abundance by Peter Diamandis
- Reinventing Fire by Amory Lovins
- The Grid by Phillip F. Schewe
- Sustainable Materials by Julian M. Allwood
- The Earth’s Biosphere by Vaclav Smil
- Harvesting the Biosphere by Vaclav Smil
- The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
- Energy at the Crossroads by Vaclav Smil
- The Future of Capitalism by Paul Collier
Education & Learning
- The Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol. I, II, III by Richard P. Feynman
- The Most Powerful Idea in the World by William Rosen
- How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place by Bjørn Lomborg
- The New Science of Strong Materials by J.E. Gordon
- A World-Class Education by Vivien Stewart
- The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
- Unlocking the Gates by Taylor Walsh
In conclusion, Bill Gates recommended books offer a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a visionary leader and lifelong learner. From the importance of empathy and cooperation to the power of innovation and critical thinking, these titles reflect Gates’ commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Whether you’re a business leader, a student, or simply a curious reader, this list is sure to inspire you to expand your knowledge, challenge your assumptions, and explore new ideas.
