In tough times—and there’s no doubt that 2020 qualifies as tough times—those of us who love to read turn to all kinds of different books.
Read, watch, and listen
Because there’s more to life than reading. (Though reading is still the best.)
I never thought I’d relate to a book about gaming, but I loved Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Born in Blackness challenges Western accounts of the continent.
A profound book about tennis and much more.
As a teenager, I discovered the novels that Robert Heinlein wrote for adults.
Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future.
A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors.
In The Spy and the Traitor, a Soviet double agent helps prevent a nuclear war—and nearly dies for it.
Walter Isaacson’s terrific new biography sheds light on every facet of the artist’s life.
A vivid depiction of the daily challenges millions face in urban slums.
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.
What does a virtuous life look like? David Brooks suggests an intriguing idea.
If you are in the mood for something that stimulates your thinking, you’ll love The Overstory.
I loved the latest from the author of A Gentleman in Moscow.
A wonderful, mind-bending novel
Cloud Atlas is a touching and very clever story about moral choices.
This powerful graphic novel explores parenthood and life during wartime.
The Rosie Project is one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time.
Readers of all ages will enjoy John Green’s latest novel, Turtles All the Way Down.
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.
Jeff Hawkins’s book explores a new theory about human intelligence.
A provocative new book raises big questions about the future.
I recently read Steven Johnson’s book, Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation, and found it useful as a way to think about the kinds of environments that foster creative collaboration and innovation.
Another masterpiece from Vaclav Smil.
Numbers Don’t Lie is Vaclav Smil’s most accessible book yet.
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 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.
A fascinating look at the stuff that makes modern life possible.
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.
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.
The amazing story of the eradication of smallpox. The author, Bill Foege, has been an inspiring advisor to us from the beginning. I still read his speeches to remind myself who public health is for.
John M. Barry’s 2004 book The Great Influenza has never been more relevant.
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.
I recently picked up Kofi Annan’s book, Interventions: A Life in War and Peace, about his years as Secretary-General of the UN. It was a reminder of his achievements in global health and development, and helpful to learn about the other side of his UN work on peacekeeping issues.
What we can learn from Jeffrey Sachs’s ambitious project in Africa.
One of the things I’ve learned working in global health and development is that when people in poor countries get enough food to eat, their health improves and they are less susceptible to disease. The Man Who Fed the World is a biography of Norman Borlaug, a brilliant agricultural scientist who understood this and saved a billion people from starvation.
Gordon Conway provides a roadmap for eliminating hunger in the world.
What we eat and how farmers grow our food has a surprisingly big impact on our climate and the environment. Tomorrow’s Table is a book I read a few years ago that offers a window into the lives of a geneticist and organic farmer trying to increase yields on their farm using new kinds of seeds and innovative growing techniques.
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.
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.
There's a lot of concern about the cost of college. This book looks at college costs in the context of the larger economy, and offers suggestions for policy to increase access.
The growth of for-profit colleges and universities has expanded educational opportunities, but also has stimulated a debate about what's going on in higher education.
Technology can transform education by simplifying access to great material, providing new approaches to learning, and offering a framework for assessing student progress and teacher effectiveness. A recent book looks at how technology is being used today and the barriers to change in the future.
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.
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.
A compelling case for how energy made us who we are.
Four stories that explain how your body fights off disease.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the stuff in your veins.
I Contain Multitudes helped me see microorganisms in a whole new light.
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.
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, try this is one. It’s about enjoying life. Melinda and I went to one of his seminars. He’s a very nice guy.
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.
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.