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Bill Gates

Co-founder of Microsoft and the Gates Foundation; publishes book reviews and essays at Gates Notes.

90 things

Personal HistoryBook Katharine Graham

loved

That story is told in her riveting memoir Personal History, which came out in 1997—just a few years before she passed away—and won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

Gates reviews Katharine Graham's Pulitzer-winning memoir.

2025-05-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Coming WaveBook Mustafa Suleyman

loved

Most of the coverage of The Coming Wave has focused on what it has to say about artificial intelligence—which makes sense, given that it's one of the most important books on AI ever written.

Gates's 2024 holiday reading list entry; he calls it his favorite book on AI.

2024-12-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

Brave New WordsBook Sal Khan

loved

I recently read a terrific book on this topic called Brave New Words.

Gates reviews Sal Khan's book on AI in education.

2024-05-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

The WomenBook Kristin Hannah

loved

This terrific novel tells the story of Frankie McGrath, an army nurse who serves two tours on the frontlines in Vietnam before returning home to a country rocked by protest and anti-war sentiment.

Gates's 2024 summer reading list entry on Kristin Hannah's Vietnam novel.

2024-05-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

Not the End of the WorldBook Hannah Ritchie

loved

His life and work have influenced my own tremendously—and just a few pages into Ritchie’s essential and hopeful new book, Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet, it became clear that she was carrying on his tremendous legacy.

Gates's 2023 holiday reading list entry on Hannah Ritchie's climate book.

2023-11-20·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Song of the CellBook Siddhartha Mukherjee

loved

If I had been able to read The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee in school, I might have fallen in love with biology a lot earlier.

Gates's 2023 holiday reading list entry on Siddhartha Mukherjee's history of cell biology.

2023-11-20·gatesnotes.com ↗

Mendeleyev’s DreamBook Paul Strathern

loved

Paul Strathern’s terrific book Mendeleyev’s Dream traces that journey all the way back to ancient Greece, when people first started questioning why the world is the way it is.

Gates's 2022 holiday reading list entry on Paul Strathern's history of chemistry.

2022-11-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

Stranger in a Strange LandBook Robert Heinlein

loved

Of all the sci-fi I read as a teenager, Stranger in a Strange Land is my favorite.

Gates's 2022 holiday reading list entry revisiting the sci-fi he read as a teenager.

2022-11-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Lincoln HighwayBook Amor Towles

loved

Once again, I was wowed by Towles’s writing—especially because The Lincoln Highway is so different from A Gentleman in Moscow in terms of setting, plot, and themes.

Gates's 2022 summer reading list entry on Amor Towles's novel.

2022-06-06·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Ministry for the FutureBook Kim Stanley Robinson

loved

The Ministry for the Future does a better job than any other book I’ve read of playing out, in a dramatic but realistic way, how high temperatures can literally kill people.

Gates's 2022 summer reading list entry on Kim Stanley Robinson's climate novel.

2022-06-06·gatesnotes.com ↗

Why We’re PolarizedBook Ezra Klein

loved

In his terrific book Why We’re Polarized, Ezra Klein argues that identity is the answer to the question suggested by his title.

Gates's 2022 summer reading list entry on Ezra Klein's book about American politics.

2022-06-06·gatesnotes.com ↗

Project Hail MaryBook Andy Weir

loved

Even if you aren’t a big science fiction fan, Project Hail Mary is a terrific story about two friends using science and engineering to save the day.

Gates's 2021 holiday reading list entry on Andy Weir's novel.

2021-11-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Remains of the DayBook Kazuo Ishiguro

loved

I read Remains of the Day years ago and thought it was brilliant.

Gates's 2021 holiday reading list entry on Klara and the Sun, recalling Ishiguro's earlier novel.

2021-11-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

The OverstoryBook Richard Powers

loved

On the contrary, I loved following Powers’ characters as they became more and more passionate about their love for trees.

Gates's 2021 summer reading list entry on Richard Powers's novel about trees.

