Bill Gates Reading Guide! (#32)

Bill Gates' Reading Guide

Leaders are readers. Nearly every highly successful person you can think of has a serious reading habit — and Bill Gates is one of the most well-known examples. Here's a guide to how he approaches reading, based on what he's shared publicly over the years.

1. Take Notes

Taking notes while reading pays off later — instead of re-reading an entire book to recall a key idea, you can simply revisit your notes. Pay particular attention to points that keep recurring throughout a book; ideas the author circles back to repeatedly are often the ones worth remembering most.

2. Don't Start What You Can't Finish

If you start a book, make a habit of finishing it. Many books build their most valuable insights toward the end rather than front-loading everything at the start — so the ending is rarely wasted space.

3. Read Physical Books

Gates has said he prefers physical books over e-books, and reportedly brings them along during his well-known "Think Weeks" — periods of dedicated time set aside for reading and reflection.

→ Related: What Are Think Weeks?(#37)

4. Block Out Real Time to Reflect

Simply reading isn't enough on its own — Gates emphasizes setting aside dedicated time (he's mentioned roughly an hour) to actually sit with and process what he's read. Reading is only half the value; genuinely reflecting on the material and connecting it to what you already know is where a lot of the real benefit comes from.

Did You Know?

Bill Gates reads roughly 50 books a year — close to one book a week — a habit he's spoken about consistently in interviews over the years, describing reading as his main way of learning new things and testing his own understanding.

Many other highly successful people report similarly high reading volumes. By contrast, research from Pew Research Center suggests the average American reads somewhere around a dozen books a year — though that average is pulled up by a relatively small group of heavy readers; the typical (median) American actually reads far fewer, and a significant share read close to none at all.

Worth being clear about: reading alone doesn't make anyone successful — taking action on what you learn is what actually matters. But a consistent reading habit does seem to shape the kind of mindset that makes it easier to keep learning, adapting, and pursuing goals over time — which is likely a big part of why so many high achievers treat it as a non-negotiable habit.

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Hopefully these tips help you build (or improve) your own reading habit. Thanks for reading.