11 Business Books Bill Gates Wants You to Read

1. “The Road to Character” by David Brooks

Gates describes this book as, “It certainly was a stimulating read, and it got me thinking about my own motivations and limitations in new ways.” New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote the book to discover what the road to character looks like and how other people have walked on it. This is crucial in the business world where integrity and compromise have an ongoing tension. The book has a 4.2 rating on Amazon from 1,175 customer reviews with 59% of readers giving it 5 stars.

What is the book about? Brooks presents the contrast between “résumé virtues” (traits for external success or Adam I) and “eulogy virtues” (traits for internal peace of mind or Adam II). He profiles the character of different people throughout history and concludes by saying that the American society has failed in balancing the success virtues versus legacy virtues.

Gates shared some of his insights in his review, “Brooks fleshes out the Adam I/Adam II metaphor by offering profiles of a broad set of historical figures. Not all of them are paragons of virtue. But they are paragons of character…I agree with Brooks that it’s useful to think about how to get the balance right. In a chapter entitled ‘The Summoned Self,’ he suggests that the voice of Adam II gets louder when we ask ‘What are my circumstances calling me to do?’”

These 11 business books that Bill Gates wants you to read presents different facets of the business world. From Wall Street to capitalism, innovation, and character building, these resources offer valuable insights to achieving success in business regardless of one’s industry. These books can give you an idea on what Gates values and use them as leverage in the way you conduct your own business.