Not sure what books to buy for Christmas? Let Bill Gates help
When it comes to wealth and prestige, few names are more iconic than Bill Gates. As the founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s richest men, Gates has made numerous contributions to the world of tech. He has also spearheaded several projects with the goal of reducing poverty and hunger in developing countries.
But even billionaires need to unwind now and then, and when Bill Gates does, he chooses to spend his time reading. He reportedly reads around 50 books a year, and his tastes span genres from historical fiction to educational and scientific texts.
And now, just in time for Christmas, Bill Gates has released a new list of his favorite books from 2019. Books always make great gifts, and with the help of this reading list, you’re sure to find the perfect present for the special people in your life.
‘These Truths: A History of the United States’ by Jill Lepore
How much do you really know about U.S. history? As it turns out, our high school classes tend to gloss over some of the more fascinating details from the story of America. This paints an incomplete picture of the rich history of our nation.
“These Truths: A History of the United States” covers some of the untold chapters in American history, and offers a fascinating look at some of the steps we took to become the nation we are today.
‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker, PhD
Do you get enough sleep every night? Most people will simply sip their coffee and say “yes,” but our caffeine-addled brains are disguising an important fact: Sleep is essential for our health and well-being.
What are the long-term effects of sleep deprivation? Is it a preventable cause of death and poor health? This book discusses all these controversies and more and illustrates the importance of taking enough time every night to catch some Z’s.
‘Growth: From Microorganisms to Megacities’ by Vaclav Smil
Vaclav Smil is one of Gates’ favorite authors, and the man claims to anticipate his books the way fanboys do for “Star Wars” movies. In “Growth,” Smil talks about the limits of unrestrained development in economics and society, as well as the consequences such a thing can lead to.
Smil covers a broad variety of subjects in relation to accelerating growth — including culture, technology and the environment. It’s a window into a future that may end up being all too real.
Amazon's top-selling items will surprise you
Amazon had a record-breaking year in 2019. Prime Day was the biggest in the company’s history, with millions of transactions taking place around the world. In addition, Black Friday and Cyber Monday came and went with stellar results, with the latter being the biggest shopping day in the company’s history.
No more Netflix on these TVs: How you can keep streaming without built-in services
Nothing lasts forever, especially when it comes to tech. Years ago, it might have been decades before you considered replacing a household appliance or entertainment system. Nowadays, it doesn’t take long before your smartphone or TV is obsolete or on the way out.
How to stop robocalls with free solutions from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint
Robocalls have tormented us for years. They’ve interrupted our conversations, dominated our work lines and spread erroneous information across the country. The nation’s Do Not Call registry is pretty worthless at stopping them.
Everything you need to know about the latest Windows update
There are more updates being released to Windows now than at any other point in the operating system’s lifespan. The reasons for this range from new apps and features all the way to cybersecurity concerns — but nobody can deny that Microsoft is stepping up its software game in a major way.
5 sites for streaming TV for free
Streaming video is still a relatively young technology, but most of us can no longer imagine sticking a disc into a DVD player. Yes, some of us still enjoy our Redbox rentals, and Blu-ray still offers some of the best imaging available.
Former FBI, CIA director takes on a phone scammer
Robocalls and phone scammers are getting worse. Most are merely annoying, but some can be terrifying, like the scammer who threatened to kill Lynda and William Webster. Webster’s name may sound familiar: He’s the former head of the FBI and CIA. Everyone is a target for scammers, from the average person to the powerful.
Smart home tips from a guy who did it and lived to tell
You’ve decided to upgrade your home to a smart home but, where do you start? Maybe some smart lightbulbs or a smart thermostat? Should you use an Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home Pod to connect your devices?
Amazon is delivering in new ways
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you probably love the free 2-day shipping. But there are many more benefits that you might not know about.
Check out these nine great Amazon Prime perks that you’ll wish you knew about sooner. Even though deliveries are already Amazon’s specialty, it’s always looking to make it better.
Create easy-to-remember yet super-tough passwords
In the wake of password exposures and account hacks, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of basic safety measures. Having a secure program to guard your personal information doesn’t do you much good when your password is “12345.”