Top by Bill Gates: Five Books for Hard Times

The last couple of years have been tough for everyone. Many try to get rid of bad thoughts in various ways. Microsoft founder Bill Gates loves to read. On his blog, he shared a list of 5 books worth reading to end this year in a good mood. Writes about it Esquire.

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“I wanted to delve deeper into the understanding of complex topics, for example, the topic of injustice. By the end of the day, I needed a change of pace and wanted to read something lighter. As a result, I read a large number of books, many of which turned out to be wonderful, writes Gates. “I hope you find something useful in this list and your inner book lover ends the year on a good note.”

1. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Michelle Alexander

“Like many white people, in recent months I have tried to deepen my own understanding of systemic racism. Alexander's book is an eye-opener to how the criminal justice system unfairly targets communities of color, especially black communities, Gates writes. — The author does an excellent job of describing the history and numbers behind mass incarceration. I was familiar with some of the data, but Alexander really helped me understand the topic. I finished reading the book convinced that we need a more equitable approach to sentencing and greater investment in racialized communities.”

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2. “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” by David Epstein

“I started following Epstein's work after watching his amazing TED talk on sports performance. In his fascinating book, he reveals that despite the growing demand for specialists in careers, for example, what the world really needs is those who act more freely and are open to a variety of experiences and perspectives. Epstein cites examples ranging from Roger Federer and Charles Darwin to Cold War experts on the Soviet Union. I think his ideas can explain some of the reasons why Microsoft has been successful because we hired people with different backgrounds and knowledge in our own and related fields. If you are a generalist who has ever felt overshadowed by your fellow specialists, this book is for you,” says the Microsoft founder.

3. "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz" by Eric Larson

“Sometimes historical books turn out to be more relevant than their authors could have imagined. “The same can be said about this brilliant work about 1940 and 1941, when the British spent almost every night in basements and subway stations while Germany bombed them into submission,” Gates writes. “The fear and anxiety they felt was much worse than what we are experiencing now due to COVID-19, but we are familiar with similar feelings. "Larson gives a vivid insight into what life was like for ordinary citizens during this terrible period, and does an excellent job of describing the British leaders who lived through the crisis, including Winston Churchill and his close advisers."

4. "The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War" by Ben McIntyre

“This non-fiction book is dedicated to Oleg Gordievsky, the KGB officer who became a British double agent, and Aldrich Ames, the American defector who likely betrayed him. MacIntyre made his story based not only on Western (including Gordievsky himself) but also on Russian sources. It's as exciting as my favorite spy novels,” Gates writes.

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5. "Breath from Salt: A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever", Bijal P. Trivedi

“This book is truly inspiring. The author documents the history of remarkable scientific innovations and how they have improved the lives of nearly all cystic fibrosis patients and their families, notes the Microsoft Founder. “This story is especially important to me because I know families who have been helped by the new drugs described in this book. I suspect we will see many more books like this in the coming years as biomedical wonders emerge from laboratories at an ever-faster pace.”

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