Summer is a great time to escape: to the beach, to the mountains, or to the world of a great book. This year, I found myself drawn even more than usual to books that took me outside (and I don’t mean the great outdoors). The books on this year’s summer reading list pushed me out of my own experiences, and I learned some things that made me question my own thinking about how the world works.
Some of these books helped me better understand what it’s like to grow up outside the mainstream: as a child of mixed race in apartheid South Africa, as a young man trying to escape his impoverished life in rural Appalachia, or as the son of a peanut farmer in Plains, Georgia. I hope you’ll find that others make you think deeper about what it means to truly connect with other people and to have purpose in your life. And all of them will transport you somewhere else — whether you’re sitting on a beach towel or on your own couch.
A Full Life, by Jimmy Carter. Even though the former President has already written more than two dozen books, he somehow managed to save some great anecdotes for this quick, condensed tour of his fascinating life. I loved reading about Carter’s improbable rise to the world’s highest office. The book will help you understand how growing up in rural Georgia in a house without running water, electricity, or insulation shaped – for better and for worse – his time in the White House. Although most of the stories come from previous decades, A Full Life feels timely in an era when the public’s confidence in national political figures and institutions is low.
Read Bill Gates’ full review of A FULL LIFE here
hom*o Deus, by Yuval Noah Harari. I recommended Harari’s previous book Sapiens in last summer’s reading list, and this provocative follow-up is just as challenging, readable, and thought-provoking. hom*o Deus argues that the principles that have organized society will undergo a huge shift in the 21st century, with major consequences for life as we know it. So far, the things that have shaped society—what we measure ourselves by—have been either religious rules about how to live a good life, or more earthly goals like getting rid of sickness, hunger, and war. What would the world be like if we actually achieved those things? I don’t agree with everything Harari has to say, but he has written a smart look at what may be ahead for humanity.
Read Bill Gates’ full review of hom*o DEUS here
The Heart, by Maylis de Kerangal. While you’ll find this book in the fiction section at your local bookstore, what de Kerangal has done here in this exploration of grief is closer to poetry than anything else. At its most basic level, she tells the story of a heart transplant: a young man is killed in an accident, and his parents decide to donate his heart. But the plot is secondary to the strength of its words and characters. The book uses beautiful language to connect you deeply with people who may be in the story for only a few minutes. For example, de Kerangal goes on for pages about the girlfriend of the surgeon who does the transplant even though you never meet that character. I’m glad Melinda recommended this book to me, and I recently passed it along to a friend who, like me, sticks mostly with nonfiction.
Read Bill Gates’ full review of THE HEART here
Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah. As a longtime fan of The Daily Show, I loved reading this memoir about how its host honed his outsider approach to comedy over a lifetime of never quite fitting in. Born to a black South African mother and a white Swiss father in apartheid South Africa, he entered the world as a biracial child in a country where mixed race relationships were forbidden. Much of Noah’s story of growing up in South Africa is tragic. Yet, as anyone who watches his nightly monologues knows, his moving stories will often leave you laughing.
Read Bill Gates’ full review of BORN A CRIME here
Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance. The disadvantaged world of poor white Appalachia described in this terrific, heartbreaking book is one that I know only vicariously. Vance was raised largely by his loving but volatile grandparents, who stepped in after his father abandoned him and his mother showed little interest in parenting her son. Against all odds, he survived his chaotic, impoverished childhood only to land at Yale Law School. While the book offers insights into some of the complex cultural and family issues behind poverty, the real magic lies in the story itself and Vance’s bravery in telling it.
Read Bill Gates’ full review of HILLBILLY ELEGY here
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This article originally appeared on GatesNotes.com
FAQs
Nothing will change until you stop procrastinating and adopt better reading habits. Quoting Bill Gates during an interview: “You don't start getting old until you stop learning. Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently.
What are the five books Bill Gates says you should read? ›
5 must-read books from Bill Gates that are now free on Spotify
- “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” By: Gabrielle Zevin. ...
- “Klara and the Sun” By: Kazuo Ishiguro. ...
- “Team of Rivals” By: Doris Kearns Goodwin. ...
- “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” By: David Epstein. ...
- “Why We Sleep” By: Matthew Walker.
