Bill Gates Unveils 2020 Holiday Reading List

by Kesi Stribling, ATS Editor

For some of us, curling up to a good book is the last thing on our minds. As we continue adjusting our work and family lives to the pandemic, taking a moment to catch up on reading may seem like a luxury.

Bill Gates disagrees. This week, the Microsoft founder and global philanthropist released a list of five books to read over the Christmas season.

From a book about the Cold War to one that explores the value of being a generalist in a specialized society, these nonfiction reads are evocative, educational, and inspirational.

Gates’ list includes The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson and Breath from Salt: A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever by Bijal P. Trivedi.

View the entire recommended reading list.

Honorable Mentions

In addition to Gates’ recommendations, I’m adding a few favorites on my list:

1. Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell

2. The One Minute Manager Balances Work and Life, by Spencer Johnson, MD  

3. The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People, Gary Chapman, PhD

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