Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates continues his yearly tradition of ‘winter reads,’ giving annual holiday book recommendations. This year, Gates shares four primary book selections and a bonus recommendation, each offering unique insights into technology, society, and human experience.
Two of the recommended books directly address technological transformation. Mustafa Suleyman‘s “The Coming Wave” explores artificial intelligence’s potential to reshape society, with Gates calling it the best book to understand AI’s rise. Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation” examines how smartphones and social media are fundamentally altering childhood development and mental health.
Grady Hillhouse’s “Engineering in Plain Sight” rounds out the selections, offering readers an illustrated guide to understanding everyday technological infrastructure.
Gates notes that these books have an unintentional but compelling theme of understanding contemporary challenges and technological shifts
“It’s natural to try and wrap your head around things during times of rapid change, like we’re living through now,” Gates wrote, emphasizing the list’s underlying motivation.
The list also includes Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “An Unfinished Love Story,” a personal autobiography that Gates praised for its engaging narrative about political history during the tumultuous 1960s.
As a bonus recommendation for sports enthusiasts, Gates suggested “Federer” by Doris Henkel, a visual biography of tennis legend Roger Federer that includes previously unpublished photographs.
Gates emphasized that while the books weren’t intentionally chosen with a specific theme, they collectively offer insights into navigating complex societal changes. From technological advances to generational shifts, the recommendations promise readers a deeper understanding of our rapidly evolving world.
