biography book of bill gates

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Bill Gates: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) Illustrated Edition

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The cofounder of Microsoft, Bill Gates helped transform society by ushering in the era of ubiquitous personal computing. This book examines the life and achievements of this standout American inventor and philanthropist. Bill Gates has been instrumental in creating and developing the home computing era that has thoroughly transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from work to commerce to communication. Stepping down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 after 25 years at the helm, he remained as chairman, a position he still holds. This book paints a vivid picture of Bill Gates that covers his early life and his years as an inquisitive and adventurous student to his experiences as a budding entrepreneur and billionaire philanthropist who has often been listed among the richest individuals in the world. Author Michael Becraft presents complete information on how Microsoft evolved, from the company's inception until Gates's departure from active leadership; documents the economic, ethical, financial, legal, management, and leadership applications inherent in Gates's work; and examines the criticism that Gates's actions and decisions have drawn throughout his career.

• ISBN-10 9781440830136
• ISBN-13 978-1440830136
• Edition Illustrated
• Publisher Greenwood
• Publication date August 26, 2014
• Part of series Greenwood Biographies
• Language English
• Dimensions 6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches
• Print length 224 pages
• See all details

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1440830134
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenwood; Illustrated edition (August 26, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781440830136
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1440830136
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches
• #219 in Computer & Technology Biographies
• #3,528 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals
• #3,747 in Rich & Famous Biographies

About the author

Michael becraft.

I realized early on a knack for logic and computer programming; this led to opportunities in college and beyond, where those skills helped me advance in both the private and public sector, including higher education. In the case of a book like "Bill Gates", I benefited from experiences such as developing the initial Windows 2000 Readiness Tests plus fortuitous events such as interacting with U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson while a staff member at one of the Maryland state colleges. A consistent goal is to use my background and training to write for many different audiences.

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Entrepreneur Bill Gates founded the world's largest software business, Microsoft, with Paul Allen, and subsequently became one of the richest men in the world.

Who Is Bill Gates?

Gates was born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Gates grew up in an upper-middle-class family with his older sister, Kristianne, and younger sister, Libby. Their father, William H. Gates Sr., was a promising, if somewhat shy, law student when he met his future wife, Mary Maxwell. She was an athletic, outgoing student at the University of Washington, actively involved in student affairs and leadership.

The Gates family atmosphere was warm and close, and all three children were encouraged to be competitive and strive for excellence. Gates showed early signs of competitiveness when he coordinated family athletic games at their summer house on Puget Sound. He also relished in playing board games (Risk was his favorite) and excelled at Monopoly.

Gates had a very close relationship with his mother, Mary, who after a brief career as a teacher devoted her time to helping raise the children and working on civic affairs and with charities. She also served on several corporate boards, including those of the First Interstate Bank in Seattle (founded by her grandfather), the United Way and International Business Machines (IBM). She would often take Gates along when she volunteered in schools and at community organizations.

Gates was a voracious reader as a child, spending many hours poring over reference books such as the encyclopedia. Around the age of 11 or 12, Gates's parents began to have concerns about his behavior. He was doing well in school, but he seemed bored and withdrawn at times, and his parents worried he might become a loner.

Though they were strong believers in public education, when Gates turned 13, his parents enrolled him at Seattle's exclusive preparatory Lakeside School. He blossomed in nearly all his subjects, excelling in math and science, but also doing very well in drama and English.

While at Lakeside School, a Seattle computer company offered to provide computer time for the students. The Mother's Club used proceeds from the school's rummage sale to purchase a teletype terminal for students to use. Gates became entranced with what a computer could do and spent much of his free time working on the terminal. He wrote a tic-tac-toe program in BASIC computer language that allowed users to play against the computer.

Gates graduated from Lakeside in 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the college SAT test, a feat of intellectual achievement that he boasted about for several years when introducing himself to new people.

READ MORE: 5 Things You May Not Know About Bill Gates

Harvard Dropout

Gates enrolled at Harvard University in the fall of 1973, originally thinking of a career in law. Much to his parents' dismay, Gates dropped out of college in 1975 to pursue his business, Microsoft, with partner Allen.

Gates spent more of his time in the computer lab than in class. He did not really have a study regimen; he got by on a few hours of sleep, crammed for a test, and passed with a reasonable grade.

Meeting and Partnering With Paul Allen

Gates met Allen, who was two years his senior, in high school at Lakeside School. The pair became fast friends, bonding over their common enthusiasm for computers, even though they were very different people. Allen was more reserved and shy. Gates was feisty and at times combative.

Regardless of their differences, Allen and Gates spent much of their free time together working on programs. Occasionally, the two disagreed and would clash over who was right or who should run the computer lab. On one occasion, their argument escalated to the point where Allen banned Gates from the computer lab.

At one point, Gates and Allen had their school computer privileges revoked for taking advantage of software glitches to obtain free computer time from the company that provided the computers. After their probation, they were allowed back in the computer lab when they offered to debug the program. During this time, Gates developed a payroll program for the computer company the boys had hacked into and a scheduling program for the school.

In 1970, at the age of 15, Gates and Allen went into business together, developing "Traf-o-Data," a computer program that monitored traffic patterns in Seattle. They netted $20,000 for their efforts. Gates and Allen wanted to start their own company, but Gates' parents wanted him to finish school and go on to college, where they hoped he would work to become a lawyer.

Allen went to Washington State University, while Gates went to Harvard, though the pair stayed in touch. After attending college for two years, Allen dropped out and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to work for Honeywell. Around this time, he showed Gates an edition of Popular Electronics magazine featuring an article on the Altair 8800 mini-computer kit. Both young men were fascinated with the possibilities of what this computer could create in the world of personal computing.

