This book is a must-have on Bill Gates' bookshelves (and also perfect for back-to-school reading)

Bill Gates isn't just known for co-founding Microsoft or for his role as a philanthropist; he's also known for his reading. From time to time, he shares titles he considers essential, and this time he's highlighted a book that, according to him, helps us see the world from a completely different angle: Numbers Don't Lie: 71 Stories for Understanding the World , by Czech scientist and essayist Vaclav Smil.

Gates himself enthusiastically explains: Smil's books offer a profound insight into how civilization has developed. This one, in particular, condenses more than 70 key facts about the planet and society into an accessible format. "It's the most informative book he's ever written, and yet probably the easiest to read," Gates comments on his channel.

One of Gates' most interesting chapters is the one devoted to batteries and the difficulty of maintaining a reliable electrical system if we rely solely on renewable energy sources like solar or wind. Smil gives examples of cities like Tokyo and points out that, despite the digital revolution, advances in batteries have not kept pace with the exponential growth comparable to that of microchips.

The book also delves into surprising aspects of human history. Smil describes how human physical endurance—thanks to running on two legs and the ability to sweat—was key to hunting animals and, thus, obtaining the protein that fueled brain development and social behavior.

In addition to technological and evolutionary issues, Smil plays with unexpected figures. Gates admits he was fascinated by a fact about wine consumption in France: today , people drink a third of what they did in 1950. “It's incredible. What happened in that time?” the entrepreneur asks, surprised by how habits change.

For this reason, the book is ideal for reading during a reset, like returning to school or work after the summer. Its pages invite you to reconsider preconceived ideas about energy, health, habits, and history , with information ranging from the mundane to the most complex.

The magnate assures that whoever reads it will find a useful framework for thinking about the major challenges of the present and the future. “I wholeheartedly recommend this book,” he says. “It will give you a different way of seeing things.” A reading recommendation that, coming from someone who devours knowledge with such passion, seems hard to ignore.

Bill Gates isn't just known for co-founding Microsoft or for his role as a philanthropist; he's also known for his reading. From time to time, he shares titles he considers essential, and this time he's highlighted a book that, according to him, helps us see the world from a completely different angle: Numbers Don't Lie: 71 Stories for Understanding the World , by Czech scientist and essayist Vaclav Smil.