2021-06-14·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Splendid and the VileBook Erik Larson

loved

The Splendid and the Vile is a brilliant account of another era of widespread anxiety: the years 1940 and 1941, when English citizens spent almost every night in makeshift shelters as massive bombs rained down on them.

Gates's 2020 holiday reading list entry on Erik Larson's book about Churchill and the Blitz.

2020-12-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Spy and the TraitorBook Ben Macintyre

loved

The book is every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels.

Gates's 2020 holiday reading list entry on Ben Macintyre's account of the double agent Oleg Gordievsky.

2020-12-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

GrowthBook Vaclav Smil

loved

Anyone who reads the new book Growth, the newest of 39 brilliant books by one of my favorite thinkers, will come away with similar urgency.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's book about growth in nature and society.

2019-12-10·gatesnotes.com ↗

These TruthsBook Jill Lepore

loved

But with the exception of a brief section covering the past 20 years (more on this below), I loved the book and hope lots of people read it.

Gates reviews Jill Lepore's one-volume history of the United States.

2019-12-10·gatesnotes.com ↗

BlueprintBook Nicholas A. Christakis

loved

In his terrific book Blueprint, Christakis explains that humans have evolved to work together and be social.

Gates reviews Nicholas Christakis's book on the evolutionary roots of a good society.

2019-07-23·gatesnotes.com ↗

A Gentleman in MoscowBook Amor Towles

loved

A Gentleman in Moscow is an amazing story because it manages to be a little bit of everything.

Gates's 2019 summer reading list entry on Amor Towles's novel.

2019-05-20·gatesnotes.com ↗

Guns, Germs, and SteelBook Jared Diamond

loved

I still rank Guns, Germs, and Steel as one of the best things I’ve ever read.

Gates's 2019 summer reading list entry on Jared Diamond's Upheaval, looking back at his earlier book.

2019-05-20·gatesnotes.com ↗

EducatedBook Tara Westover

loved

Educated is an amazing story, and I get why it’s spent so much time on the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

Gates's 2018 holiday reading list entry on Tara Westover's memoir.

2018-12-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

Origin StoryBook David Christian

loved

It does a fantastic job distilling the latest thinking about the origins of the universe.

Gates's 2018 summer reading list entry on David Christian's Big History book.

2018-05-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

FactfulnessBook Hans Rosling

loved

Factfulness is a fantastic book, and I hope a lot of people read it.

Gates reviews Hans Rosling's book about global misperceptions.

2018-04-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

Enlightenment NowBook Steven Pinker

loved

I read the book slowly since I loved it so much, but I think most people will find it a quick and accessible read.

Gates reviews Steven Pinker's book about human progress.

2018-01-26·gatesnotes.com ↗

Hillbilly ElegyBook J.D. Vance

loved

Vance describes in his terrific, heartbreaking book Hillbilly Elegy is one that I know only vicariously.

Gates's 2017 summer reading list entry on J.D. Vance's memoir.

2017-05-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

The HeartBook Maylis de Kerangal

loved

It’s not the plot that makes The Heart such a wonderful book.

Gates's 2017 summer reading list entry on Maylis de Kerangal's novel about a heart transplant.

2017-05-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

SapiensBook Yuval Noah Harari

loved

Melinda and I loved Harari’s previous book, Sapiens, which tries to explain how our species came to dominate the Earth.

Gates's 2017 summer reading list entry on Homo Deus, referring back to Sapiens.

2017-05-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

Shoe DogBook Phil Knight

loved

Shoe Dog, Phil Knight’s memoir about creating Nike, is a refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like.

Gates's 2016 holiday reading list entry on Phil Knight's Nike memoir.

2016-12-05·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Myth of the Strong LeaderBook Archie Brown

loved

But to read Archie Brown’s fascinating book, The Myth of the Strong Leader, is to see an illustration that leaders like Suárez, who served as prime minister of Spain from 1976 to 1981, possess leadership styles and capacities that are incredibly effective, and depressingly rare.

Gates's 2016 holiday reading list entry on Archie Brown's book about political leadership.

2016-12-05·gatesnotes.com ↗

String TheoryBook David Foster Wallace

loved

As much as I loved the book for its insights on the game, I loved it just as much for the writing itself.