The Altair was made by a small company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, called Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). Gates and Allen contacted the company, proclaiming that they were working on a BASIC software program that would run the Altair computer. In reality, they didn't have an Altair to work with or the code to run it, but they wanted to know if MITS was interested in someone developing such software.

MITS was, and its president, Ed Roberts, asked the boys for a demonstration. Gates and Allen scrambled, spending the next two months writing the BASIC software at Harvard's computer lab. Allen traveled to Albuquerque for a test run at MITS, never having tried it out on an Altair computer. It worked perfectly. Allen was hired at MITS, and Gates soon left Harvard to work with him. Together they founded Microsoft.

Allen remained with Microsoft until 1983, when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Though his cancer went into remission a year later with intensive treatment, Allen resigned from the company. Rumors abound as to why Allen left Microsoft. Some say Gates pushed him out, but many say it was a life-changing experience for Allen and he saw there were other opportunities that he could invest his time in.

Founding Microsoft

In 1975, Gates and Allen formed Micro-Soft, a blend of "micro-computer" and "software" (they dropped the hyphen within a year). The company's first product was BASIC software that ran on the Altair computer.

At first, all was not smooth sailing. Although Microsoft’s BASIC software program for the Altair computer netted the company a fee and royalties, it wasn't meeting their overhead. According to Gates' later account, only about 10 percent of the people using BASIC in the Altair computer had actually paid for it.

Microsoft's BASIC software was popular with computer hobbyists, who obtained pre-market copies and were reproducing and distributing them for free. At this time, many personal computer enthusiasts were not in it for the money. They felt the ease of reproduction and distribution allowed them to share software with friends and fellow computer enthusiasts. Gates thought differently. He saw the free distribution of software as stealing, especially when it involved software that was created to be sold.

In February 1976, Gates wrote an open letter to computer hobbyists, saying that continued distribution and use of software without paying for it would "prevent good software from being written." In essence, pirating software would discourage developers from investing time and money into creating quality software. The letter was unpopular with computer enthusiasts, but Gates stuck to his beliefs and would use the threat of innovation as a defense when faced with charges of unfair business practices.

Gates had an acrimonious relationship with MITS president Ed Roberts, often resulting in shouting matches. The combative Gates clashed with Roberts on software development and the direction of the business. Roberts considered Gates spoiled and obnoxious.

In 1977, Roberts sold MITS to another computer company and went back to Georgia to enter medical school and become a doctor.

Gates and Allen were on their own. The pair had to sue the new owner of MITS to retain the software rights they had developed for Altair. Microsoft wrote software in different formats for other computer companies, and, at the beginning of 1979, Gates moved the company's operations to Bellevue, Washington, just east of Seattle.

Gates was glad to be home again in the Pacific Northwest and threw himself into his work. All 25 employees of the young company had broad responsibilities for all aspects of the operation, product development, business development and marketing.

Although the company started out on shaky footing, by 1979 Microsoft was grossing approximately $2.5 million. At the age of 23, Gates placed himself as the head of the company. With his acumen for software development and a keen business sense, he led the company and worked as its spokesperson. Gates personally reviewed every line of code the company shipped, often rewriting code himself when he saw it necessary.

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Microsoft’s Software for IBM PCs

As the computer industry grew, with companies like Apple, Intel and IBM developing hardware and components, Gates was continuously on the road touting the merits of Microsoft software applications. He often took his mother with him. Mary was highly respected and well connected with her membership on several corporate boards, including IBM's. It was through Mary that Gates met the CEO of IBM.

In November 1980, IBM was looking for software that would operate their upcoming personal computer (PC) and approached Microsoft. Legend has it that at the first meeting with Gates someone at IBM mistook him for an office assistant and asked him to serve coffee.

Gates did look very young, but he quickly impressed IBM, convincing them that he and his company could meet their needs. The only problem was that Microsoft had not developed the basic operating system that would run IBM's new computers.

Not to be stopped, Gates bought an operating system that was developed to run on computers similar to IBM's PC. He made a deal with the software's developer, making Microsoft the exclusive licensing agent and later full owner of the software but not telling them of the IBM deal.

The company later sued Microsoft and Gates for withholding important information. Microsoft settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, but neither Gates nor Microsoft admitted to any wrongdoing.

Gates had to adapt the newly purchased software to work for the IBM PC. He delivered it for a $50,000 fee, the same price he had paid for the software in its original form. IBM wanted to buy the source code, which would have given them the information to the operating system.

Gates refused, instead proposing that IBM pay a licensing fee for copies of the software sold with their computers. Doing this allowed Microsoft to license the software they called MS-DOS to any other PC manufacturer, should other computer companies clone the IBM PC, which they soon did. Microsoft also released software called Softcard, which allowed Microsoft BASIC to operate on Apple II machines.

Following the development of software for IBM, between 1979 and 1981 Microsoft's growth exploded. Staff increased from 25 to 128, and revenue shot up from $2.5 million to $16 million. In mid-1981, Gates and Allen incorporated Microsoft, and Gates was appointed president and chairman of the board. Allen was named executive vice president.

By 1983, Microsoft was going global with offices in Great Britain and Japan. An estimated 30 percent of the world's computers ran on its software.

Rivalry With Steve Jobs

Though their rivalry is legend, Microsoft and Apple shared many of their early innovations. In 1981, Apple, at the time led by Steve Jobs , invited Microsoft to help develop software for Macintosh computers. Some developers were involved in both Microsoft development and the development of Microsoft applications for Macintosh. The collaboration could be seen in some shared names between the Microsoft and Macintosh systems.

It was through this knowledge sharing that Microsoft developed Windows, a system that used a mouse to drive a graphic interface, displaying text and images on the screen. This differed greatly from the text-and-keyboard driven MS-DOS system where all text formatting showed on the screen as code and not what actually would be printed.

