Searching for your next book to read on the beach this summer? Take a cue from Bill Gates' summer reading list.
The Microsoft co-founder authored a short column in Time detailing five books that "pushed [him] out of [his] own experiences" and "made [him] question [his] own thinking about how the world works."
Check out the five books Mr. Gates recommends for the summer.
1. A Full Life by Jimmy Carter.
"I loved reading about Carter's improbable rise to the world's highest office. The book will help you understand how growing up in rural Georgia in a house without running water, electricity, or insulation shaped — for better and for worse — his time in the White House. Although most of the stories come from previous decades, A Full Life feels timely in an era when the public's confidence in national political figures and institutions is low."
2. Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari.
"Homo Deus argues that the principles that have organized society will undergo a huge shift in the 21st century … The things that have shaped society … have been either religious rules about how to live a good life, or more earthly goals like getting rid of sickness, hunger and war. What would the world be like if we actually achieved those things?"
3. The Heart by Maylis de Kerangal.
"At its most basic level, [Ms. Kerangal] tells the story of a heart transplant: A young man is killed in an accident, and his parents decide to donate his heart. But the plot is secondary to the strength of its words and characters. The book uses beautiful language to connect you deeply with people who may be in the story for only a few minutes … I'm glad Melinda recommended this book to me, and I recently passed it along to a friend who, like me, sticks mostly with nonfiction."
4. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.
"Born to a black South African mother and a white Swiss father in apartheid South Africa, [Mr. Noah] entered the world as a biracial child in a country where mixed race relationships were forbidden. [While] much of Noah's story … is tragic … Anyone who watches [The Daily Show] knows his moving stories will often leave you laughing."
5. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.
"[Mr.] Vance was raised largely by his loving but volatile grandparents, who stepped in after his father abandoned him and his mother showed little interest in parenting her son. Against all odds, he survived his chaotic, impoverished childhood only to land at Yale Law School. While the book offers insights into some of the complex cultural and family issues behind poverty, the real magic lies in the story itself and Vance's bravery in telling it."
To read Mr. Gates' full review of each book, click here.