Gates's 2016 holiday reading list entry on David Foster Wallace's tennis essays.

2016-12-05·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Emperor of All MaladiesBook Siddhartha Mukherjee

loved

I loved Mukherjee’s 2015 TED Talk and his brilliant book about cancer, The Emperor of All Maladies, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011.

Gates reviews Siddhartha Mukherjee's The Gene and refers back to his earlier cancer book.

2016-11-14·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Vital QuestionBook Nick Lane

loved

As much as I loved The Vital Question, it’s not for everyone.

Gates reviews Nick Lane's book on the origin of complex life.

2016-04-27·gatesnotes.com ↗

MindsetBook Carol Dweck

loved

One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because it’s solutions-oriented.

Gates reviews Carol Dweck's book on growth mindset.

2015-12-07·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Rosie ProjectBook Graeme Simsion

loved

Melinda and I loved his first book, The Rosie Project.

Gates reviews Graeme Simsion's sequel and looks back at the first novel.

2014-12-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

Business AdventuresBook John Brooks

loved

Today, more than two decades after Warren lent it to me—and more than four decades after it was first published—Business Adventures remains the best business book I’ve ever read.

Gates writes about the John Brooks collection Warren Buffett lent him.

2014-07-13·gatesnotes.com ↗

The BoxBook Marc Levinson

loved

It is the subject of an excellent book I read this summer called The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, by a former Economist editor named Marc Levinson.

Gates reviews Marc Levinson's history of the shipping container.

2013-08-09·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Better Angels of Our NatureBook Steven Pinker

loved

Nobuo Ikeda mentioned The Better Angels of Our Nature, which is one of my favorite books ever and one I think everyone should read.

Gates's review of Jared Diamond's The World Until Yesterday, answering a reader who raised Pinker's book.

2013-07-18·gatesnotes.com ↗

For the Love of PhysicsBook Walter Lewin

loved

Lewin’s teaching skills come through in his wonderful book, For the Love of Physics, which is good even if you don't know much physics.

Gates reviews MIT physicist Walter Lewin's book and lectures.

2012-03-06·gatesnotes.com ↗

Who KnewBook Barry Diller

liked

This part of Who Knew is raw and honest in a way most business memoirs usually aren’t.

Gates reviews Barry Diller's memoir.

2025-11-25·gatesnotes.com ↗

Everything Is TuberculosisBook John Green

liked

Everything Is Tuberculosis is poignant, smart, and at times infuriating.

Gates reviews John Green's book on tuberculosis after travelling with the author.

2025-07-15·gatesnotes.com ↗

Chasing HopeBook Nick Kristof

liked

Chasing Hope made me think a lot about what kind of person chooses to run toward the hardest problems—and keep going back until they’re solved.

Gates reviews Nicholas Kristof's memoir.

2025-05-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

How to Feed the WorldBook Vaclav Smil

liked

How to Feed the World had a lot to teach me—and I’m sure it will teach you a lot, too.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's book on the global food system.

2025-03-04·gatesnotes.com ↗

Engineering in Plain SightBook Grady Hillhouse

liked

One of the coolest aspects of Engineering in Plain Sight is how it ties everyday observations to larger engineering principles.

Gates's 2024 holiday reading list entry on Grady Hillhouse's illustrated guide to infrastructure.

2024-12-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

SurrenderBook Bono

liked

Bono’s new book, Surrender, is packed with funny, poignant moments like this.

Gates's 2022 holiday reading list entry on Bono's memoir.

2022-11-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Inner Game of TennisBook Timothy Gallwey

liked

But The Inner Game of Tennis is just as relevant today as it was in 1974.

Gates writes about the tennis book he first read in the mid-1970s.

2022-11-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Code BreakerBook Walter Isaacson

liked

When I heard that one of my favorite authors, Walter Isaacson, was working on a book about CRISPR and its inventor, I was eager to read it.

Gates reviews Walter Isaacson's book on CRISPR and Jennifer Doudna.