Gates quickly recognized the threat this kind of software might pose for MS-DOS and Microsoft overall. For the unsophisticated user—which was most of the buying public—the graphic imagery of the competing VisiCorp software used in a Macintosh system would be so much easier to use.

Gates announced in an advertising campaign that a new Microsoft operating system was about to be developed that would use a graphic interface. It was to be called "Windows," and would be compatible with all PC software products developed on the MS-DOS system. The announcement was a bluff, in that Microsoft had no such program under development.

As a marketing tactic, it was sheer genius. Nearly 30 percent of the computer market was using the MS-DOS system and would wait for Windows software rather than change to a new system. Without people willing to change formats, software developers were unwilling to write programs for the VisiCorp system and it lost momentum by early 1985.

In November 1985, nearly two years after his announcement, Gates and Microsoft launched Windows. Visually the Windows system looked very similar to the Macintosh system Apple Computer Corporation had introduced nearly two years earlier.

Apple had previously given Microsoft full access to their technology while it was working on making Microsoft products compatible for Apple computers. Gates had advised Apple to license their software but they ignored the advice, being more interested in selling computers.

Once again, Gates took full advantage of the situation and created a software format that was strikingly similar to the Macintosh. Apple threatened to sue, and Microsoft retaliated, saying it would delay shipment of its Microsoft-compatible software for Macintosh users.

In the end, Microsoft prevailed in the courts. It could prove that while there were similarities in how the two software systems operated, each individual function was distinctly different.

A Competitive Reputation

Despite the success of Microsoft, Gates never felt totally secure. Always checking on the competition over his shoulder, Gates developed a white-hot drive and competitive spirit. Gates' assistant reported coming to work early to find someone sleeping under a desk. She considered calling security or the police until she discovered it was Gates.

Gates' intelligence allowed him to see all sides of the software industry, from product development to corporate strategy. When analyzing any corporate move, he developed a profile of all the possible cases and run through them, asking questions about anything that could possibly happen.

He expected everyone in the company to have the same dedication. His confrontational management style became legend, as he would challenge employees and their ideas to keep the creative process going. An unprepared presenter could hear, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" from Gates.

This was as much a test of the rigor of the employee as it was Gates' passion for his company. He was constantly checking to see if the people around him were really convinced of their ideas.

Microsoft Office and Anti-Competition Lawsuits

Outside the company, Gates was gaining a reputation as a ruthless competitor. Several tech companies, led by IBM, began to develop their own operating system, called OS/2, to replace MS-DOS. Rather than give in to the pressure, Gates pushed ahead with the Windows software, improving its operation and expanding its uses.

In 1989, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Office, which bundled office productivity applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel into one system that was compatible with all Microsoft products.

The applications were not as easily compatible with OS/2. Microsoft's new version of Windows sold 100,000 copies in just two weeks, and OS/2 soon faded away. This left Microsoft with a virtual monopoly on operating systems for PCs. Soon the Federal Trade Commission began to investigate Microsoft for unfair marketing practices.

Throughout the 1990s, Microsoft faced a string of Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department investigations. Some related allegations that Microsoft made unfair deals with computer manufacturers who installed the Windows operating system on their computers. Other charges involved Microsoft forcing computer manufacturers to sell Microsoft's Internet Explorer as a condition for selling the Windows operating system with their computers.

At one point, Microsoft faced a possible breakup of its two divisions — operating systems and software development. Microsoft defended itself, harking back to Gates' earlier battles with software piracy and proclaiming that such restrictions were a threat to innovation. Eventually, Microsoft was able to find a settlement with the federal government to avoid a breakup.

Through it all, Gates found inventive ways to deflect the pressure with lighthearted commercials and public appearances at computer trade shows during which he posed as Star Trek 's Mr. Spock. Gates continued to run the company and weather the federal investigations through the 1990s.

Leaving Microsoft

In 2000, Gates stepped down from the day-to-day operations of Microsoft, turning over the job of CEO to college friend Steve Ballmer, who had been with Microsoft since 1980. Gates positioned himself as chief software architect so he could concentrate on what was for him the more passionate side of the business, though he remained chairman of the board.

In 2006, Gates announced he was transitioning himself from full-time work at Microsoft to devote more quality time to the foundation. His last full day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008.

In February 2014, Gates stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in order to move into a new position as technology adviser. Longtime Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was replaced by 46-year-old Satya Nadella.

Personal Life

In 1987, a 23-year-old Microsoft product manager named Melinda French caught the eye of Gates, then 32. The very bright and organized Melinda was a perfect match for Gates. In time, their relationship grew as they discovered an intimate and intellectual connection. On January 1, 1994, Melinda and Gates were married in Hawaii.

Following the devastating death of his mother to breast cancer just a few months after their wedding, they took some time off in 1995 to travel and get a new perspective on life and the world. In 1996, their first daughter, Jennifer, was born. Their son, Rory, was born in 1999, and a second daughter, Phoebe, arrived in 2002.

The pair announced the end of their marriage in May 2021.

Personal Wealth

In March 1986, Gates took Microsoft public with an initial public offering (IPO) of $21 per share, making him an instant millionaire at age 31. Gates held 45 percent of the company's 24.7 million shares, making his stake at that time $234 million of Microsoft's $520 million.

Over time, the company's stock increased in value and split numerous times. In 1987, Gates became a billionaire when the stock hit $90.75 a share. Since then, Gates has been at the top, or at least near the top, of Forbes' annual list of the top 400 wealthiest people in America. In 1999, with stock prices at an all-time high and the stock splitting eight-fold since its IPO, Gates' wealth briefly topped $101 billion.

