Billionnaire and philanthropist Bill Gates picked out the titles that have stood the test of time
Each year Bill Gates shares a reading list with his millions of followers, typically concentrating on books he’s uncovered over the previous 12 months.
However, a few years back, he decided to mix things up on his Gates Notes website with a post entitled ‘Five of my all-time favourite books’.
“These aren’t the only five books I’d put on such a list,” he explained, “but all five are ones that I have recommended to my family and friends over the years.”
Spanning science fiction to politics, sport, and even rock star memoirs, here’s a detailed examination of the titles Gates selected.
Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlein
For his science fiction choice, Gates opted for a book that’s accompanied him since childhood, reports the Express.
“Paul Allen and I fell in love with Heinlein when we were just kids,” he penned, “and this book is still one of my favourite sci-fi novels of all time.”
Initially published in 1961, Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land chronicles the tale of Valentine Michael Smith, a human brought up on Mars who returns to Earth and ultimately establishes a new religion.
Gates observed how the author “managed to predict the rise of hippie culture years before it emerged”.
The novel subsequently won the Hugo Award and has since become one of the defining works of 20th-century science fiction.
Surrender – Bono
The ‘best memoir by a rock star’ selected by Gates was Surrender, the autobiography published in 2022 by U2 frontman Bono. Even as a close mate of the singer, Gates confessed many of the tales were fresh to him. “If you’re a U2 fan, there is a good chance you already plan to check it out. Even if you’re not, it’s a super fun read about how a boy from the suburbs of Dublin grew up to become a world-famous rock star and philanthropist.”
Organised around 40 chapters, each titled after a U2 song, Surrender also sparked a one-man stage production which Bono took on tour globally. It has been extensively acclaimed as one of the most honest rock memoirs in recent years.
Team of Rivals – Doris Kearns Goodwin
“I can’t read enough about Abraham Lincoln,” Gates confessed when endorsing Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals. “This is one of the best books on the subject.”
Released in 2005, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian’s masterpiece examines how Lincoln assembled political adversaries into his Cabinet throughout the American Civil War. Gates observed how “it feels especially relevant now when our country is once again facing violent insurrection, difficult questions about race, and deep ideological divides.”
The tome’s impact extended well beyond academics. Steven Spielberg transformed it into the 2012 Oscar-winning picture Lincoln, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis in an Academy Award-winning turn.
The Inner Game of Tennis – Timothy Gallwey
Initially released in 1974, Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis has remained a benchmark in sports psychology – and it’s a personal go-to for Gates. “This book is a must-read for anyone who plays tennis, but I think even people who have never played will get something out of it,” he wrote.
Gallwey contends that mental fortitude and concentration are equally crucial as physical prowess, providing tactics to conquer self-doubt and bounce back from errors.
Gates revealed: “He gives excellent advice about how to move on constructively from mistakes, which I’ve tried to follow both on and off the court over the years.”
The publication has proved enormously influential and has motivated numerous coaches, sportspeople, and even corporate executives.
Mendeleyev’s Dream – Paul Strathern
Completing the selection, Gates highlighted Paul Strathern’s 2000 work Mendeleyev’s Dream: The Quest for the Elements.
“The history of chemistry is filled with quirky characters like Dimitri Mendeleyev, the Russian scientist who first proposed the periodic table after it allegedly came to him in a dream,” Gates said.
Strathern’s tome charts the evolution of science stretching back to ancient Greece, exploring how generations of human inquisitiveness ultimately formed the periodic table.
“It’s a fascinating look at how science develops and how human curiosity has evolved over the millennia,” Gates added.