Founders & technologists
Books recommended by Bill Gates
Co-founder of Microsoft; philanthropist
Co-founded Microsoft and later the Gates Foundation. Has reviewed books and published seasonal reading lists on his blog, Gates Notes, for more than a decade.
On lists:BillionairesAuthorsEntrepreneursInvestors
HistoryPolitics & societyScienceFiction & literaturePhilosophy & how to live
Photo: Bogdan Hoyaux / European Union, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This is a selection of sourced recommendations, not a complete list of everything Bill Gates has read or praised. How we choose.
Recommendations
Books Bill Gates recommends
71 books from 15 sources. Each one links to the place where Bill recommended it.
Books to keep you warm this holiday season
Four books he enjoyed in 2024, which he says are all about making sense of the world.
-
An Unfinished Love Story
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 holiday list; he praises how Goodwin interweaves her marriage with the history of the 1960s.
Books to keep you warm this holiday season Blog postgatesnotes.com
-
The Anxious Generation
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 holiday list, described as a must-read for anyone raising, teaching or working with young people.
Books to keep you warm this holiday season Blog postgatesnotes.com
+1 other recommender: Barack Obama
-
Engineering in Plain Sight
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 holiday list — an illustrated guide to the infrastructure we pass every day.
Books to keep you warm this holiday season Blog postgatesnotes.com
-
The Coming Wave
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 holiday list; he calls it the best book for understanding the rise of AI.
Books to keep you warm this holiday season Blog postgatesnotes.com
+1 other recommender: Steven Bartlett
5 great things to read or watch this summer
Summer list built around the theme of service to others (one entry is a TV series, not recorded here).
-
The Women
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 summer list — a novel about a U.S. Army nurse in Vietnam.
5 great things to read or watch this summer Blog postgatesnotes.com
-
Infectious Generosity
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 summer list — TED's Chris Anderson on generosity in the internet age.
5 great things to read or watch this summer Blog postgatesnotes.com
-
Brave New Words
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 summer list; he writes that he can't recommend Sal Khan's book on AI in education enough.
5 great things to read or watch this summer Blog postgatesnotes.com
-
How to Know a Person
Explicit recommendationOn his 2024 summer list; he says he liked it even more than Brooks's earlier The Road to Character.
5 great things to read or watch this summer Blog postgatesnotes.com
5 summer book recommendations
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
The Choice
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2020 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 summer book recommendations Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Ryan Holiday
-
Cloud Atlas
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2020 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 summer book recommendations Videoyoutube.com
-
The Ride of a Lifetime
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2020 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 summer book recommendations Videoyoutube.com
+3 other recommenders: Dickie Bush, Codie Sanchez, Steven Bartlett
-
The Great Influenza
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2020 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 summer book recommendations Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Ryan Holiday
-
Good Economics for Hard Times
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2020 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 summer book recommendations Videoyoutube.com
5 books to enjoy this winter
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
An American Marriage
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2019 list of five books he loved that year, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to enjoy this winter Videoyoutube.com
-
These Truths
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2019 list of five books he loved that year, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to enjoy this winter Videoyoutube.com
-
Growth
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2019 list of five books he loved that year, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to enjoy this winter Videoyoutube.com
-
Prepared
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2019 list of five books he loved that year, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to enjoy this winter Videoyoutube.com
-
Why We Sleep
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2019 list of five books he loved that year, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to enjoy this winter Videoyoutube.com
+2 other recommenders: Chris Williamson, Alexis Ohanian
Holiday books 2016
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
String Theory
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2016 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Holiday books 2016 Videoyoutube.com
-
Shoe Dog
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2016 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Holiday books 2016 Videoyoutube.com
+3 other recommenders: Ryan Holiday, Mark Manson, Tom Bilyeu
-
The Gene
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2016 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Holiday books 2016 Videoyoutube.com
-
The Myth of the Strong Leader
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2016 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Holiday books 2016 Videoyoutube.com
-
The Grid
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2016 book list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Holiday books 2016 Videoyoutube.com
Best books of 2015
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Eradication
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2015, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2015 Videoyoutube.com
-
Thing Explainer
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2015, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2015 Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Naval Ravikant
-
Sustainable Materials with Both Eyes Open
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2015, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2015 Videoyoutube.com
-
Mindset
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2015, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2015 Videoyoutube.com
+4 other recommenders: Darius Foroux, Mark Manson, Codie Sanchez, Tobi Lütke
-
Being Nixon
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2015, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2015 Videoyoutube.com
-
The Road to Character
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2015, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2015 Videoyoutube.com
The best things I read, listened to, and watched this year
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Culpability
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2026 list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
The best things I read, listened to, and watched this year Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Oprah Winfrey
-
1929
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2026 list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
The best things I read, listened to, and watched this year Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Barack Obama
-
Gray Matters
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2026 list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
The best things I read, listened to, and watched this year Videoyoutube.com
Best books of 2014
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Business Adventures
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2014, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2014 Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: James Clear
-
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2014, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2014 Videoyoutube.com
-
How Asia Works
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2014, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2014 Videoyoutube.com
-
The Rosie Effect
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2014, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2014 Videoyoutube.com
-
Making the Modern World
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's best books of 2014, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Best books of 2014 Videoyoutube.com
5 books Bill Gates loved in 2018