In 1997, Gates and his family moved into a 55,000-square-foot house on the shore of Lake Washington. Though the house serves as a business center, it is said to be very cozy for the couple and their three children.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

In 1994, Bill and Melinda established the William H. Gates Foundation, which was dedicated to supporting education, world health and investment in low-income communities around the world. The organization also tackles domestic issues, such as helping students in the United States become college-ready.

With Melinda's influence, Bill had taken an interest in becoming a civic leader in the footsteps of his mother, studying the philanthropic work of American industrial titans Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller . He realized that he had an obligation to give more of his wealth to charity.

In 2000, the couple combined several family foundations and made a $28 billion contribution to form the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the next few years, Bill’s involvement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation occupied much of his time and even more of his interest.

Since stepping down from Microsoft, Gates devotes much of his time and energy to the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2015, Gates spoke out in favor of national Common Core standards in grades K through 12 and charter schools. Gates also proved to be a groundbreaking employer when, around this time, the foundation announced that it would give its employees a year's paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child.

In 2017, the foundation launched the first of what was to become its annual "Goalkeepers" report, an examination of progress made in several important areas related to public health, including child mortality, malnutrition and HIV. At the time, Gates identified infectious and chronic disease as the two biggest public health concerns that needed to be addressed over the coming decade.

In April 2018, Gates announced that he was teaming with Google co-founder Larry Page to provide $12 million in funding for a universal flu vaccine. He said the funds would be awarded in grants of up to $2 million for individual efforts that are "bold and innovative," aiming to begin clinical trials by 2021. Although some questioned whether $12 million would be enough to spark any real medical breakthrough, others praised the intentions behind the investment, while Gates indicated that there could be more to come.

Alzheimer's Research

Gates revealed in November 2017 that he was investing $50 million of his own money into the Dementia Discovery Fund. He would follow with another $50 million toward start-up ventures working in Alzheimer’s research. It was said to be a personal matter for Gates, who has seen the devastating effects of the disease on his own family members.

"Any type of treatment would be a huge advance from where we are today," he told CNN, adding, "the long-term goal has got to be cure."

Building a 'Smart City' in Arizona

In 2017, it was revealed that one of Gates's firms had invested $80 million into the development of a "smart city" near Phoenix, Arizona. The proposed city, named Belmont, will "create a forward-thinking community with a communication and infrastructure spine that embraces cutting-edge technology, designed around high-speed digital networks, data centers, new manufacturing technologies and distribution models, autonomous vehicles and autonomous logistics hubs," according to the Belmont Partners real estate investment group.

Of the nearly 25,000 acres of land designated for the site; it was reported that 3,800 acres will go toward office, commercial and retail space. Another 470 acres will be used for public schools, leaving room for 80,000 residential units.

Coronavirus

After years of warning that the world was not ready for the next pandemic, Gates saw his ominous words come true with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in 2020. In March, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation teamed with the Wellcome Trust and Mastercard to pledge $125 million toward efforts to curb the outbreak, and Gates subsequently revealed that his foundation was prepared to invest billions of dollars into building factories earmarked for the development of a vaccine.

Gates has received numerous awards for philanthropic work. Time magazine named Gates one of the most influential people of the 20th century. The magazine also named Gates and his wife Melinda, along with rock band U2's lead singer, Bono , as the 2005 Persons of the Year.

Gates holds several honorary doctorates from universities throughout the world. He was knighted as an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.

In 2006, Gates and his wife were awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican government for their philanthropic work throughout the world in the areas of health and education.

In 2016, the couple were again recognized for their philanthropic work when they were named recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama .

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Bill Gates
• Birth Year: 1955
• Birth date: October 28, 1955
• Birth State: Washington
• Birth City: Seattle
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Entrepreneur Bill Gates founded the world's largest software business, Microsoft, with Paul Allen, and subsequently became one of the richest men in the world.
• Internet/Computing
• Education and Academia
• Astrological Sign: Scorpio
• Lakeside School
• Harvard College
• Interesting Facts
• Bill Gates is one of the richest men alive.
• Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to create Microsoft with friend Paul Allen.
• In 2014, Gates stepped down as Microsoft's chairman to focus on charitable work at his foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Bill Gates Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/bill-gates
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: May 3, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.
• Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
• Bill is basically unimaginative and has never invented anything, which I think is why he's more comfortable now in philanthropy than technology. He just shamelessly ripped off other people's ideas.
• We are all created equal in the virtual world, and we can use this equality to help address some of the sociological problems that society has yet to solve in the physical world.
• I'm a big believer that as much as possible, and there's obviously political limitations, freedom of migration is a good thing.
• If you show people the problems and you show people the solutions they will be moved to act.
• Like almost everyone who uses e-mail, I receive a ton of spam every day. Much of it offers to help me get out of debt or get rich quick. It would be funny if it weren't so irritating.
• I believe that computers are the most incredible tool we can use to feed our curiosity and inventiveness—to help us solve problems that even the smartest people couldn't solve on their own.
• I've always been an optimist and I suppose that is rooted in my belief that the power of creativity and intelligence can make the world a better place.
• If being a geek means you're willing to take a 400-page book on vaccines and where they work and where they don't, and you go off and study that and you use that to challenge people to learn more, then absolutely. I'm a geek.
• It's a nice reader, but there's nothing on the iPad I look at and say, 'Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.'
• The technology business has a lot of twists and turns. Probably the reason it's such a fun business is that no business gets to rest on its laurels.

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The better we understand why children die, the more we can do to save them.

Some favorites from 2023, including a new playlist.

Hannah Ritchie’s Not the End of the World is an essential antidote to environmental doomsday-ism.

The Song of the Cell proves that Siddhartha Mukherjee is one of the best science writers working today.

Vaclav Smil has written “a brief history of hype and failure."

A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors.

A profound book about tennis and much more.

