Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, has just announced his summer reading list for 2016. The Texas Talking Book Program has the majority of the list in our collection. Although many of his selections deal with math and science, Mr. Gates emphatically states that he chose books that made him think and kept him up at night reading instead of sleeping. He explains that he only chose ones that he genuinely loved.

For more information directly from Bill Gates himself, click on the video below.

In TBP’s collection:

Title: SEVENEVES
Author: STEPHENSON, NEAL

A catastrophic event forces humanity to band together to survive, though only a handful succeed and flee Earth. Five thousand years later, their descendants number three billion and comprise seven distinct races. They embark on a journey into the unknown, to an alien world–Earth. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2015.
DB 83040

Title: SAPIENS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMANKIND
Author: HARARI, YUVAL N

A discussion of the development of human culture and history, from the emergence of the first species of the genus Homo over 2 million years ago to the twenty-first century. Examines progress from the standpoints of biology, anthropology, paleontology, and economics. Translated from the 2011 Hebrew edition. Bestseller. 2015.
DB 81335

Title: HOW NOT TO BE WRONG: THE POWER OF MATHEMATICAL THINKING
Author: ELLENBERG, JORDAN, 1971-

Mathematician–and former child prodigy–reveals the mathematical patterns and principles that underlie everyday life. Ellenberg argues that math is an extension of common sense and can be learned by paying attention to aspects of the world around us–including electoral politics, the stock market, and grocery shopping. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2014.
DB 79914

Title: VITAL QUESTION: ENERGY, EVOLUTION, AND THE ORIGINS OF COMPLEX LIFE
Author: LANE, NICK, 1967-

Biochemist theorizes the emergence of morphologically complex life two billion years ago, two billion years after simple bacterial life arose. Discusses the basis for the question he is trying to answer, and presents evidence for his hypotheses, including cellular morphology and biochemistry, genetic divergence–including sex–and a 2010 discovery. 2015.
BR 21297; DB 83289