“You don’t really start getting old until you stop learning” – Bill Gates
One of the best ways to know the secrets behind the success of Bill Gates, who is one of the richest men in the world, co-founder of Microsoft, and an eminent philanthropist, is to have a sneak-peak into the kind of books that he reads to continue on his journey to success. In an interview with Time, Bill Gates said that back in childhood, he mainly read non-fiction books, and his reading list included genres that gave him deep insight into the various topics, mysteries, and issues of the world. Bill Gates shared that he makes the most out of every book by taking a lot of notes on the margins. He told Time he even on vacation he spends most of his time reading books.
Best Books Recommended By Bill Gates
Despite having a jam-packed routine Bill Gates always puts aside plenty of time to devour at least one book a week, which sums up to about 50 books a year. He recommended a wide range of books for us to follow in his footsteps and carve out our own road to success. Now let’s jump straight into the list of great books recommended by Bill Gates himself!
1. Breath from Salt by Bijal P. Trivedi
Bijal P. Trivedi is an award-winning freelance writer, and in this book, he records the struggles and death that thousands of infants and children had to face due to the arousal of a deadly lung disease called Cystic Fibrosis. This book (Breath from Salt: A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine) portrays the emotional turbulences experienced by families, patients, doctors, physicians, and scientists, from coping with thousands of deaths to finally inventing drugs that not only cure Cystic Fibrosis but also diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and sickle-cell anemia. You can get the book here! 📖
2. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
This novel revolves around the quest of Don Tilman, a professor of genetics, for love and the quest of Rosy Jarman for her biological father and self-identity. Graeme Simison beautifully penned down the story, which gives a reality check about what it is like to search for love and what love actually is. You can get the book here! 📖
3. Business Adventures by John Brooks
Warren Buffet gifted this book to Bill Gates in 1991, and he keeps emphasizing the significance of this book. John Brooks documents all the incidents and blunders that happened in the corporate sector in Wall Street back in the 20th century. It gives a deep insight into both the darker and the brighter side of the corporate and finance sectors. This book (Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales from the world of Wall Street) tells a story about the struggles of the businessmen and leaders and their accomplishments. You can get the book here! 📖
4. Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson
This book (Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation) shifts the perspective of people towards ideas and innovation. It solves the mysteries of where ideas come from, how it is sustained and utilized, what ignites the excellence in mind, how these ideas give rise to unique and beneficial inventions which bring about revolutionary changes in this world. Steven Johnson backs the theory of ideas and innovation with seven main patterns. You can get the book here! 📖
5. Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
This book (Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything) boosts your memory and explains the science of remembering things. The vivid concept of functioning of the mind and presentation of memory as the most important element of mind is shown in the book, and that fascinated Bill Gates. Joshua Foer has included all the tricks for sharpening your memory by drawing on references from scientific reasons and the cultural history of remembering. You can get the book here! 📖
6. Awakening Joy by James Baraz
Bill Gates states that joy does not depend on luck; rather, it depends on choice. James Baraz put all his experience and learning of Buddhist philosophy into this book (Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to True Happiness), which encourages you to discover and explore the road to self-contentment and happiness, which is lying ahead of you, but you are unable to see it. You can get the book here! 📖
7. The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
Bill Gates recommended this book for summer reading 2020 in his blog ‘GatesNotes.’ This book (The Choice: Embrace the Possible) is an amalgamation of memoir and a guide to get through traumatic experiences. Edith Eva Eger had horrific experiences in the past whose indelible mark kept on haunting her. She documents her process of recovery and dealing with her struggles, and through her own moving stories, she helps everyone heal their deepest wounds. You can get the book here! 📖
8. The Great Influenza by John M.Barry
We are living through uncertain times, and what would be better than comparing the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 with the historical Influenza pandemic of 1918? John M. Barry provides a detailed account in his book (The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History) of the impact that Influenza had on the health of people as well as on the historic grounds. You can get the book here! 📖
9. Life is What You Make it by Peter Buffett
Bill Gates had a good friendship with the family of Warren Buffett. This book (Life Is What You Make It: Find Your Own Path to Fulfillment), to some extent, is an autobiography of Peter Buffett himself, and through this book, he tried to deliver the message that – “Everyone must find his own way in his life.” This book presents a contrast between ‘The way of least resistance’ and ‘the way of greatest satisfaction.’ This book broadens the mindset of the readers. You can get the book here! 📖
10. A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter
This book is written in the reminiscences of the biggest and smallest events of 90 years of the life of Jimmy Carter. He recollects his experiences as a businessman, politician, philanthropist, and evangelist. This book gives clear glimpses of Jimmy Carter’s regret and pride over his failures and accomplishments. You can get the book here! 📖
Bill Gates devotes himself to extensive reading, and he says that every book gives him a fresh perspective and the ability to judge things in different ways.
“Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world, which I think helped drive me forward in my career and in the work that I do now with my foundation.” – Bill Gates.