Elizabeth Kolbert on man-made extinctions.

Can we produce enough meat for everyone without wrecking the planet?

How we can cut carbon emissions by using less stuff.

Looking at the impact human activities are having on the web of plants, animals, and other life forms that compose the Earth’s biosphere, and what it means for our future.

Elizabeth Kolbert’s insightful look at the intersection of people and nature.

Meeting the world’s energy needs requires an honest assessment.

David MacKay’s brilliant book is a primer on how we make energy and its impact on the climate.

One of my favorite authors explains how energy drives human history.

Another masterpiece from Vaclav Smil.

Numbers Don’t Lie  is Vaclav Smil’s most accessible book yet.

A talented writer and doctor guides us through the past, present, and future of genome science.

Walter Isaacson’s latest book profiles Jennifer Doudna and her remarkable discovery.

A compelling case for how energy made us who we are.

Four stories that explain how your body fights off disease.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the stuff in your veins.

I Contain Multitudes  helped me see microorganisms in a whole new light.

Factfulness  is one of the most educational books I’ve ever read.

They’re not behind us.

Steven Pinker’s new book makes a powerful case for why the world is getting better.

Diane Tavenner’s book offers amazing tips on preparing kids for college, a career, and life.

Educated  is even better than you’ve heard

Melinda and I loved Tara Westover’s journey from the mountains of Idaho to the halls of Cambridge.

What is humanity’s origin story? David Christian answers that question in his new book.

This book is a useful introduction to a complex problem.

How for-profit colleges and universities expand opportunities—and where they fall short.

Liberating Learning  discusses the overlap between two issues I care about a lot.

Jerven provides an analysis of African economic development statistics.

A great source of data-driven wisdom about development aid.

Can the lessons from Asia’s rise apply on another continent?

Economist Charles Kenny shines a light on the real successes of aid.

An illuminating look at the role of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

What we can learn from Jeffrey Sachs’s ambitious project in Africa.

The brilliant agricultural scientist who helped save a billion people from starvation.

Gordon Conway provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world.

Tomorrow’s Table  tackles the future of agriculture.

Jim Grant's determination and influence saved millions of children's lives.

My friend Dr. Chris Murray wants to treat everyone. And I mean everyone…

A new mother writes about the world of vaccines.

Breath from Salt gave me new perspective on a disease I’ve been following for two decades.

The polio epidemics of the past were terrible and unsettling times.

Nancy Leys Stepan has written a useful history of efforts to eliminate diseases.

If you read just one book about malaria, The Fever may be the best choice.

In  House on Fire , Bill Foege tells the amazing story of smallpox eradication.

John M. Barry’s 2004 book The Great Influenza has never been more relevant.

Mendeleyev’s Dream  helps you understand how the periodic table got pieced together and why it’s so helpful.

I loved reading this science book for young adults.

Nuclear physics, space travel, and other topics made easy.

I got a kick out of Randall Munroe’s brilliant, offbeat science lessons.

Randall Munroe’s twisted comic takes on science and technology.

Walter Lewin’s  For the Love of Physics  helps you understand stars, phones, GPS, and more.

An eye-opening history of the United States.

An American Marriage  is a moving look at how incarceration changes relationships.

The New Jim Crow will help you understand the history and the numbers behind mass incarceration.

Evicted  is beautifully written, eye-opening, and unforgettable.

Her powerful call for gender equality.

Hillbilly Elegy  gave me new insights into poverty in America.

Jeff Hawkins’s book explores a new theory about human intelligence.

A provocative new book raises big questions about the future.

According to this book, some environments foster more innovation than others.

A guide to worrying in the 21 st  century

Yuval Noah Harari has written another thought-provoking book.

Melinda and I spent weeks talking about this history of the human race.

Capitalism Without Capital  explains how things we can’t touch are reshaping the economy.

A renowned economist’s thought-provoking new book.

Good Economics for Hard Times  was written about a pre-COVID world, but it’s still relevant today.

It’s not what you know, it’s what you can accomplish.

Unlike most books on leadership, this one is worth your time.

Phil Knight opens up in a way few CEOs do in his candid memoir about creating the Nike shoe empire.

The fall of one of America’s great companies.

When the Microsoft CEO asked me to write the foreword for his new book Hit Refresh , I was happy to say yes.

Business Adventures is old, hard to find, and the best business book ever.

I loved this book on tennis as much for the writing as its insights into my favorite sport.

David Epstein’s Range explains the greatness of Roger Federer and other generalists.

Andy Puddicombe has written a great guide to focusing your thoughts.

Even if you don’t read many inspirational books, I recommend  Awakening Joy .

An expert explains the benefits of a good night’s rest.

Lincoln in the Bardo  gave me a new perspective on America’s 16th president.

Michael Beschloss’s latest book gave me insights about leadership.

Doris Kearns Goodwin’s brilliant biography of Abraham Lincoln is more relevant than ever.

President Obama’s memoir is a terrific read, no matter what your politics are.

How Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft changed America.

A quick retelling of the former president’s fascinating story.

A wise and funny memoir from a young woman facing her own mortality.

Eger’s life story gives her fascinating insight into how people move on after trauma.

I’m lucky to call Bono a friend. But his autobiography still surprised me.

Trevor Noah’s funny and moving account of growing up in South Africa.

And his memoir is terrific—as long as you’ve seen his act.

The deeply moving When Breath Becomes Air .

Born in Blackness challenges Western accounts of the continent.

In The Spy and the Traitor , a Soviet double agent helps prevent a nuclear war—and nearly dies for it.

Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile is a page-turner about getting through World War II.

Shipping containers are way more interesting than you might think.

A vivid depiction of the daily challenges millions face in urban slums.

Walter Isaacson’s terrific new biography sheds light on every facet of the artist’s life.

I never thought I’d relate to a book about gaming, but I loved Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow .

I loved the latest from the author of A Gentleman in Moscow .

A wonderful, mind-bending novel

Cloud Atlas  is a touching and very clever story about moral choices.

Readers of all ages will enjoy John Green’s latest novel, Turtles All the Way Down .

This powerful graphic novel explores parenthood and life during wartime.

If you are in the mood for something that stimulates your thinking, you’ll love The Overstory .

A Gentleman in Moscow  has a little bit of everything

Towles’s novel is technically historical fiction, but you’d be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story.

I thought this thrilling story about a double agent lived up to the hype.

Hamnet  pierces the boundary between real life and play

Maggie O’Farrell’s novel is a beautiful, well-written look at how grief tears a family apart.

Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future .

Klara and the Sun  made me think about what life with super intelligent machines might look like.

Even if you aren’t a big science fiction fan, Project Hail Mary is a lot of fun.

Naomi Alderman’s novel The Power flips the roles of men and women.

As a teenager, I discovered the novels that Robert Heinlein wrote for adults.

The novel that rekindled my love for sci-fi.

This is my personal blog, where I share about the people I meet, the books I'm reading, and what I'm learning. I hope that you'll join the conversation.

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Top 10 Authorized and Unauthorized Books About Bill Gates

• Computers & The Internet
• Famous Inventions
• Famous Inventors
• Patents & Trademarks
• Invention Timelines
• American History
• African American History
• African History
• Ancient History and Culture
• Asian History
• European History
• Latin American History
• Medieval & Renaissance History
• Military History
• The 20th Century
• Women's History

Want to learn more about the enigmatic philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft? There are many top authorized and unauthorized books on the man who, at the time, became the youngest self-made billionaire in history.

Barbarians Led by Bill Gates

Photo from Amazon

Jennifer Edstrom and Marlin Eller were two "insiders" who wrote this book on the success and sordid details of Bill Gates' company. Based on accounts by the daughter of a Microsoft spin doctor and a 13-year veteran Microsoft developer, it gives the scoop on Microsoft's history from the early '80s to the present. The book is filled with juicy bits of gossip and humor. Some highlights include the Netscape vs. Explorer wars and Microsoft's trial with the Justice Department.

Business the Bill Gates Way

Learn about the business success secrets that made  Bill Gates  rich with this book from Des Dearlove. The book describes how Gates went from being a Harvard dropout to becoming one of the richest men in the world. This includes ten ways Bill Gates succeeded, and how you could apply it towards your own success. While written as a motivational aid for aspiring entrepreneurs, the book provides fascinating biographical insight into Bill Gates as well.

Bill Gates (Biography series)

Part of the A & E "Biography" series, this book from Jeanne M. Lesinski is an easy and entertaining read about Bill Gates' life. It has 100 pages packed with photos that showcase Gates' life from childhood to his charitable works to brushes with the Justice Department. While other books may give more in-depth detail, this book gives readers a great overview.

Bill Gates and the Race to Control Cyberspace

Focusing on the years between 1992 and 1997, author James Wallace captures the browser wars between Microsoft and Netscape like a good spy novel. It was a time when Bill Gates doubled his net worth while doing what many experts thought he had missed the opportunity to do: capture the highway to the internet. The book is a fascinating, if somewhat unproven, exposé of the latter years of Bill Gates' life.

Business @ the Speed of Thought

This book is a very expensive and hard-to-get collector's item that's written by Bill Gates himself. Gates gives the hard sell on why new technology is good for business and the need to regard it as an asset rather than an expense. "I have the simple but strong belief," Gates writes. "How you gather, manage, and use information will determine whether you win or lose."

How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry

Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews' chronicling of one of the youngest self-made billionaires in history has become a well-liked book among Bill Gates fans. Publisher Simon & Schuster says the book is "vivid and definitive, details the behind-the-scenes history of the personal computer industry and its movers and shakers, uncovering the inside stories of the bitter battle for control. A bracing, comprehensive portrait of the industry, the company, and the man."

Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire

The book from James Wallace and Jim Erickson is an unauthorized biography of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates that details tactics such as software programming in Microsoft products that led to the failure of non-Microsoft products, Microsoft managers spying on employee email, and allegations of abusive behavior towards female executives. It covers the early history of Bill Gates' life up to Windows 3.0, with the rest continued in the sequel Overdrive.

Bill Gates Speaks

Best-selling author Janet Lowe researched and transcribed Bill Gates quotes from articles, essays, interviews, and newscasts to create this one-of-kind authorized biography about the legendary businessman.

Bill Gates' Personal Super-Secret Private Laptop

Henry Beard and John Boswell wrote this humorous book about Bill Gates and Microsoft that folds out like a laptop. The left page is the screen and the right is the keyboard. Beard and Boswell are well-known parody writers and this book represents one of their best efforts.

Billionaire Computer Genius

This novel from Joan D. Dickinson is a great book for kids interested in the computer age revolution. It's also an unusual find for the younger reader. It's an easy-to-read biography about Bill Gates that tells the inspirational story of how he became a technology innovator and billionaire. It is fun and entertaining for kids and includes plenty of black-and-white photographs.

There are many books about one of the most successful businessmen in history. But only a select few provide meaningful insight into Bill Gates and his story of how he became who he is today. If you are a fan of this self-made billionaire, these are must-reads.

Gates, Bill. "Business @ the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy." Hardcover, Grand Central Publishing, March 1999.

Manes, Stephen and Paul Andrews. "How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry — and Made Himself the Richest Man in America." Simon & Schuster, January 1994.

