Published Writing - Books by Bill Gates
The Road Ahead
In the 1996 edition of The Road Ahead, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates laid out his vision of an interconnected world built around the Internet. Based on the premise that life will be transformed by the convergence of inexpensive computing and inexpensive communications, Gates drew from his experience at the center of the personal computer revolution to give insights on the growth, evolution and impact of technology.
Microsoft celebrates its 20th birthday and come August, replaces the aging combination of MS-DOS and Windows 3.11 with the bells & whistles of Windows 95, triggering mass upgrades worldwide and prompting the adoption of an all-new, whizz bang version of Microsoft Office.
Gates turns 40 and, clearly feeling on top of his game, he collaborates with Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer, Nathan Myhrvold, and Peter Rinearson, to write his vision for the future - titled The Road Ahead. The book is pitched as Bill's "bird's-eye view of the undiscovered territory on the information highway - an authoritative, thought-provoking, and very readable travel guide for the journey.
In this optimistic and refreshingly realistic book, Gates looks ahead to show how the emerging technologies of the digital age will transform all our lives."It occupies the top slot on the New York Times' bestseller list for more than seven weeks and goes on to sell over 2.5 million copies.
Of course, attempting to predict the future in any aspect of life, let alone a fast-paced industry like IT, is fraught with danger. Sensibly, Gates acknowledges this in his
Foreword:
I'm writing this book now as part of my contribution to the debate (about the information highway) and, although it's a tall order, I hope it can serve as a travel guide for the forthcoming journey. I do this with some trepidation.
We've all smiled at predictions from the past that look silly today. you can flip through old Popular Science magazines and read about conveniences to come, such as the family helicopter and nuclear power "too cheap to meter."
History is full of now ironic examples - the Oxford professor who in 1878 dismissed the electric light as a gimmick; the commissioner of US patents who in 1899 asked that his office be abolished because "everything that can be invented has been invented.
This is meant to be a serious book, although ten years from now it may not appear that way. What I've said that turned out to be right will be considered obvious and what was wrong will be humourous.
Well, William, it is indeed now ten years later. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and see how many changes you correctly predicted and how many were wide of the mark.
more
Inside Out
To commemorate Microsoft's 25th anniversary, the company published Inside Out, a book written by and for employees which highlights the products, people and culture that transformed Bill Gates' and Paul Allen's vision for personal computing into reality. Each chapter of the book features an introductory essay by Bill Gates, reflecting on the company's history and looking ahead to future opportunities.
Business @ the Speed of Thought
Business @ the Speed of Thought was written to inspire you to demand - and get - more from technology, enabling you and your company to respond faster to your customers, adapt to changing business demands, and prosper in the digital economy. Business @ the Speed of Thought is not a technical book. It shows how business and technology are now inextricably linked. Each chapter is structured around a business or management issue, showing how digital processes can dramatically improve your results.
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The Road Ahead
In the 1996 edition of The Road Ahead, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates laid out his vision of an interconnected world built around the Internet. Based on the premise that life will be transformed by the convergence of inexpensive computing and inexpensive communications, Gates drew from his experience at the center of the personal computer revolution to give insights on the growth, evolution and impact of technology.
Microsoft celebrates its 20th birthday and come August, replaces the aging combination of MS-DOS and Windows 3.11 with the bells & whistles of Windows 95, triggering mass upgrades worldwide and prompting the adoption of an all-new, whizz bang version of Microsoft Office.
Gates turns 40 and, clearly feeling on top of his game, he collaborates with Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer, Nathan Myhrvold, and Peter Rinearson, to write his vision for the future - titled The Road Ahead. The book is pitched as Bill's "bird's-eye view of the undiscovered territory on the information highway - an authoritative, thought-provoking, and very readable travel guide for the journey.
In this optimistic and refreshingly realistic book, Gates looks ahead to show how the emerging technologies of the digital age will transform all our lives."It occupies the top slot on the New York Times' bestseller list for more than seven weeks and goes on to sell over 2.5 million copies.
Of course, attempting to predict the future in any aspect of life, let alone a fast-paced industry like IT, is fraught with danger. Sensibly, Gates acknowledges this in his
Foreword:
I'm writing this book now as part of my contribution to the debate (about the information highway) and, although it's a tall order, I hope it can serve as a travel guide for the forthcoming journey. I do this with some trepidation.
We've all smiled at predictions from the past that look silly today. you can flip through old Popular Science magazines and read about conveniences to come, such as the family helicopter and nuclear power "too cheap to meter."
History is full of now ironic examples - the Oxford professor who in 1878 dismissed the electric light as a gimmick; the commissioner of US patents who in 1899 asked that his office be abolished because "everything that can be invented has been invented.
This is meant to be a serious book, although ten years from now it may not appear that way. What I've said that turned out to be right will be considered obvious and what was wrong will be humourous.
Well, William, it is indeed now ten years later. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and see how many changes you correctly predicted and how many were wide of the mark.
more
Inside Out
To commemorate Microsoft's 25th anniversary, the company published Inside Out, a book written by and for employees which highlights the products, people and culture that transformed Bill Gates' and Paul Allen's vision for personal computing into reality. Each chapter of the book features an introductory essay by Bill Gates, reflecting on the company's history and looking ahead to future opportunities.
Business @ the Speed of Thought
Business @ the Speed of Thought was written to inspire you to demand - and get - more from technology, enabling you and your company to respond faster to your customers, adapt to changing business demands, and prosper in the digital economy. Business @ the Speed of Thought is not a technical book. It shows how business and technology are now inextricably linked. Each chapter is structured around a business or management issue, showing how digital processes can dramatically improve your results.
Related Links
•
Bill Gates Home
•
Biography
•
Photos
•
Speeches
•
Published Writing
•
