Bill Gates's Reading List
The 6 books that shaped Bill Gates — technologist & philanthropist.
Voracious reader who publishes detailed book reviews and has shifted global attention to public health, energy, and education.
Influential Books
Factfulness
Hans Rosling(2018)
Gates called it "one of the most important books I've ever read" and bought copies for every US college graduate.
Educated
Tara Westover(2018)
Gates praised this memoir for showing how education can transform a life against impossible odds.
The Better Angels of Our Nature
Steven Pinker(2011)
Reinforced Gates' data-driven optimism about human progress and declining violence.
Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari(2011)
Gates and his wife both recommended this big-picture history as essential reading.
Business Adventures
John Brooks(1969)
Warren Buffett's recommendation to Gates. Gates calls it the best business book he's ever read.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald(1925)
Gates' favorite novel — he's drawn to its themes of ambition, reinvention, and the American Dream.