• Biography of Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft
• A Short History of Microsoft
• How MS-DOS Put Microsoft on the Map
• 6 Famous People Who Won Scholarships for Their PSAT Scores
• The History of the BASIC Programming Language
• Top Children's Books About Dinosaurs
• Timeline of Microsoft Corporation
• The Unusual History of Microsoft Windows
• The 19 Best Books on the Napoleonic Wars
• A History of American Economic Growth in the 20th Century
• Best Poetry Books for Children
• The 12 Best Thanksgiving Books for Children
• WordStar Was the First Word Processor
• Two Voice Poems for Kids, The Best Poetry Books
• The Most Important Inventions of the 21st Century
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

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All About Bill Gates’ Parents, Bill Sr. and Mary Maxwell

Bill Gates’ parents, Bill Sr. and Mary Maxwell, encouraged him to be curious and generous

Brian Ach/Getty ; Bill Gates Instagram

Bill Gates credits his success in life to his parents, Bill Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates.

The Microsoft founder and philanthropist is one of Bill Sr. and Mary’s three children. The couple met while they were students at the University of Washington in the 1940s, shortly after Bill Sr. returned from serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, according to the school's website .

Although Bill Sr. had initially asked Mary to set him up on a date with one of her friends, she had a different idea. She convinced Bill Sr. to take her out instead — and two years after their first date, they married in 1951.

While raising their children, Bill Sr. and Mary instilled in them a strong work ethic, the importance of community and the significance of helping others. Looking back on his childhood, Bill says his parents supported him in all that he did, even if that meant dropping out of Harvard University.

“My sisters, Kristi and Libby, and I are very lucky to have been raised by our mom and dad. They gave us constant encouragement and were always patient with us. I knew their love and support were unconditional, even when we clashed in my teenage years,” Bill wrote on his GatesNotes blog .

He continued, “I am sure that’s one of the reasons why I felt comfortable taking some big risks when I was young, like leaving college to start Microsoft with Paul Allen. I knew they would be in my corner even if I failed.”

Today, Bill says his dad and mom continue to inspire him years after their deaths.

Here’s everything to know about Bill Gates’ parents, Bill Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates.

Bill Sr. and Mary met at the University of Washington

Bill Gates Instagram 

Bill Sr. and Mary first crossed paths when they were students at the University of Washington.

According to the University of Washington Magazine , Bill Sr. was always set on attending the institute, but after starting classes in 1943, he decided to join the Army Reserve with the understanding that he would get called up to serve in WWII.

After Bill Sr. went abroad to the Philippines and Japan with the U.S. Army and returned in 1946, he resumed his schooling through the G.I. Bill and earned a bachelor's degree in 1949, followed by his law degree the next year.

Meanwhile, Mary was studying education and was the student body secretary. She also graduated in 1950 with her bachelor's degree.

While reflecting in his book, Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime , Bill Sr. explained that he had become friendly with Mary and hoped she would introduce him to her sorority sisters. Considering that he towered over others — standing at 6’7” — he asked Mary to set him up with one of her taller friends — but she had a different idea.

“Mary was confident all along that what I really wanted to do was go out with her. She had decided I just didn’t know that yet, or I was trying to ask her out in a backwards way,” he wrote, adding that when he asked if she had set up a date yet, she said it would be with her.

Although he admits he was unsure about dating a woman who was more than a foot shorter than him, he agreed. The pair were married two years later and went on to welcome three children: Kristi, Bill Jr. and Libby.

Mary worked as a teacher early in her career

Bill Gates Instagram

After graduating from college, Mary pursued a career in education. She became a school teacher, working until she became pregnant with the couple’s daughter, Kristi. At the time, Mary resigned from her job to focus on raising her growing family.

“Her buoyant, adventurous approach to life served her well in her first career, teaching," Bill Sr. wrote in Showing Up for Life . "When she resigned ... the principal wrote her a letter in which he described as the best teacher he had ever encountered."

He added, "After she left teaching, she turned her talents toward building our family life."

Later in life, when she reentered the workforce, Mary served on the board of directors for numerous major companies, including First Interstate Bank of Washington, Unigard Security Insurance Group and Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company, as well as KIRO Incorporated television and radio stations, per her University of Washington bio .

Bill Sr. was a lawyer and founded his own law firm

When he completed law school, Bill Sr. landed a job working at a private practice.

While he admits the position wasn’t “glamorous,” he says it allowed him to earn a salary. It also gave him the title of assistant city attorney as the lawyer who employed him was the Bremerton, Wash. city attorney. He also began to use his law degree to help others in his community, taking on pro bono work.

Then, in 1964, Bill Sr. formed his own law firm with two partners. For years, it was known as Preston Thorgrimson Ellis & Holman before becoming Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP in 1997. The firm later merged again and is called K&L Gates, one of the world’s largest law firms.

“I consider myself fortunate because I have always found satisfaction and meaning in the practice of law,” he wrote in Showing Up for Life . “A love of the law isn't about a statute book. It's about caring and being enthusiastic about having a just society.”

As a lawyer, Bill Sr. was involved in numerous professional associations and even held a leadership role with the American Bar Association. Later, he helped create scholarships for underrepresented law students in need.

In 2009, he was awarded the American Bar Association Medal — the group’s highest honor recognizing “distinguished service by a lawyer to the cause of American jurisprudence.”

Bill Sr. instilled his sense of work ethic in his son

Growing up, Bill Sr. ingrained a strong work ethic in his son. Looking back on his parent’s lives, Bill says both his father and mother provided “constant encouragement” and were “always patient.”

He also credits his dad for pushing him to “try things I hated or didn’t think I could do.”

“When I was a kid, he wasn’t prescriptive or domineering, and yet he never let me coast along at things I was good at,” Bill wrote in a tribute to his father. “He modeled an amazing work ethic. He was one of the hardest-working and most respected lawyers in Seattle, as well as a major civic leader in our region.”

