Impatient Optimist: Bill Gates in His Own Words (In Their Own Words)

Impatient Optimist: Bill Gates in His Own Words (In Their Own Words)

by Bill Gates (Author), Lisa Rogak (Editor)

Synopsis

Bill Gates, the founder and former CEO of Microsoft, has been a revered, and occasionally controversial, worldwide business icon for more than three decades. Recognized by most as an ingenious visionary, and painted by some as a tyrannical, less-than-scrupulous empire builder, Gates has had an unignorable impact on the growth of digital technology in daily life over the past 30 years. Even his sharpest critics have to acknowledge the obvious: Gates helped spearhead one of the greatest revolutions in modern history by seizing on the importance of software to the rise of the personal computer, along the way turning an arcane, specialized technology into a commonplace tool for the office and home. Gates has long been ranked as one of the world s wealthiest men--which gave him a name recognition far greater than that of most CEOs--and businesspeople of all stripes have looked to him as a role model, using his words and business strategies to help create, inspire, and grow their own companies. After he stopped running Microsoft's day-to-day operations in 2008 to devote himself full-time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a kinder, gentler Gates began to emerge. As a result, people actively involved in the philanthropic world, whether in professional, part-time, or personal capacities, began to develop a new appreciation for the man. Bill Gates s second act is no less compelling than his first. And whether you re interested in his personal life or looking for inspiration to drive you forward in your own business endeavors, "Impatient Optimist: Bill Gates in His Own Words" has much to offer. As the tech giants who distinguished the turn of the 21st century shape public life in ways that outstrip the efforts of the previous century's titans of industry, we look to figures like Gates for inspiration as one of America's greatest business icons. This book will surely feed the world's curiosity about one of the most important leaders of the digital age."

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 160
Publisher: Agate Publishing
Published: 27 Sep 2012

ISBN 10: 1932841717
ISBN 13: 9781932841718

Media Reviews

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous title And Nothing But the Truthiness
In this carefully crafted, behind-the-scenes biography, Rogak succeeds in uncovering the 'truthiness' about the real Colbert. -- Booklist
When The Colbert Report was launched in 2005, the entire premise was based on that character, and enthusiastic fans will delight in Rogak's lengthy, detailed behind-the-scenes coverage of both the show and Colbert's controversial keynote speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner. The 40 pages of bibliographic notes indicate her extensive research for this engaging, entertaining biography, which succeeds in capturing Colbert's anarchic, iconoclastic spirit. -- Publishers Weekly
Gives us insight into the man behind the mouth. -- Kirkus Reviews
A conversational, multiperspective account of his life....This is the first major biography of Colbert and one fans will appreciate. -- Library Journal
Ms. Rogak's method of introducing Colbert the Person and Colbert the Character is near faultless....This biography could have easily been titled The Tale of Two Colberts; however, Colbert's signature 'truthiness' seems to befit the style and enjoyment Ms. Rogak obviously had writing And Nothing But the Truthiness. -- New York Journal of Books
As close to a bio of the man -- rather than the persona who hosts 'The Colbert Report' -- that we'll see anytime soon. -- New York Daily News
With a subject as interesting as Stephen Colbert the person, and discussion of a concept as original as the character of Stephen Colbert, the book is definitely worth reading. -- Washington Independent Review of Books

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous book Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King
Haunted Heart is a thoroughly respectful overview of King's life, and a great starter biography for new fans. -- The Boston Globe
Rogak...has pieced together King's sometimes e


Editor Lisa Rogak...has compiled sound bites from Chairman Bill by topic, from A (acquiring other companies) to W (working with his wife). The result is like eating salted peanuts: Once you start reading, it's hard to stop.--Anne Fisher CNN Money (10/17/2012)


Strategy Driven contributors appreciated the layout of Impatient Optimist, the organization of quotes around meaningful topic areas, the dating of each quote, and Bill Gates' life story timeline provided at the end of the book. --StrategyDriven Contributors Strategy Driven Professionals (12/20/2012)


Praise for IMPATIENT OPTIMIST: BILL GATES IN HIS OWN WORDS
Editor Lisa Rogak...has compiled sound bites from Chairman Bill by topic, from A (acquiring other companies) to W (working with his wife). The result is like eating salted peanuts: Once you start reading, it's hard to stop. - Anne Fisher, CNN Money
Strategy Driven contributors appreciated the layout of Impatient Optimist, the organization of quotes around meaningful topic areas, the dating of each quote, and Bill Gates' life story timeline provided at the end of the book. - Strategy Driven

