These Are Bill Gates’ 5 Favorite Books Of 2019

Every December, Bill Gates likes to take stock of the past year’s accomplishments—including all the books he’s read. In keeping with this holiday tradition, the world’s second-richest person just released his top five picks for 2019 on GatesNotes, his personal blog.

“This year, I picked up a bit more fiction than usual,” the billionaire bookworm wrote. “It wasn’t a conscious decision, but I seemed to be drawn to stories that let me explore another world.” The final five includes just one novel but covers topics ranging from public health to American history (including one book on “everything”).

These are the selections that’ll make us better sleepers, better parents and, most importantly, better readers:

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. These Truths by Jill Lepore. This 800-page history of the United States is described by Gates as “the most honest and unflinching account of the American story I’ve ever read.” Growth by Vaclav Smil. Bill Gates has said he waits for a new Vaclav Smil release “the way some people wait for the next Star Wars movie.”Prepared by Diane Tavenner. For anxious parents looking for a how-to guide, Gates recommends Prepared. Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. One book that surprisingly didn’t make the list? His wife’s. This past spring, Melinda Gates released The Moment of Lift, an empowering call for gender equality.