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- Bill Gates recently announced his top book picks for the summer.
- All five reads focus on the theme of upheaval, either in our current political climate or at some point in history.
- Only one book is fiction — "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles — and Gates said it made him cry.
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America’s wealthiest individuals generally read more than the average person, and Bill Gates is no exception. The billionaire and Microsoft founder claims to tackle roughly one book a week, or around 50 titles a year.
His diligence as a reader has made Gates a trusted source of book recommendations, which he often releases on his blog, Gates Notes. This summer, Gates has chosen five titles to take with you on vacation.
Read more: 9 of the most successful people share their reading habits
His newest set of recommendations centers around the theme of upheaval or sudden change.
Because of this, Gates noted, none of the five titles he chose could be considered a "light read." One of them even caused him to tear up.
Take a look at Gates’ top picks for your summer reading list.
"Upheaval" by Jared Diamond
Amazon
The premise of Jared Diamond’s nonfiction book "Upheaval" is that personal crises such as losing a loved one can produce valuable lessons for nations as well. Using individual problem-solving tactics, Diamond develops 12 factors that can help countries navigate major challenges.
The book was recently panned in a New York Times review, which argued that Diamond’s case studies were riddled with inaccuracies and tailored to meet his specific framework.
"If [younger writers] were ever this sloppy, their career would be over before it had even begun," the reviewer, Anand Giridharadas, wrote.
Gates provided a different take in his write-up on Monday.
"I admit that at first I thought it might be a little strange to borrow from a model of a single person’s emotional turmoil to explain the evolution of entire societies," he wrote. "But it isn’t strange at all; it’s revealing."
"Nine Pints" by Rose George
Amazon
Gates seems to be interested in blood lately. Last year, he recommended "Bad Blood," the story of the blood-testing startup Theranos, which deceived investors, patients, and business partners into believing its technology actually worked. Gates has also invested money in blood tests that attempt to detect diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.
This summer, he’s recommending "Nine Pints," a book about a woman with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a condition that prompts severe pain and mental anguish prior to one’s period. The book demonstrates how regressive certain societies are when it comes to providing safe, sanitary conditions for menstruation, but it also takes note of innovative ways to diagnose people through blood tests.
While the book may lack the drama of the Theranos tale, Gates said its anecdotes will "capture your imagination" and "make your blood boil."
"The Future of Capitalism" by Paul Collier
Amazon
"The Future of Capitalism" identifies three major divides in our modern society: cities versus small towns, college-educated citizens versus those without a higher degree, and wealthier countries versus fragile states. Based on these problems, Collier helps devise a solution for a fairer version of capitalism.
Gates said he agrees with Collier that citizens need to feel obliged to help one another, but he doesn’t necessarily believe that companies will volunteer to improve their communities.
"When we want companies to act a certain way — for example to reduce pollution or pay a certain amount of taxes — I think it’s more effective to have the government pass laws," Gates wrote.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Aria Bendix)