Journal logo

Bill Gates recommends: Books you read, shows you watch, things you do this summer

Evidence shows that reading can help improve your mental health and improve cognitive performance.

By [email protected]Published 2 years ago 7 min read
Like

Bill Gates recommends a range of books, including fiction and nonfiction, science books and personal memoirs.

He also suggested people watch TV and play video games to help pass the time of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of my conversations and meetings these days are about the coronavirus pandemic and how we can stop the spread of the disease. But I'm also often asked about what I'm reading and watching, whether people want more information about the pandemic or looking for ways to pass the time. I'm always happy to talk about the great books and TV shows (and at the same time, I'm always happy to hear what other people are reading, because I usually ask for advice everywhere).

So, in addition to the five new book reviews I often write for my summer book list, I've offered a host of other suggestions that I hope you'll find interesting.

Summer 2020 Book Recommendations

1. "The Choice" by Dr. Edith Eva Eger?

The book is both a memoir and a guide to help readers deal with trauma. Eger and her family were just 16 when they were sent to Auschwitz. After experiencing incredible fear, she moved to the United States and became a therapist. Her unique background gives her amazing insight, and I think many people will find comfort in her advice on dealing with difficult situations.

2. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

After reading this kind of novel, you will be stuck thinking about it for a long time and talking about it for a long time. The plot is a bit difficult to explain because it involves six interconnected stories hundreds of years apart (one of which I particularly liked, about a young American doctor on a sailing ship in the South Pacific in the mid-19th century). But if you're ready to experience a truly compelling story of human goodness and evil, I think you'll be engrossed in it.

3. The Journey of a Lifetime by Bob Iger

This is one of the best business books I've read in years. Iger's writing is excellent and he explains what it's really like to be the CEO of a major company. Whether you're looking for business insights or just a fun reading experience, you'll love his story at the helm of Disney during one of the most transformative periods in the company's history.

4. The Great Flu by John Barry

We are living through an unprecedented time of pandemic. But if you want to make a historical comparison, the 1918 flu pandemic, one of the deadliest outbreaks in human history, is still close at hand. Barry covers almost everything you need to know in the book. Although 1918 was a very different time than today, "The Great Flu" is still a good reminder that we have to deal with many of the same challenges today.

5.? "Good Economics in Hard Times" by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Dulov

Banerjee and Dulov, who won the Nobel Prize in economics last year, are two of the smartest economists working today. Luckily for us regular readers, they are also very good at informing the average person about economics. This latest book looks at inequality and political divisions, with a focus on policy debates that are at the forefront in rich countries like the United States.

Other books worth reading

The Headspace Guide: Meditation and Mindfulness by Andy Puddicombe

I've been skeptical about meditation for years. Now, when time permits, I meditate as often as I can (three times a week). Andy's book and the app he created, Headspace, made me a convert. Andy, a former Buddhist monk, offers many useful metaphors to explain the potentially tricky concepts in meditation. A few minutes each day for all of us to reduce stress and refocus would be a good place to start.

Walking With Einstein by Joshua Foer

If you want to learn new skills, exercising your memory might be a good choice. Foer, a science writer, is interested in how memory works and why some people have an amazing ability to recall facts. He takes you to the U.S. Memory Championship (you heard me right, it's a real competition) and introduces you to the amazing memory techniques that helped him win that year.

"The Martian" by Andy Weir

You may remember a movie from a few years ago in which Matt Damon played a botanist stranded on Mars who puts aside his fears and shouts at Mars, "I'm going to bring this planet to its feet with science." We're doing something similar with the novel coronavirus.

"A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Taurs

The protagonist of the novel lives in a situation very similar to the present: he cannot leave the building in which he lives. But he's not there because of illness. The main character is a Russian count sentenced to life in prison and confined to a hotel in 1922. I think it's an interesting, clever and optimistic story about how people can make the most of their surroundings.

The Rosie Trilogy by Graeme Simmons

All three of Rosie's novels made me laugh out loud. The novel's main character is a genetics professor with Asperger's syndrome (AS) who goes to find a wife (in the first book) and then starts a family (in the second and third books). This story goes into the minds and hearts of people on the margins (who are often considered "strange" by most people) who are not so different from most people. Melinda got me started on this series of novels, and I'm glad she managed to convince me.

I don't read a lot of comics or visual literature, but I really liked some of the ones I picked. The best work combines great storytelling with stunning visuals. For example, in Thibu's memoir, "The Best We Could Do," she gained a new understanding of her parents' experiences. This is a very personal book that explores what it means to be a parent and a refugee.

Ellie Bloch's The Exaggerated Half: Bad Situations, Bad Coping Mechanisms, Chaos, and Other Things That Are Happening is the lighter option. You can read it in three hours, but you'll wish you could read it longer because it's so interesting. I think Melinda has heard me share many of the highlights of the book.

Finally, I like the way former NASA engineer Randall Munro turned alternative science classes into comics by making the learning of knowledge more participatory. Two books that I have read and highly recommend are "What If? : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions" and "XKCD: Volume 0". I also have Randall's latest book, How to...? : Ridiculous Scientific Advice on Common Real-world Problems. The book is on the shelf and I hope to read it as soon as possible. If you've read it, let me know what you think in the comments.

TV shows and movies

Pandemic: How to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

This Netflix documentary series introduces you to the stories of four ordinary people who are working hard to prevent pandemics in different parts of the world. Since the series was filmed some time ago, its focus is not on the coronavirus, but on influenza (widely blamed for the outbreak). But the Pandemic series can still help you understand the inspiring work being done by heroic doctors, researchers and aid workers -- all in an effort to avoid the pandemic we're experiencing right now.

Melinda and I also watched a series of movies, including "A Million Little Things," "This Is Us" and "The Ozarks." After reading the Economist's rave reviews of Claudius, a series about the Roman Empire created by the BBC in the 1970s, I decided to put it on my list. I've read a lot about Roman times, but this series sounds like an interesting look at that time.

On a more out-of-touch note, a few weeks ago I re-watched one of my favorite movies, Spy Game, starring Robert Redford and Robert Pitt. There are many surprises in this movie, so I don't want to spoil your enjoyment by revealing the plot. Few people have heard of this movie, but I must have watched it 12 times.

I've listed these books and movies and plays, and shared them on Likewise.

Online bridge

I've been playing bridge for years, and Warren Buffett is my favorite player. We're all socially isolated now, so we don't have the opportunity to party, but online games are still available. There are a number of good online bridge games on the market, including this bridge study guide, and the online bridge platform Warren and I play, Bridgebase (sorry I'll hide Warren and I's game nickname). I was worried a few months ago when their service was briefly interrupted, but thankfully it was soon restored. I was relieved to see it working again, and I was actually quite surprised.

economybook review
Like

About the Creator

[email protected]

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.