Source Code by Bill Gates

Synopsis: ‘the Founding of Microsoft’

Writing Style: Reflective. Moving. Journalistic.

Pacing: Kind of Fast.

Personal Highlights: I wasn’t 100% sure, though strongly felt this memoir was going to meet me where I was. What a relief! 

Up front, it was not missed how Gates’ early environment impacted his later success. Doesn’t mean that significant effort and passion and his overall constitution didn’t contribute to Microsoft’s existence and successes. I just noted the neighborhood he grew up in, the parents who raised him and Dr. Cressey in particular. “…He was a lucky kid.”

Most personally stoking for me was Gates’ thirst for knowledge. His reading encyclopedias made me smile, and smile harder when he “…began to question the whole “parent-child enterprise.” Too funny, yet seriously! And that A3 grade made absolute sense to me. Again. LOL.

I laughed at the ‘center linebacker’. Actually, I howled, finding humor in other instances…like quoting him on, “…I’m thinking. Don’t you ever think? You should try it sometime.”

And here’s the real deal; this memoir is just kicking off, which is something else I took note of. The content is written in lay fashion, though don’t expect to be coding up another mega success story right away. Just know the passion and suspense, and page-turning storytelling is on point engaging.

Instances of his ego had me laughing out loud…and shaking my head. Check out his reason behind making his parents pay double for books. And yet ego aside, he spent long days and nights coding while attending school. I mean, building a computerized payroll system, helping fix the school’s scheduling problem, the traffic counting, teaching computer classes (with others around the same young age) was simply intoxicating to read. 

Overall, it was the open letter to hobbyist that probably struck me most. In short, many have no reservations with delving into good books, or listening to beautiful music and even using software unlimited, with little regard for paying the creator for his (or her) sweat, tears and hours poured into the work. Couldn’t put this one down!!! Read hardcopy 2025 copyright.