2021-11-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

RangeBook David Epstein

liked

I learned this from reading a good, myth-debunking book called Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

Gates's 2020 holiday reading list entry on David Epstein's book about generalists.

2020-12-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

Why We SleepBook Matthew Walker

liked

But even if you apply a mild discount factor, Why We Sleep is an important and fascinating book.

Gates reviews Matthew Walker's book on sleep science.

2019-12-10·gatesnotes.com ↗

21 Lessons for the 21st CenturyBook Yuval Noah Harari

liked

In his fascinating new book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, the historian Yuval Noah Harari creates a useful framework for confronting these fears.

Gates's 2018 holiday reading list entry on Yuval Noah Harari's book.

2018-12-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

Turtles All the Way DownBook John Green

liked

Paper Towns is still my favorite John Green book—but my family loved talking about Turtles at the dinner table, and I think yours will, too.

Gates reviews John Green's novel about a teenager with OCD.

2018-03-27·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Power to CompeteBook Ryoichi Mikitani and Hiroshi Mikitani

liked

If you’re as interested in Japan as I am, I think you’ll find that The Power to Compete is a smart and thought-provoking look at the future of a fascinating country.

Gates's 2016 summer reading list entry on the Mikitanis' dialogue about Japan's economy.

2016-05-17·gatesnotes.com ↗

How Asia WorksBook Joe Studwell

liked

How Asia Works is not a gripping page-turner aimed at general audiences, but it’s a good read for anyone who wants to understand what actually determines whether a developing economy will succeed.

Gates reviews Joe Studwell's book on Asian development economics.

2014-12-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

Making the Modern WorldBook Vaclav Smil

liked

I got to thinking about all this after reading Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization, by my favorite author, the historian Vaclav Smil.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's book on materials and dematerialization.

2014-06-12·gatesnotes.com ↗

Prime Movers of GlobalizationBook Vaclav Smil

liked

There are a lot of fascinating historical points and statistics in Smil’s book that make it an interesting read, but what most fascinated me was learning about the incredible impact these two innovations have had on so many aspects of our lives.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's book on diesel engines and gas turbines.

2011-10-26·gatesnotes.com ↗

PolioBook David Oshinsky

liked

It is a fascinating account of the search for a vaccine to stop the polio epidemics that swept the U.

Gates reviews David Oshinsky's Pulitzer-winning history of polio in America.

2011-06-22·gatesnotes.com ↗

Tomorrow’s TableBook Pamela Ronald and Raoul Adamchak

liked

This is an important book for anyone who wants to learn about the science of seeds and the challenges faced by farmers.

Gates reviews Ronald and Adamchak's book on genetics and organic farming.

2010-03-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

The CorrespondentBook Virginia Evans

recommended

Well, one I literally binged this weekend was The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. That's, you know, fiction, very touching, uh uh very upbeat. Apropos of what we just discussed, uh there's a one called Into the Woodchipper by Nicholas Eneric, which talks about how somebody didn't go to a party one weekend and they decided instead to put USAID into the woodchipper.

Answering The Ezra Klein Show's closing question, three books to recommend, in “Bill Gates’s Blunt Warning on A.I.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-bill-gates.html). Quoted from the episode's YouTube auto-captions.

2026-09-29·youtube.com ↗

The Infinity MachineBook Sebastian Mallaby

recommended

About a month ago, I read The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby.

Answering The Ezra Klein Show's closing question, three books to recommend, in “Bill Gates’s Blunt Warning on A.I.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-bill-gates.html). Quoted from the episode's YouTube auto-captions.

2026-09-29·youtube.com ↗

Clearing the AirBook Hannah Ritchie

recommended

If you want a book that explains the climate challenge without doom or denial, Clearing the Air is a must-read.

Gates's 2025 holiday reading list entry reviewing Hannah Ritchie's book on air pollution.

2025-11-25·gatesnotes.com ↗

Remarkably Bright CreaturesBook Shelby Van Pelt

recommended

I think anyone who enjoys fiction would enjoy this book, but it’s a must-read for people who grew up in Western Washington like I did.