Praise for Agate B2's New York Times Best-Selling Series, IN THEIR OWN WORDS
[ I, Steve ] is the same treatment given such luminaries as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Christopher Hitchens and offers Jobs's views on life, death, technology and design, among other topics. Timothy R. Smith, The Washington Post
A new book revealing many of Steve Jobs' most illuminating quotes... Lance Whitney, CNET
A 160-page collection of quotes from the most iconic product pitchman since P.T. Barnum. Ben Popper, The New York Observer BetaBeat blog
A much better Jobs product is coming soon. It ll entertain you for hours, and no it is not a Jobs-branded iPad or anything similarly high-tech. It is, friends, an old-fashioned book! Hillary Reinsberg, Mogulite
Inspirational reading pleasure. Courtney Boyd Myers, The Next Web
The kind of book that you read, think about, and then pass on to a friend or colleague...I learned a lot about Jobs thinking process. Allen Stern, CenterNetworks
[ Boy Billionaire ] reveals the intimate thoughts and beliefs of the man who has arguably created one of the world's largest companiesand who is also one of the world's greatest social connectors. - Strategy Driven
A short work to be dipped into for nuggets of business (or law firm) wisdom... Michael Roach, Law Technology News

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous title AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTHINESS
A conversational, multiperspective account of his life....This is the first major biography of Colbert and one fans will appreciate. Library Journal
Ms. Rogak s method of introducing Colbert the Person and Colbert the Character is near faultless....This biography could have easily been titled The Tale of Two Colberts; however, Colbert s signature 'truthiness' seems to befit the style and enjoyment Ms. Rogak obviously had writing And Nothing But the Truthiness. New York Journal of Books
As close to a bio of the man rather than the persona who hosts 'The Colbert Report' that we'll see anytime soon. New York Daily News

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous book HAUNTED HEART: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF STEPHEN KING
Haunted Heart is a thoroughly respectful overview of King s life, and a great starter biography for new fans. The Boston Globe
Rogak...has pieced together King s sometimes erratic life scrupulously into a clean, swift read. The Times (UK)

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous title A BOY NAMED SHEL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN
An authoritative and accessible biography, absorbing from cover to cover. Library Journal
A tribute to the unusual life of an extraordinary man. The Daily Texan


Praise for IMPATIENT OPTIMIST: BILL GATES IN HIS OWN WORDS

Editor Lisa Rogak...has compiled sound bites from Chairman Bill by topic, from A (acquiring other companies) to W (working with his wife). The result is like eating salted peanuts: Once you start reading, it's hard to stop. - Anne Fisher, CNN Money

Strategy Driven contributors appreciated the layout of Impatient Optimist, the organization of quotes around meaningful topic areas, the dating of each quote, and Bill Gates' life story timeline provided at the end of the book. - Strategy Driven

Praise for Agate B2's New York Times Best-Selling Series, IN THEIR OWN WORDS

[I, Steve] is the same treatment given such luminaries as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Christopher Hitchens and offers Jobs's views on life, death, technology and design, among other topics. -- Timothy R. Smith, The Washington Post

A new book revealing many of Steve Jobs' most illuminating quotes... -- Lance Whitney, CNET

A 160-page collection of quotes from the most iconic product pitchman since P.T. Barnum. -- Ben Popper, The New York Observer BetaBeat blog

A much better Jobs product is coming soon. It'll entertain you for hours, and no -- it is not a Jobs-branded iPad or anything similarly high-tech. It is, friends, an old-fashioned book! -- Hillary Reinsberg, Mogulite

Inspirational reading pleasure. -- Courtney Boyd Myers, The Next Web

The kind of book that you read, think about, and then pass on to a friend or colleague...I learned a lot about Jobs' thinking process. -- Allen Stern, CenterNetworks

[Boy Billionaire] reveals the intimate thoughts and beliefs of the man who has arguably created one of the world's largest companies...and who is also one of the world's greatest social connectors. - Strategy Driven

A short work to be dipped into for nuggets of business (or law firm) wisdom... -- Michael Roach, Law Technology News

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous title AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTHINESS

A conversational, multiperspective account of his life....This is the first major biography of Colbert and one fans will appreciate. --Library Journal

Ms. Rogak's method of introducing Colbert the Person and Colbert the Character is near faultless....This biography could have easily been titled The Tale of Two Colberts; however, Colbert's signature 'truthiness' seems to befit the style and enjoyment Ms. Rogak obviously had writing And Nothing But the Truthiness. --New York Journal of Books

As close to a bio of the man -- rather than the persona who hosts 'The Colbert Report' -- that we'll see anytime soon. --New York Daily News

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous book HAUNTED HEART: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF STEPHEN KING

Haunted Heart is a thoroughly respectful overview of King's life, and a great starter biography for new fans. --The Boston Globe

Rogak...has pieced together King's sometimes erratic life scrupulously into a clean, swift read. --The Times (UK)

Praise for Lisa Rogak's previous title A BOY NAMED SHEL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN

An authoritative and accessible biography, absorbing from cover to cover. --Library Journal

A tribute to the unusual life of an extraordinary man. --The Daily Texan

Author Bio
Lisa Rogak is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 40 books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. Her books have been published in more than two dozen languages and are widely covered by book industry writers and in off-the-book-page media. She lives in Berkeley, CA.