Bill Gates is back with one of his seasonal traditions, offering three of the best books that he read in 2023 as recommendations for holiday gift givers.
In a new post on his GatesNotes blog on Monday, the Microsoft co-founder also shared his playlist of favorite holiday songs, a show he liked on Netflix, and an online course on economics for those looking for something to watch or listen to.
Books:
- “The Song of the Cell,” by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Gates says the book about the human body’s cells can help us better understand what is happening during times of illness, and to feel optimistic that things will get better.
- “Not the End of the World,” by Hannah Ritchie. The book uses data to contradict the doomsday scenarios on climate and other environmental topics without glossing over the challenges. “Everyone who wants to have an informed conversation about climate change should read this book,” Gates says.
- “Invention and Innovation,” by Vaclav Smil. The author writes that we are living in an era that shows “unmistakable signs of technical stagnation and slowing advances.” Gates says he doesn’t agree, and that even though Smil is not as optimistic as he is about the prospects of innovation, “if you want to know how human ingenuity brought us to this moment in time,” he highly recommends the book.
Online course:
- Online economics lectures by Timothy Taylor. Gates calls Taylor one of his favorite professors and recommends all three of his series on Wondrium: “New Global Economy,” “Economics,” and “Unexpected Economics.” Gates said he watched them more than a decade ago and is still recommending them to friends and family today.
TV series:
- “All the Light We Cannot See,” on Netflix. Gates called the book amazing and said the series is just as good. “The actor who plays von Rumpel, a Nazi gem hunter and the villain in the story, is especially memorable,” he says.
Music playlist:
- “Holiday Playlist 2023,” on Spotify. Gates says as soon as Thanksgiving rolls around, he’s ready to switch up his listening habits and get in the holiday music spirit. His playlist includes a mix of classics and modern songs from around the world. Bob Dylan, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Bing Crosby, My Morning Jacket and Los Bitchos are among the artists who make the cut.