Mary and Bill Sr. were involved in philanthropy and serving the community

Jeff Christensen/WireImage

Both Bill’s mother and father were actively involved in philanthropy and caring for their community throughout their lives. According to Bill Sr.’s obituary , "volunteering and philanthropy were nightly topics of conversation around the Gates family dinner table."

After Mary resigned from teaching, she got involved in public service, first volunteering as a tutor for students in need and then joining the nonprofit United Way to help struggling single parents. She later served on the board of United Way of King County, and in 1983, she was named the first woman to lead the board of United Way of America, per the Associated Press (via The New York Times ).

Mary also volunteered with Seattle’s Children’s Hospital, even lobbying in Washington, D.C., for issues involving children, according to Showing Up for Life . Additionally, Mary served on the boards of the Seattle Symphony and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, plus numerous other nonprofit organizations, per her bio on the University of Washington website.

In 1975, Mary was named a Regent of the University of Washington, a group that helps govern the university. She also served on the UW Foundation Board of Directors, the UW Medical Center Board and the School of Business Administration’s Advisory Board.

Bill Sr. also acted as a Regent of the university for 15 years and directed Campaign UW, which raised $2.7 billion for the school. He was named UW’s Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus, and a UW Regent resolution saluted Bill as “patriarch of the first family of the University,” according to the University of Washington Magazine .

Like Mary, Bill Sr. was also involved in many community endeavors. He was a trustee of several organizations, including the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the King County Chamber of Commerce, Planned Parenthood and the United Way of King County. He also founded the Technology Alliance and chaired the Seattle Public Schools Levy.

Mary played a pivotal role in the success of Microsoft

When Microsoft was still in its early years, Mary played a vital role in helping the young company succeed. Through her position on the national United Way board, she met IBM chairman John Opel.

At the time, IBM was looking to outsource help to create an operating system for its personal computer, per CNBC . Microsoft was in the running for the job — and Mary put in a good word.

“It was Mary who first told John Opel that our son and his company, Microsoft, were working on a project for IBM,” Bill Sr. wrote in Showing Up for Life . “According to an IBM staff member, when Microsoft’s work for IBM was brought before Opel during a review of the IBM PC project, he said, ‘Oh, that's Mary Gates’s son.’ The IBM employee said it was nice that [Bill’s] mom had put in a good word for him.”

Microsoft went on to create the Microsoft Disk Operating System, which was adopted by IBM and used in almost every personal computer at the time, cementing Microsoft's place in the tech space.

Mary died in 1994 after being diagnosed with breast cancer

In the spring of 1993, Mary began experiencing a variety of health issues and was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer.

While Bill Sr. says she was always optimistic, she unfortunately succumbed to the illness. On June 10, 1994, Mary died at age 64, per The Seattle Times .

Bill Sr. remarried Mimi Gardner in 1996

Darren McCollester/Getty

In the years following Mary’s death, Bill Sr. was introduced to a woman named Mimi Gardner. At the time, Gardner was working as the director of the Seattle Art Museum.

Reflecting on their initial encounter, Bill Sr. says one of the characteristics that first attracted him to Gardner was her “old-fashioned grit and determination.” The pair quietly began dating but eventually realized their feelings were too strong to conceal. 

“I made it known to my family and friends how much I cared for Mimi. As one of my closest friends put it, ‘We were all beginning a new chapter,’ ” he wrote in Showing Up for Life . 

Bill Sr. and Gardner tied the knot in 1996 and spent over two decades together “traveling the world, learning, laughing, enjoying life, and simply being together.”

Bill Sr. worked for the Gates Foundation after his retirement 

Bobby Bank/WireImage

In 1994, Bill Sr. was getting ready to retire from his law firm when he found a new purpose in his career.

It began when Bill and his then-wife Melinda French Gates told him about the many messages and letters they received asking for philanthropic support for different causes. At the time, Bill was too busy running Microsoft to sift through the appeals — so Bill Sr. suggested that he be the one to do it, per The New York Times .

Bill allowed his father to take on the task, agreeing to let Bill Sr. write checks for causes that he deemed worthy. Bill Sr. began to sort through dozens of boxes filled with requests for money — and a week later, his son decided to set aside $100 million to fund what was originally known as the William H. Gates Foundation. Shortly after, Bill Sr. wrote the first check for $80,000 for a local cancer program.

The foundation was housed in the basement of Bill Sr.’s home for quite some time before it eventually grew into a major philanthropic effort. Bill Sr. continued to run the foundation's day-to-day operations and consulted with experts as he distributed funds to those in need.

Over the next few years, the Gates Library Foundation was launched, followed by the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, which aimed to help minority students succeed in college.

In 2000, the William H. Gates Foundation merged with the Gates Learning Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was formed. It gave the father and son the chance to work together for the first time.

“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would not be what it is today without my dad. More than anyone else, he shaped the values of the foundation,” Bill wrote on his GatesNotes blog. "We worked together at the foundation not so much as father and son but as friends and colleagues."

He continued, “He and I had always wanted to do something concrete together. When we started doing so in a big way at the foundation, we had no idea how much fun we would have. We only grew closer during more than two decades of working together.”

Bill Sr. died in 2020 from Alzheimer's disease

Later in his life, Bill Sr. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He spent the final months of his life with his wife and family at his home in Hood Canal, Wash. He died on Sept. 15, 2020 at the age of 94.

“ We are feeling grief but also gratitude . My dad’s passing was not unexpected ... so we have all had a long time to reflect on just how lucky we are to have had this amazing man in our lives for so many years," Bill wrote on his GatesNotes blog.

He added, "The experience of being the son of Bill Gates was incredible. People used to ask my dad if he was the real Bill Gates. The truth is, he was everything I try to be. I will miss him every day."

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