If you are interested in the journey of the American inventor, you will have a great opportunity to read his memoir Source Code, which will be published in 2025. And now, to better understand his thinking and follow in his footsteps, we offer you a Bill Gates book list.
1. The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker
In The Better Angels of Our Nature, Pinker explores how and why violence has declined over the centuries, offering insight into the forces that make societies more peaceful. The book describes examples of acceptable violence, its internal and external causes, the humanitarian revolution, the rights revolution, peace, and war. Gates praised Pinker's data-driven approach and optimism, which is consistent with his belief in progress and the human capacity for improvement. Despite its complexity, you will find and analyze for yourself research and anecdotes and draw conclusions on questions that may be bothering you.
2. The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by W. Timothy Gallwey
The Inner Game of Tennis is a self-help book disguised as a tennis manual that teaches you how to improve your performance by learning to focus and quiet internal distractions. Just as in tennis, so in life, people want to win, but W. Timothy Gallwey assures us that the secret to winning any game lies in not trying too hard. Gates liked the lessons about focus and the mindset required for success in business and innovation. Read this book and make a list of rules and tips to follow.
3. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Sapiens is divided into four parts and describes the history of mankind from hunter-gatherers to the present day and explores the forces that have shaped civilizations. Some say that the book is as long as 443 pages, but the history of mankind at 100,000 years is not short either. Bill Gates became interested in the history of mankind described in the book, and because of this, he began to work on global development with more confidence and motivation. You can also read more details in our Sapiens summary.
4. How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil
“Every single good book about energy is from him” is how Bill Gates characterizes Vaclav Smil and calls him his favorite writer. For recommendations, Gates singles out one of his books, namely How the World Really Works. In it, Smil explains the fundamental processes and systems — energy, food, and manufacturing — that support modern society. If you are interested in finding out what four materials the world is built on, what three sources people get energy from, and so on, explore this book.
5. Educated by Tara Westover
Educated by Tara Westover is a memoir of her journey from a family of survivalists in rural Idaho to earning a PhD at Cambridge University, highlighting the transformative power of education. Gates valued sustainability and the emphasis on education as a tool for change, so this book was on his list of favorites. Reading the book, you will learn how Tara faced challenges, overcame problems with lack of money, got into uncomfortable moments, and navigated life. You can also follow her story more closely in our Educated summary.
6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic novel that explores the themes of wealth, ambition, and the American dream through the story of Jay Gatsby. Bill Gates loved this book because of its descriptive exploration of human desires and societal flaws that remain relevant today. He liked the book so much that he has a quote from it on his wall at home, namely “His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”
7. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye is the story of Holden Caulfield, a wealthy teenager who struggles with alienation and the complexities of growing up. Author J.D. Salinger explains life's crucial lessons, such as if you don't take risks, you will never define yourself. He also teaches you to find joy in the little things so that life stops being too complicated. The topic of self-discovery and authenticity attracted Bill Gates because this is what the famous American emphasizes for personal and professional growth.
8. Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street by John Brooks
Business Adventures is a collection of insightful and entertaining stories about business successes and failures in the mid-20th century. Gates liked the book because of the timeless lessons of decision-making and leadership it describes. Moreover, when Gates wrote about his admiration for the book in his blog, Business Adventures took first place on Amazon and the NYT. Read the book and you will be able to learn more about the growth of Xerox and Piggly Wiggly, the Ford Edsel fiasco, and the scandals of GE and Texas Gulf Sulphur.
9. Tap Dancing to Work by Carol J. Loomis
Another Bill Gates favorite is a set of collected articles on Warren Buffett, Tap Dancing to Work, which offers insight into his investment strategies and business philosophy. As a close friend of Buffett's, Gates enjoyed learning more about his mentor's principles and practices. Regardless of your line of work, this book offers a wealth of wisdom that is timeless and inspiring. Warren Buffett's quotes add authenticity, depth, and credibility to the book.
10. Factfulness by Hans Rosling
In his book Factfulness, Hans Rosling challenges common misconceptions about global trends, showing that the world is often better than we think. Gates has praised his data-driven optimism, which aligns with his own belief in informed decision-making for a better future. The book describes 10 instincts that distort our view of the world, including the instincts of separation, negativity, fear, generalization, fate, urgency, and others. You can also read more about the book in our Factfulness summary.
So, following Bill Gates’ advice — read as much as you can. Literature allows you to look at the world from a different perspective, which in turn allows you to see many new and unknown details. We hope that this list will be useful to you and that you will find motivation to move toward your goals.
