These are the six books Bill Gates thinks you should read this summer
- May 20, 2015, 10:51 AM
Bill Gates just released a list of seven books he thinks should make your summer reading list.
Here's what made the cut:
1. "Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh
Based on the website of the same name, this comic book is both funny and smart as it details stories of Brosh's life.
Gates says that while reading it he interrupted his wife a dozen times to read her passages that made him laugh out loud.
2. "The Magic of Reality" by Richard Dawkins
"Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist at Oxford, has a gift for making science enjoyable," Gates writes.
This engaging textbook asks questions like "how did the universe form?"— and then offers compelling answers.
3. "What If?" by Randall Munroe
This book presents a clever way of getting you to think about scientific topics, Gates says.
With the subtitle "Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions," it explores a range of topics like physics and biology. Sample question: "From what height would you need to drop a steak for it to be cooked when it hit the ground?”
4. "On Immunity" by Eula Biss
In this book, Bliss explains the history of vaccinations and explores why some people are afraid of having their children vaccinated. Although Bliss ultimately concludes that vaccines are both safe and incredibly effective, she doesn't demonize those who disagree.
"This is a thoughtful and beautifully written book about a very important topic," he writes.
5. "How to Lie with Statistics" by Darrell Huff
Gates says that this piece about how statistics can be deceptive is one few books that he recommended at the TED conference this year. Although it was written in 1954, he promises it doesn't feel dated (but will make you feel smarter and more skeptical of the things you read).
"A useful introduction to the use of statistics, and a helpful refresher for anyone who is already well versed in it," he writes.
6. "Should We Eat Meat?" by Vaclav Smil
Gates admits that this numbers-heavy, sobering look at the impacts of our ever-increasing meat consumption is the least "beach-friendly" book on his list. But the topic is timely and important.
"While it would be great if people wanted to eat less meat, I don’t think we can expect large numbers of people to make drastic reductions," Gates writes. "I’m betting on innovation, including higher agricultural productivity and the development of meat substitutes, to help the world meet its need for meat."
You can get more of Gates' explanations here: