Bill Gates recommends these 5 books to read in summer

CAIRO - 2 June 2017: Philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates has new book recommendations for his followers to read this summer: three memoirs, a big book on humans, and a rare novel.

Here they are

1- Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah

As an old fan of The Daily Show, Gates enjoyed reading this book by the show's host and started his recommendation list with it. In this memoir, Trevor Noah says his childhood was the product of a criminal act between a white Swiss man and a black South African woman in South Africa; a country where interracial relationships were forbidden. The book is mostly painful, yet Gates says that as anyone who watches his nightly monologues knows, his touching stories will often leave the reader laughing.

2- The Heart, by Maylis de Kerangal, and translated by Sam Taylor

Originally authored in French, this novel events’ take place in 24 hours around a heart-transplant operation between a teenager killed in a car and a dying woman.
Gates said he is glad his wife recommended him this book, for this book's exploration of grief is closer to poetry than anything else, adding that the plot is secondary to the strength of its beautifully-used words and characters.

3- Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance

This is a 2016 literary hit by the Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir about her journey growing up poor in the Rust Belt and ending up at the prestigious Yale Law School.
Gates noted that while the book offers musings into the complexity of some cultural and family issues behind poverty, the real charm lies in the story itself and Vance’s bravery in telling it.

4- Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, by Yuval Noah Harari

Gates has previously recommended the author's previous book Sapiens in last summer’s reading list, and this book is a follow-up that explores what’s next for humans. Gates says that this book is just as challenging, readable, and thought-provoking.

5- A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety, by Jimmy Carter

The former American president and author of over two dozen books looks back at his life at the age of 90. He writes about his personal life, his regrets, and decisions that have deeply impacted the route of his life.

Gates notes that "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."