logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
17m 8s

New books from Reid Hoffman and Bill Gat...

NPR
About this episode
Reid Hoffman has invested in AI for years. The LinkedIn co-founder said he used AI to vet his new book, Superagency, written with Greg Beato, which makes an optimistic case for an AI-powered future. In today's episode, Hoffman joins NPR's Steve Inskeep for a conversation about the book that touches on his decision to back Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and on his falling out with Elon Musk. Then, Bill Gates joins NPR's Scott Detrow for a conversation about his new memoir Source Code. Much of Gates' writing has focused on the future – but here he reflects on his early life, from his childhood to the birth of Microsoft. He speaks with Detrow about the death of Gates' high school best friend and the opportunity he saw in personal computing.

The Gates Foundation is a financial supporter of NPR.

To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday


Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Today
With novel 'Among Friends,' Hal Ebbott says he wanted to take friendship seriously
In Hal Ebbott's debut novel, Among Friends, two wealthy New York families are spending a weekend in the country. They've gotten together for decades – but one act ruptures their close ties. In today's episode, Ebbott tells Here & Now's Asma Khalid that he's drawn to story premise ... Show More
10m 39s
Yesterday
David Litt's new memoir is about finding common ground through surfing
Former Obama speechwriter David Litt and his brother-in-law, Matt, couldn't be more different. But during the pandemic, Matt taught Litt how to surf. The time they spent together out on the water created what Litt refers to as "neutral ground" – a space that isn't coded as libera ... Show More
9m 23s
Jul 8
In the new speculative novel 'Weepers,' mourning is outsourced to professionals
In Peter Mendelsund's novel Weepers, many in the world are concerned they'll be replaced by smart machines. But a cowboy poet named Ed has found work in the American Southwest. He's a professional weeper, part of a group of union workers hired to mourn at funerals. In today's epi ... Show More
8m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 15
Melinda French Gates On Giving Away Her 'Absurd' Wealth
In a new memoir, billionaire Melinda French Gates writes about the end of her marriage to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and her ongoing philanthropic work, directing funds and attention to women's health initiatives. Her book is The Next Day. Also, David Bianculli reviews the ... Show More
45m 44s
May 12
Bill Gates: how international development can survive the Trump presidency
Over the past 25 years, the Gates foundation has given away more than $100bn. Much of that money has gone to healthcare and education projects outside the US – and the organisation plans to give $200bn more to various programmes in the next twenty years. But as Elon Musk and Doge ... Show More
27m 42s
Oct 2024
Future of Business: Reid Hoffman on Managing Technological Change and Innovation
Reid Hoffman is one of the most prominent and recognizable voices in Silicon Valley, and after predicting some of the biggest trends that have shaped our world in the last 25 years, he is sharing his thoughts on the future of artificial intelligence. In this interview with HBR Ed ... Show More
29m 41s
Feb 2025
Bill Gates: The Untold Story of Who Bill Gates REALLY Is
How do you define success beyond money and career? Do you think wealth should come with a responsibility to give back? Today,  Jay Shetty sits down with one of the most influential innovators of our time, Bill Gates, to explore the intersection of personal growth, technological i ... Show More
1h 25m
Oct 2024
Y Combinator CEO Shares How They Pick Winners, Advice For Founders + Lessons From Paul Graham | Garry Tan Interview
Episode 642: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk to Garry Tan ( https://x.com/garrytan ), CEO of Y Combinator, about the sauce that makes YC outperform the rest of Silicon Valley plus lessons from Paul Graham, Peter Thiel and Garry’ ... Show More
1h 12m
May 8
Bill Gates Talks Charity Vows to Give Away 99% of His Fortune by 2045
Bill Gates, founder of the The Gates Foundation plans to give away $200 billion over the next 20 years before shutting down entirely in 2045, marking a new deadline for one of history’s largest and most influential charities. He is joined by Bloomberg's Francine Lacqua.See omnyst ... Show More
13m 53s
Jun 2023
Ramit Sethi on Financial Literacy and Living Richly
Bloomberg Radio host Barry Ritholtz speaks with entrepreneur Ramit Sethi, who is the founder and chief executive officer of the online education platform I Will Teach You to Be Rich (IWT), which attracts more than 1 million readers a month. Sethi is also the host of the Netflix s ... Show More
55m 46s
Oct 2024
Elon Musk Biography, Walter Isaacson
In-depth study of the book- 📚Explore our comprehensive analysis for free.(Warning: Proceed with caution! Reading this might just count as finishing the book. 😉) Read the full book- 📚Dive into the complete text. This book review analyzes Elon Musk's complex personality and path ... Show More
9m 22s
Nov 2024
The Risks and Opportunities of an AI Future — with Eric Schmidt
Eric Schmidt, a technologist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Google’s former CEO, joins Scott to discuss the dangers and opportunities AI presents and his latest book, Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit.  Follow Eric, @ericschmidt. Scott opens with hi ... Show More
59m 13s
Jan 2025
How To Build The Future: Parker Conrad
In this episode of How to Build the Future, Garry sits down with Parker Conrad, Co-founder & CEO of Rippling, the all-in-one HR, Finance, and IT software company that’s valued at $13.5 billion. Parker is the co-founder of two unicorns and has one of the more dramatic startup jour ... Show More
43m 28s