Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is set to release his memoir, “Source Code,” on February 4, 2025. This book will be the first time Gates has shared the story of his life in book form, focusing on his childhood and his decision to drop out of Harvard to start Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. The book will not delve into his adult life or the controversies surrounding his career at Microsoft or his work with the Gates Foundation.
The memoir comes at a significant time, as January 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Popular Electronics magazine that featured the Altair 8800 personal computer, which inspired the creation of Microsoft. In his blog post, Gates describes the book as a reflection on his early life, including struggles such as feeling like a misfit as a child, conflicts with his parents as a teenager, and the challenges of dropping out of college to start a tech company in an industry that was still emerging.
Throughout the memoir, Gates shares stories of people who believed in him, pushed him to grow, and helped him turn his weaknesses into strengths. He acknowledges the luck of being born into a supportive family during a time of technological change and optimism, which allowed him to come of age during the personal computer revolution. Gates also plans to donate the proceeds from book sales to the nonprofit United Way Worldwide, in honor of his late mother’s involvement with the organization.
“Source Code” is scheduled to be published by Knopf and promises to offer insights into Gates’ early life, his journey as a tech entrepreneur, and the people who influenced him along the way. While there have been numerous biographies written about Gates, this memoir will provide a personal perspective on his experiences and the lessons he learned throughout his career. Readers can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the man behind one of the most successful tech companies in history.
