№ 01
“I loved this terrific novel about Tova, a 70-year-old woman who works night shifts cleaning an aquarium and finds fulfillment caring for a clever octopus.” source
Co-founder of Microsoft
Bill Gates
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft and now leads global health work through the Gates Foundation. He is also one of tech's most influential book recommenders, publishing summer and year-end lists on his blog Gates Notes that span science, history, policy, and fiction.
24
Recommendations
2025
Most recent list
Non-Fiction
Most-recommended
On the record
All Bill Gates book recommendations.
№ 02
“Her new book is one of the clearest explanations of the climate challenge I've read. If you want a hopeful, fact-driven overview of where climate solutions stand, this is a great pick.” source
№ 03
“I've known Barry for decades, but his memoir still surprised and taught me a lot. He's spent his life betting on ideas before they were obvious, and the industries he's transformed show how much those bets can pay off.” source
№ 04
“Few people explain the mysteries of human behavior better than Steven Pinker, and his latest book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about how people communicate.” source
№ 05
“This book is a sharp look at why America seems to struggle to build things and what it will take to fix that. It asks the right questions about how the U.S. can rebuild our capacity to get big things done.” source
№ 06
“I loved hearing Kay talk about her remarkable life: taking over the Post at a time when few women were in leadership positions like that, standing up to President Nixon to protect the paper's reporting on Watergate and the Pentagon Papers.” source
№ 07
“In this terrific memoir, Nick writes about how he stays optimistic about the world despite everything he's seen. His book made me think: The world would be better off with more Nick Kristofs.” source
№ 08
“At some point in your childhood, you go from thinking your parents know everything to seeing them as adults with limitations. Tara beautifully captures that process of self-discovery in this unforgettable memoir.” source
№ 09
“In this book, and in his comedy, Trevor uses his outside perspective to his advantage. His outlook transcends borders.” source
№ 10
“Bono shows a lot of vulnerability in this surprisingly open memoir, writing about his “need to be needed” and how he learned he'll never fill his emotional needs by playing for huge crowds.” source
№ 11
“Doris is such a talented writer that the chapters about her love story are just as engaging and enlightening as the chapters about the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War.” source
№ 12
“This book is a must-read for anyone raising, working with, or teaching young people today. Haidt explains how the shift from play-based childhoods to phone-based childhoods is transforming how kids develop and process emotions.” source
№ 13
“It will reward your curiosity and answer questions you didn't even know you had.” source
№ 14
“He offers the best explanation I've seen yet of how artificial intelligence, along with other scientific advances, like gene editing, is poised to reshape every aspect of society. If you want to understand the rise of AI, this is the best book to read.” source
№ 15
“If you, or someone you love, is a fan of Roger's, Federer is a wonderful retrospective of his life and career. I thought I knew pretty much everything about Roger's history with tennis, but I learned a ton.” source
№ 16
“This terrific novel tells the story of a U.S. Army nurse who serves two tours on the frontlines in Vietnam before returning home to a country rocked by protest and anti-war sentiment.” source
№ 17
“If you want to help create a more equitable world but don't know where to start, Infectious Generosity is for you.” source
№ 18
“No one has sharper insights into the future of education than Sal does, and I can't recommend Brave New Words enough.” source
№ 19
“It's more than a guide to better conversations; it's a blueprint for a more connected and humane way of living.” source
№ 20
“To understand what's happening in those moments, and to feel optimistic that things will get better, it helps to know something about cells, the building blocks of life. Mukherjee's latest book will give you that knowledge.” source
№ 21
“Ritchie uses data to tell a counterintuitive story that contradicts the doomsday scenarios on climate and other environmental topics without glossing over the challenges. Everyone who wants to have an informed conversation about climate change should read this book.” source
№ 22
“Even though we don't see the future the same way, nobody is better than Smil at explaining the past. If you want to know how human ingenuity brought us to this moment in time, I highly recommend Invention and Innovation.” source
№ 23
“I really related to the story. In fact, it reminded me a lot of my relationship with Paul Allen and our work together at Microsoft. Zevin is a great writer who makes you care deeply about her characters.” source
№ 24
“I'm a student of Africa, but I still learned a lot from this thoughtful, well-researched book. I mean it as a compliment when I say that Born in Blackness left me wanting to know more.” source
Readers with overlapping taste
