I expect this book to be controversial. And really that's a shame, because it shouldn't be. I expect this book to generate divisive reviews on Goodreads including especially nasty ones, many that aren't from people who read the book. And again that's too bad.

So what is this book? Think of it as a survey book. Where we are now, where we should go next. This is not a political book. It doesn't go into what the Trump administration or the Biden administration did or didn't do except at a very brief and shallow basis. If you want that, read [b:The Premonition: A Pandemic Story|56790170|The Premonition A Pandemic Story|Michael Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611844095l/56790170._SY75_.jpg|88775146] - which by the way - this book points you to.

So why is Bill Gates the person to write this book? Sure he has the time and the money and brains. But also Public Health has been the main thrust of the Gates Foundation for years and years.

So you say that Bill Gates in particular steered the world wrong with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and patent rights - he doesn't answer that directly - though he does spend a lot of time talking about how hard it is to legally and safely manufacture a vaccine as separate from developing it. This part of the book feels like his answer.

This book talks about some lucky finds, reuse of skills in different ways, mistakes that were made.

But mostly it really is just talking about a way forward.

Hopefully it will lead to conversations and leadership and investments and books by other people.

It is not a great book. But it is well written and interesting and clear. And won't deserve the bull shit that it gets (is already getting).

I kept thinking that it all sounded nice but unrealistic.