Nothing will change until you stop procrastinating and adopt better reading habits. Quoting Bill Gates during an interview: “You don't start getting old until you stop learning. Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently.
Why Bill Gates reads 50 books a year? ›
Books are the Key to Success
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates reads 50 books a year. He reads one book every week and ensures to absorb all the material in his mind. Speaking about his habit, Gates mentioned how books help him to learn new things and test his understanding.
What are the books listed in the reading list? ›
The reading list with titles handwritten on a crumpled paper prompted the reading cycle that redeemed Mukesh. The books on the list are classics: To Kill a Mockingbird; Rebecca; The Kite Runner; The Life of Pi; Little Women; Pride & Prejudice; Beloved; and A Suitable Boy. I can't help it.
How many books does Bill Gates read per day? ›
Bill Gates
The former Microsoft CEO has attested to reading 50 books a year, or roughly one book a week. Most of the books are non-fiction dealing with public health, disease, engineering, business, and science. Every now and then he'll breeze through a novel (and sometimes in one sitting late into the night).
What does Elon Musk read? ›
He told the New Yorker that as an “undersized and picked upon smart-aleck,” he turned to reading fantasy and science fiction. “The heroes of the books I read, 'The Lord of the Rings' and the 'Foundation' series, always felt a duty to save the world.” Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson.
What's the IQ of Bill Gates? ›
Bill Gates' IQ is often estimated to be around 160.
It can be inferred from his early admission to Harvard University, his near-perfect SAT score, his achievements in creating and developing Microsoft, and his well-documented aptitude for mathematics and logical thinking from a young age.
Is Elon Musk a speed reader? ›
Speed Reading — Elon Musk - Level 3 — 100 wpm.
What Elon Musk says about Bill Gates? ›
Musk then famously tweeted a photo of Gates in a golf shirt with a bulging belly that made him look pregnant and mocked his appearance. “At this point, I am convinced he is categorically insane (and an a–hole to the core),” Musk texted Isaacson after the exchange with Gates. “I did actually want to like him (sigh).”
Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Jack Ma, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey – they are all successful in their respective careers, and they have one thing in common – all of them follow the 5-hour rule. This means allotting one hour per weekday for reading and learning (e.g. online courses).
What did Bill Gates buy for $50000? ›
The operating system in question, which he obtained for $50,000, was the basis of what would later become known as MS-DOS. IBM urgently needed the operating system to compete directly against Apple for the growing personal computer market.
Why do billionaires read a lot? ›
Billionaires don't just read fiction – in fact, they prioritize non-fiction and self-help books because they know that staying ahead of the latest trends like AI and Cryptocurrency could be worth millions of dollars.
What are the 5 books? ›
"The five books of Moses are referred to as the Pentateuch, and encompasses the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
What are the first 5 books of? ›
The first five books are the books of Law, also called the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Moses is traditionally accepted as the author of all five books, and the Pentateuch has an essential role in how we understand the rest of Scripture.
What is the top book list called? ›
The New York Times Bestseller list is not just one list, but rather several lists grouped by genre and format. These lists include: Adult Fiction – combined print & eBook list (weekly) Adult Fiction -hardcover list (weekly)
What is the 5th most read book in the world? ›
10 Most-Read Books In The World
- 01 / 10. The Kite Runner. ...
- 02 / 10. The Harry Potter Series. ...
- 03 / 10. The Lord of the Rings. ...
- 04 / 10. The Alchemist. ...
- 05 / 10. The Da Vinci Code. ...
- 06 / 10. Think and Grow Rich. ...
- 07 / 10. The Diary of a Young Girl. ...
- 08 / 10. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung.
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe, and The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen are a few books that are consistently considered to be some of Steve Jobs' favorite books.
What is Bill Gates' favorite food? ›
In his blog GatesNotes, Gates wrote, “Cheeseburgers are my favorite food. But I wish they weren't, given the impact they have on the environment.” He discussed the difficulty in finding alternatives that fully satisfy the craving for a traditional cheeseburger.
Does Bill Gates remember everything he reads? ›
He may well have an above-average memory and remember more things than others, but don't fall into the trap of thinking that he remembers everything he ever read. Bill Gates takes notes while reading books. These notes are then used as an entry point into his memory when he goes back to a book he has already read.
