What books does Bill Gates recommend for summer reading 2019? The co-founder of Microsoft, like every year, shared with the public his recommendations for summer reading 2019. He also gave brief explanations as to why he thinks these books are worth his time and energy.
Books recommended by Bill Gates for summer reading 2019:
1. Upheaval: Turning points for nations in crisis - Jared Diamond (2019)
The famous American anthropologist and sociologist published a new book this spring, which is also highly recommended by Bill Gates. The book explains how societies respond to various crises. In his explanation, Diamond relies on many studies and theories, but in the end, according to Bill Gates, he lets the reader out of the grip with a glimmer of hope that despite the many pressing problems that we still urgently need to address (such as hunger, social differences and global warming), to some extent adequately equipped with the ability to face major challenges.
2. Nine Pints: A journey through the money, medicine, and mysteries of blood – Rose George (2018)
If the thought of blood makes you sick, this is not the book for you. But if, like Bill Gates, you are fascinated by the workings of the human body and biology in general and can tolerate blood, you will find an inspiring new world in this book.
3. Presidents of war: The epic story, from 1807 to modern times – Michael R. Beschloss (2018)
Bill Gates read this book mainly because he is interested in the war between Vietnam and the United States. In addition to the wars themselves, the author also describes the connections between the wars and the presidents who ruled the United States at the time.
4. The future of capitalism: Facing the new anxieties – Paul Collier (2018)
The latest book from the pen of Paul Collier is an insightful and provocative critique of capitalism - Gates says that he does not agree with it in every way, but that his analysis and prediction of where capitalism is leading us are alarming and urgent to confront them as soon as possible a larger number of people and to find appropriate solutions.
5. A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles (2017)
This is the only novel on Gates' summer reading list - the story tells how a Russian count spends his life under house arrest. The book is interesting even if you are not particularly attracted to Russian literature in general.