Bill Gates biography books are books that document the life of the Microsoft co-founder, including 1 memoir by Gates and 2 biographies by outside authors. The most recent title is Source Code: My Beginnings, published by Knopf on February 4, 2025. The other 2 titles are Gates (1993) by Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews, and Hard Drive (1992) by James Wallace and Jim Erickson.
Who Is Bill Gates?
Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft and a philanthropist. He dropped out of Harvard at age 20 to start a software company that became an industry giant. He later focused on philanthropy in 3 areas: climate change, global health, and U.S. education.
What Are the Main Bill Gates Biography Books?
The 3 main Bill Gates biography books differ in author, year, and period covered. The table below lists each title by type and focus.
| Title | Author | Year | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire | James Wallace and Jim Erickson | 1992 | Biography | Gates and the rise of Microsoft |
| Gates: How Microsoft’s Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself the Richest Man in America | Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews | 1993 | Biography | Boyhood through Microsoft’s rise |
| Source Code: My Beginnings | Bill Gates | 2025 | Memoir | Childhood to the late 1970s |
What Is Source Code: My Beginnings About?
Source Code: My Beginnings is a memoir by Bill Gates about his childhood, early passions, and the founding years of Microsoft. The book is not about Microsoft’s later history, the Gates Foundation, or the future of technology. It covers his grandmother and parents, his first deep friendships, the sudden death of his best friend, and his discovery of coding.
When Was Source Code Published?
Source Code: My Beginnings was published on February 4, 2025, by Knopf in the United States. Allen Lane published the United Kingdom edition. The hardcover has 336 pages. Vintage released a paperback edition on February 3, 2026, also at 336 pages. The book reached #1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
What Period Does Source Code Cover?
Source Code covers Gates’s childhood in Seattle, his brief time at Harvard, and the early years of Microsoft in Albuquerque. The book ends in the late 1970s, when Microsoft signed its first deal with Apple. GeekWire reported that Microsoft was so short of money in those years that it borrowed $7,000 from a new employee.
How Many Memoirs Is Bill Gates Writing?
Source Code is the first of 3 planned memoirs by Bill Gates. The second covers his years at Microsoft. The third covers his philanthropy.
How Did Critics Receive Source Code?
Reviewers noted Gates’s self-deprecation and his ability to humanize his success. GeekWire called the book a candid account of his early years. The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal each published reviews.
What Is Gates by Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews?
Gates is a biography published by Doubleday on February 1, 1993. Kirkus Reviews described it as an unsentimental biography of William H. Gates III. The authors drew on access to Gates, his family, his associates, and his rivals. The book follows Gates from a privileged boyhood in the Pacific Northwest through the creation of Microsoft with Paul Allen. It covers the development of DOS, the alliance with IBM, and the rivalry with Apple. Gates was 37 at the time of publication.
What Is Hard Drive by James Wallace and Jim Erickson?
Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire is a biography by James Wallace and Jim Erickson. Kirkus Reviews compared it with Gates and stated that Manes and Andrews explained the commercial and technical significance of Gates’s work in more detail.
How Do the Bill Gates Biography Books Differ?
The Bill Gates biography books differ in 3 ways:
- Perspective: Source Code is written by Gates, while Gates and Hard Drive are written by outside authors.
- Period: Source Code ends in the late 1970s, while Gates follows Gates to the early 1990s.
- Sources: Gates draws on access to Gates, his family, associates, and rivals.
Are There Bill Gates Biography Books for Young Readers?
Yes, Bill Gates biography books for young readers exist. Examples include Bill Gates in the A&E Biography series, Bill Gates from Lerner Publications, and Bill and Melinda Gates in the True Books series.
What Do Bill Gates Biography Books Cover?
Bill Gates biography books cover his childhood in Seattle, his departure from Harvard, the founding of Microsoft, and the business strategies of the early software industry. The 3 major titles span 1992 to 2025 and include 1 memoir and 2 biographies. Readers comparing Bill Gates biography books can select by author perspective and period covered.
People Also Ask
What is Bill Gates’s memoir called?
Bill Gates’s memoir is called Source Code: My Beginnings.
When was Source Code published?
Source Code: My Beginnings was published on February 4, 2025.
How many memoirs is Bill Gates writing?
Bill Gates is writing 3 memoirs, and Source Code is the first.
What period does Source Code cover?
Source Code covers Gates’s childhood through the late 1970s.
Who wrote the biography Gates?
Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews wrote Gates, published in 1993.