GATES NOTES - 5 memoirs that shaped my own

 

5 memoirs that shaped my own

By Bill Gates | May 22, 2025

I feel like I'm always learning, but I really go into serious learning mode when I'm starting out on a new project. In the early days of Microsoft, I read a ton about technology companies, and as I was starting the Gates Foundation, I researched the history of American philanthropy.

Writing my memoir Source Code, which came out earlier this year, was no different: I thought about what I could draw on from the best memoirs I've read.

So for this year's Summer Books, I thought I would share a few of the memoirs that stayed with me. With the exception of Nicholas Kristof's Chasing Hope, I read all of these before finishing Source Code—in fact I read Katharine Graham's Personal History years before I even decided to start writing. (Nick's book is so good that I wanted to include it anyway.)

You won't find a direct correlation between any of these books and Source Code. But I think it has shades of Bono's vulnerability about his own challenges, Tara Westover's evolving view of her parents, and Trevor Noah's sense as a kid that he didn't quite fit in.

Memoirs are a good reminder that people have countless interesting stories to tell about their lives. Here are five that shaped mine:

Personal History, by Katharine Graham — a powerful account of how she became publisher of the Washington Post and led it through some of its most defining moments. Chasing Hope, by Nicholas Kristof — a story of global reporting, quiet optimism, and a life spent spotlighting overlooked crises. Educated, by Tara Westover — a gripping memoir about breaking away from a survivalist upbringing to discover the power of learning. Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah — a funny, moving reflection on growing up biracial under apartheid in South Africa. Surrender, by Bono — an unexpectedly vulnerable look at fame, family, and the emotional fuel behind a life in music.

You can find my reviews of these books—and over 150 others from the past 15 years—on Gates Notes now.

Happy reading, happy summer, and thanks for being an Insider.