I recently met with 33 scientists who you may be reading about in future books about how COVID became the last pandemic.
Deck the shelves
Each book on my list is about making sense of the world around you.
I loved—and finished—Doris Kearns Goodwin’s An Unfinished Love Story.
The Anxious Generation explains how smartphones and social media rewired a generation.
Engineering in Plain Sight reveals the mysteries of bridges, power lines, and more.
The Coming Wave is a clear-eyed view of the extraordinary opportunities and genuine risks ahead.
Brave New Words paints an inspiring picture of AI in the classroom.
Infectious Generosity is a timely, inspiring read about philanthropy in the digital age.
David Brooks' new book teaches us how—and why—to make every word count.
The Women gave me a new perspective on the Vietnam War
Kristin Hannah’s wildly popular novel about an army nurse is eye-opening and inspiring.
What does a virtuous life look like? David Brooks suggests an intriguing idea.
Why We’re Polarized is a fascinating look at human psychology.
Jeff Hawkins’s book explores a new theory about human intelligence.
According to this book, some environments foster more innovation than others.
A provocative new book raises big questions about the future.
Diane Tavenner’s book offers amazing tips on preparing kids for college, a career, and life.
Educated is even better than you’ve heard
Melinda and I loved Tara Westover’s journey from the mountains of Idaho to the halls of Cambridge.
What is humanity’s origin story? David Christian answers that question in his new book.
This book is a useful introduction to a complex problem.
How for-profit colleges and universities expand opportunities—and where they fall short.
Liberating Learning discusses the overlap between two issues I care about a lot.
The Song of the Cell proves that Siddhartha Mukherjee is one of the best science writers working today.
A talented writer and doctor guides us through the past, present, and future of genome science.
Walter Isaacson’s latest book profiles Jennifer Doudna and her remarkable discovery.
I Contain Multitudes helped me see microorganisms in a whole new light.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the stuff in your veins.
Four stories that explain how your body fights off disease.
A Gentleman in Moscow has a little bit of everything
Towles’s novel is technically historical fiction, but you’d be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story.
I thought this thrilling story about a double agent lived up to the hype.
Hamnet pierces the boundary between real life and play
Maggie O’Farrell’s novel is a beautiful, well-written look at how grief tears a family apart.
Hannah Ritchie’s Not the End of the World is an essential antidote to environmental doomsday-ism.
Elizabeth Kolbert on man-made extinctions.
Can we produce enough meat for everyone without wrecking the planet?
How we can cut carbon emissions by using less stuff.
Looking at the impact human activities are having on the web of plants, animals, and other life forms that compose the Earth’s biosphere, and what it means for our future.
Elizabeth Kolbert’s insightful look at the intersection of people and nature.
Meeting the world’s energy needs requires an honest assessment.
David MacKay’s brilliant book is a primer on how we make energy and its impact on the climate.
One of my favorite authors explains how energy drives human history.
A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors.
Numbers Don’t Lie is Vaclav Smil’s most accessible book yet.
Vaclav Smil has written “a brief history of hype and failure."
Factfulness is one of the most educational books I’ve ever read.
They’re not behind us.
Steven Pinker’s new book makes a powerful case for why the world is getting better.
Jerven provides an analysis of African economic development statistics.
A great source of data-driven wisdom about development aid.
Can the lessons from Asia’s rise apply on another continent?
Economist Charles Kenny shines a light on the real successes of aid.
An illuminating look at the role of Secretary-General of the United Nations.
What we can learn from Jeffrey Sachs’s ambitious project in Africa.
The brilliant agricultural scientist who helped save a billion people from starvation.
Gordon Conway provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world.
Tomorrow’s Table tackles the future of agriculture.
Jim Grant's determination and influence saved millions of children's lives.
My friend Dr. Chris Murray wants to treat everyone. And I mean everyone…
A new mother writes about the world of vaccines.
Breath from Salt gave me new perspective on a disease I’ve been following for two decades.
The polio epidemics of the past were terrible and unsettling times.
Nancy Leys Stepan has written a useful history of efforts to eliminate diseases.
If you read just one book about malaria, The Fever may be the best choice.
In House on Fire, Bill Foege tells the amazing story of smallpox eradication.
John M. Barry’s 2004 book The Great Influenza has never been more relevant.
Mendeleyev’s Dream helps you understand how the periodic table got pieced together and why it’s so helpful.
I loved reading this science book for young adults.
Nuclear physics, space travel, and other topics made easy.
I got a kick out of Randall Munroe’s brilliant, offbeat science lessons.
Randall Munroe’s twisted comic takes on science and technology.
Walter Lewin’s For the Love of Physics helps you understand stars, phones, GPS, and more.
An eye-opening history of the United States.
An American Marriage is a moving look at how incarceration changes relationships.
The New Jim Crow will help you understand the history and the numbers behind mass incarceration.
Evicted is beautifully written, eye-opening, and unforgettable.
Her powerful call for gender equality.
Hillbilly Elegy gave me new insights into poverty in America.
A guide to worrying in the 21st century
Yuval Noah Harari has written another thought-provoking book.
Melinda and I spent weeks talking about this history of the human race.
Capitalism Without Capital explains how things we can’t touch are reshaping the economy.
A renowned economist’s thought-provoking new book.
Good Economics for Hard Times was written about a pre-COVID world, but it’s still relevant today.
It’s not what you know, it’s what you can accomplish.
Unlike most books on leadership, this one is worth your time.
Phil Knight opens up in a way few CEOs do in his candid memoir about creating the Nike shoe empire.
The fall of one of America’s great companies.
When the Microsoft CEO asked me to write the foreword for his new book Hit Refresh, I was happy to say yes.
Business Adventures is old, hard to find, and the best business book ever.
A profound book about tennis and much more.
I loved this book on tennis as much for the writing as its insights into my favorite sport.
David Epstein’s Range explains the greatness of Roger Federer and other generalists.
Andy Puddicombe has written a great guide to focusing your thoughts.
Even if you don’t read many inspirational books, I recommend Awakening Joy.
An expert explains the benefits of a good night’s rest.
Lincoln in the Bardo gave me a new perspective on America’s 16th president.
Michael Beschloss’s latest book gave me insights about leadership.
Doris Kearns Goodwin’s brilliant biography of Abraham Lincoln is more relevant than ever.
President Obama’s memoir is a terrific read, no matter what your politics are.
How Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft changed America.
A quick retelling of the former president’s fascinating story.
A wise and funny memoir from a young woman facing her own mortality.
Eger’s life story gives her fascinating insight into how people move on after trauma.
I’m lucky to call Bono a friend. But his autobiography still surprised me.
Trevor Noah’s funny and moving account of growing up in South Africa.
And his memoir is terrific—as long as you’ve seen his act.
The deeply moving When Breath Becomes Air.
Born in Blackness challenges Western accounts of the continent.
In The Spy and the Traitor, a Soviet double agent helps prevent a nuclear war—and nearly dies for it.
Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile is a page-turner about getting through World War II.
Shipping containers are way more interesting than you might think.
A vivid depiction of the daily challenges millions face in urban slums.
Walter Isaacson’s terrific new biography sheds light on every facet of the artist’s life.