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Educated
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's list of five books he loved in 2018, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books Bill Gates loved in 2018 Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Mark Manson
-
Army of None
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's list of five books he loved in 2018, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books Bill Gates loved in 2018 Videoyoutube.com
-
Bad Blood
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's list of five books he loved in 2018, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books Bill Gates loved in 2018 Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Jeffrey Archer
-
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's list of five books he loved in 2018, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books Bill Gates loved in 2018 Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Matt Mullenweg
-
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's list of five books he loved in 2018, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books Bill Gates loved in 2018 Videoyoutube.com
5 books to read this summer
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Upheaval
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2019 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to read this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Nine Pints
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2019 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to read this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
A Gentleman in Moscow
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2019 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to read this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Presidents of War
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2019 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to read this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
The Future of Capitalism
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2019 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books to read this summer Videoyoutube.com
5 great books for summer
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
The Power
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2022 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 great books for summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Why We're Polarized
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2022 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 great books for summer Videoyoutube.com
-
The Lincoln Highway
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2022 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 great books for summer Videoyoutube.com
-
The Ministry for the Future
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2022 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 great books for summer Videoyoutube.com
-
How the World Really Works
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2022 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 great books for summer Videoyoutube.com
5 books worth reading this summer
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Leonardo da Vinci
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2018 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books worth reading this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Everything Happens for a Reason
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2018 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books worth reading this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Lincoln in the Bardo
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2018 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books worth reading this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Origin Story
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2018 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books worth reading this summer Videoyoutube.com
-
Factfulness
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2018 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 books worth reading this summer Videoyoutube.com
+1 other recommender: Mark Manson
Summer books
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
The Bully Pulpit
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2014 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Summer books Videoyoutube.com
-
The Rosie Project
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2014 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Summer books Videoyoutube.com
-
The Sixth Extinction
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2014 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Summer books Videoyoutube.com
+3 other recommenders: Beth Shapiro, Mark Manson, Barack Obama
-
Reinventing American Health Care
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2014 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
Summer books Videoyoutube.com
5 ideas for summer reading
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
Lights Out
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2021 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 ideas for summer reading Videoyoutube.com
-
Under a White Sky
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2021 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 ideas for summer reading Videoyoutube.com
-
A Promised Land
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2021 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 ideas for summer reading Videoyoutube.com
-
The Overstory
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2021 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 ideas for summer reading Videoyoutube.com
-
An Elegant Defense
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's summer 2021 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 ideas for summer reading Videoyoutube.com
5 good books for a lousy year
Video on Bill Gates's own YouTube channel; the books are named in the description.
-
The New Jim Crow
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2020 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 good books for a lousy year Videoyoutube.com
-
Range
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2020 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 good books for a lousy year Videoyoutube.com
-
The Splendid and the Vile
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2020 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 good books for a lousy year Videoyoutube.com
-
The Spy and the Traitor
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2020 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 good books for a lousy year Videoyoutube.com
-
Breath from Salt
Year-end favouriteOn Bill Gates's holiday 2020 reading list, announced in a video on his own YouTube channel.
5 good books for a lousy year Videoyoutube.com
Written by Bill Gates
Books Bill Gates wrote
Their most-published books, from Open Library. These are books they wrote, not recommendations.
Cross-recommendations
Picks others agree on
17 books Bill recommends that at least one other person in the directory also recommends, each from their own source.
-
5recommendersMindset 5 recommendersDarius Foroux, Bill Gates, Mark Manson, Codie Sanchez, Tobi Lütke
-
4recommendersShoe Dog 4 recommendersBill Gates, Ryan Holiday, Mark Manson, Tom Bilyeu
-
4recommendersThe Ride of a Lifetime 4 recommendersDickie Bush, Bill Gates, Codie Sanchez, Steven Bartlett
-
4recommendersThe Sixth Extinction 4 recommendersBeth Shapiro, Bill Gates, Mark Manson, Barack Obama
-
3recommendersWhy We Sleep 3 recommendersBill Gates, Chris Williamson, Alexis Ohanian
-
2recommenders1929 2 recommendersBill Gates, Barack Obama
-
2recommenders21 Lessons for the 21st Century 2 recommendersBill Gates, Matt Mullenweg
-
2recommendersBad Blood 2 recommendersJeffrey Archer, Bill Gates
-
2recommendersBusiness Adventures 2 recommendersJames Clear, Bill Gates
-
2recommendersCulpability 2 recommendersBill Gates, Oprah Winfrey
-
2recommendersEducated 2 recommendersBill Gates, Mark Manson
-
2recommendersFactfulness 2 recommendersBill Gates, Mark Manson
Plus 5 more below, marked with the other recommenders.
Cross-recommendations
Who agrees with Bill
People in the directory who recommended at least one of the same books.
Mark Manson5 books in commonShoe Dog · Mindset · Educated · Factfulness · The Sixth Extinction
Barack Obama3 books in commonThe Anxious Generation · 1929 · The Sixth Extinction
Ryan Holiday3 books in commonThe Choice · The Great Influenza · Shoe Dog- SBSteven Bartlett2 books in commonThe Coming Wave · The Ride of a Lifetime
- CSCodie Sanchez2 books in commonThe Ride of a Lifetime · Mindset
- DBDickie Bush1 book in commonThe Ride of a Lifetime
See something wrong? Suggest a correction.