Reading Corner: “Source Code” by Bill Gates

By João Ferreira Feb 11, 2025 Books 0 Comments

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Bill Gates’ latest book, “Source Code,” ever since I saw him announce it last year. Finally, the day arrived, and I wasted no time in purchasing it online on the day it was released. Although I usually prefer reading my books in English, I couldn’t wait a few extra days for the English version to arrive, so I opted for the Portuguese translated version, which you can see illustrating this post.

“Source Code” is not a book about Microsoft, as the title might suggest. Instead, it explores Bill Gates’ early days, long before he co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen. Gates shares stories from his childhood, highlighting how he always felt different and was self-aware of this uniqueness. He recounts growing up in a privileged environment and how he managed to make a difference in various schools, with his family, and among different groups of people. The book is engaging and addictive, making it an easy read that I highly recommend not just to Microsoft fans but to anyone who loves computers.

Born in the late ’80s, I grew up during a time when the personal computer was almost a teenager. My curiosity about the history of personal computers led me to read extensively about the MITS Altair and other pioneers of the revolution. What makes “Source Code” particularly fascinating is that Bill Gates provides an insider’s perspective on how it all happened. He was there, creating the software industry by making his version of BASIC for most personal computers in the market. Gates shares some humorous and entertaining stories about the challenges he faced while working on software and creating Micro-Soft.

I couldn’t put the book down from the moment I started reading it. I truly recommend it to all computer enthusiasts, whether they like Microsoft or not. Spoiler alert: there are also stories about Apple and Steve Jobs in the book. The book concludes with Microsoft’s move from Albuquerque to Seattle and Bill Gates promising a second book to continue sharing his stories, this time focusing on Microsoft.

Additionally, Bill Gates released a collection of 37 short videos on his YouTube channel, showcasing the places and stories written in the book. It is a great complement to the book that I recommend you watch after reading it.

Happy reading!

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