A voracious reader since childhood, Gates decided to try something different this year, and instead of listing his favorite books that he read over the previous twelve months, he has shared the list of the five best books that he has ever read in his lifetime. While the list shared, according to Gates, isn’t a complete list of his favorite books of all time, the billionaire philanthropist has recommended them to his family and friends over the years.

1) Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

The first book on Gates’ list, this sci-fi book meant for adults introduced him to Heinlein’s deep philosophy of life and his concerns about the future. He says,

  1. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein2) Surrender by Bono3) Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin4) The Inner Game of Tennis by Robert Gallwey5) Mendeleyev’s Dream by Paul Strathern

“Paul Allen and I fell in love with Heinlein when we were just kids, and this book is still one of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time. It tells the story of a young man who returns to Earth after growing up on Mars and starts a new religion. I think the best science fiction pushes your thinking about what’s possible in the future, and Heinlein managed to predict the rise of hippie culture years before it emerged.”

2) Surrender by Bono

This recently released autobiography book is about a rock star, Bono (real name: Paul David Hewson) who is an artist, activist, and the lead singer of the Irish rock band U2. Describing the book as the best memoir by a rock star, Gates says that Surrender talks about Bono’s fraught upbringing, the challenges he has faced, the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him, high-profile campaigning for a variety of causes, and the friends and the incredible life that Bono has lived. “This book came out this month, so it’s the most recent one I’ve read on my list. 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. I’m lucky enough to call Bono a friend, but a lot of the stories he tells in Surrender were new to me.”

3) Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Described as the best guide to leading a country, this book is a brilliant biography of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln that has a lot of insights about him that leaders can learn from today. “I can’t read enough about Abraham Lincoln, and this is one of the best books on the subject. It feels especially relevant now when our country is once again facing violent insurrection, difficult questions about race, and deep ideological divides. Goodwin is one of America’s best biographers, and Team of Rivals is arguably her masterpiece.”

4) The Inner Game of Tennis by Robert Gallwey

Fourth book on Gates’ list, this is the best book that he has ever read about tennis and its profound advice that applies to life outside of the court, too. “This book from 1974 is a must-read for anyone who plays tennis, but I think even people who have never played will get something out of it. Gallwey argues that your state of mind is just as important—if not more important—than your physical fitness. 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.”

5) Mendeleyev’s Dream by Paul Strathern

The last book on Gates’ all-time favorites, Mendeleyev’s Dream helps you understand how the periodic table got pieced together and why it’s so helpful. “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. Strathern’s book traces that history all the way back to its origins in ancient Greece. It’s a fascinating look at how science develops and how human curiosity has evolved over the millennia.”

If you have found any of the above book titles interesting, grab a copy of yours and celebrate the holiday season reading it over a cup of coffee!!! Source: GatesNotes Blog