Source code: everything we know about Bill Gates’ new book

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most influential figures in the world of technology, surprised by announcing the publication of his first memoir, entitled Source. In this work, Gates promises to offer an intimate and candid look at his life, from his childhood in Seattle to the days before the founding of Microsoft, offering an opportunity to meet the man behind great technological transformations. Here we tell you everything we know about Source.

Gates has written four previous books, but has never delved into his personal life this deeply. Unlike the achievements of Microsoft, the company he and Paul Allen founded in 1975, or the Gates Foundation, his famous philanthropy, this book delves into the more personal and lesser-known aspects of the tech mogul’s life.

“I have been in the public eye since I was twenty, but much of my previous life is little known,” Gates said in a statement. The cover features a picture of him as a child, contrasting with the glasses-wearing adult version we all know today.

The book chronicles Gates’ formative years in Seattle, including the difficulties he faced integrating into his community as well as his family relationships. It will explore conflicts with his parents during his rebellious adolescence and how he dealt with the sudden loss of a loved one, providing greater insight into his family environment as well as his personal and professional development.

While it will briefly touch on his time at Harvard, where Gates studied before leaving two years later, and the founding of Microsoft, the main goal is to offer a personal and emotionally honest look at his life. This will help readers better understand the roots and motivation of the famous businessman.

Gates will also discuss what it was like to deal with sudden success and the pressures of being a public figure from a young age, revealing the experiences and challenges he faced before becoming one of the most influential figures in the world of technology.

Promotional materials for the book do not mention details of Gates’ personal life as an adult, suggesting that the book may end with the founding of Microsoft in 1975. In addition, Gates announced plans to write two more memoirs: one about his time at Microsoft and another about philanthropy.

Source promises to be a fascinating read, offering a unique and personal look at one of the most influential men of our era. While the book won’t delve into Gates’ business accomplishments, it will provide greater insight into the experiences that shaped the young man who would ultimately change the world with his technological vision.

Described by a Gates spokesman as “Bill’s origin story”, Source will be published February 4, 2025 and is now available for pre-order from Amazon and other bookstores.