Gates's 2025 holiday reading list entry on Shelby Van Pelt's novel.

2025-11-25·gatesnotes.com ↗

When Everyone Knows That Everyone KnowsBook Steven Pinker

recommended

If you are interested in learning more about how humans communicate and work together, I highly recommend reading When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows.

Gates's 2025 holiday reading list entry on Steven Pinker's book about common knowledge.

2025-11-25·gatesnotes.com ↗

An Unfinished Love StoryBook Doris Kearns Goodwin

recommended

Whether you already know a lot about the ’60s or you’re just dipping your toe into those waters, whether you want a deep dive into the art of political writing or a charming story about a married couple who adored each other, you’ll get it from An Unfinished Love Story.

Gates's 2024 holiday reading list entry on Doris Kearns Goodwin's memoir.

2024-12-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Anxious GenerationBook Jonathan Haidt

recommended

The Anxious Generation is a must-read for anyone raising, working with, or teaching young people today.

Gates's 2024 holiday reading list entry on Jonathan Haidt's book about phones and adolescence.

2024-12-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

How to Know a PersonBook David Brooks

recommended

It's a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their relationships and broaden their perspectives—and I believe it has the power to make us better friends, colleagues, and citizens.

Gates reviews David Brooks's book on seeing other people clearly.

2024-05-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

Infectious GenerosityBook Chris Anderson

recommended

If you want to help create a more generous world but don’t know where to start, Infectious Generosity is the book for you.

Gates reviews TED head Chris Anderson's book on generosity.

2024-05-21·gatesnotes.com ↗

Born in BlacknessBook Howard French

recommended

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Africa, its central role in the world, and the ways in which both have been misunderstood in the West, I highly recommend Born in Blackness.

Gates's 2023 summer reading list entry on Howard French's history of Africa.

2023-05-30·gatesnotes.com ↗

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowBook Gabrielle Zevin

recommended

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow resonated with me for personal reasons, but I think Zevin’s exploration of partnership and collaboration is worth reading no matter who you are.

Gates's 2023 summer reading list entry on Gabrielle Zevin's novel about game developers.

2023-05-30·gatesnotes.com ↗

How the World Really WorksBook Vaclav Smil

recommended

But I highly recommend reading him on the subject because he is so good at explaining how the world’s energy systems work today.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's book on the physical foundations of modern life.

2022-06-06·gatesnotes.com ↗

Numbers Don’t LieBook Vaclav Smil

recommended

I unabashedly recommend this book to anyone who loves learning.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's collection of short data-driven essays.

2021-08-03·gatesnotes.com ↗

Under a White SkyBook Elizabeth Kolbert

recommended

Despite these reservations, I still recommend reading Under a White Sky.

Gates reviews Elizabeth Kolbert's book on human intervention in nature.

2021-06-14·gatesnotes.com ↗

The New Jim CrowBook Michelle Alexander

recommended

If you’re interested in learning more about the real lives caught up in our country's justice system, I highly recommend The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.

Gates's 2020 holiday reading list entry on Michelle Alexander's book about mass incarceration.

2020-12-08·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Ride of a LifetimeBook Robert Iger

recommended

But I recently read another business book that I will happily recommend to anyone who asks: The Ride of a Lifetime, by former Disney CEO Robert Iger.

Gates reviews Bob Iger's memoir of running Disney.

2020-05-18·gatesnotes.com ↗

Presidents of WarBook Michael Beschloss

recommended

Presidents of War is worth reading, whether you are one of the nation’s leaders or just an armchair historian.

Gates reviews Michael Beschloss's history of American wartime presidents.

2019-05-20·gatesnotes.com ↗

Capitalism without CapitalBook Jonathan Haskel and Stian Westlake

recommended

Capitalism Without Capital is the first book I’ve seen that tackles them in depth, and I think it should be required reading for policymakers.

Gates reviews Haskel and Westlake's book about intangible investment.

2018-08-14·gatesnotes.com ↗

SapiensBook Yuval Noah Harari

recommended

Still, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history.

Gates's 2016 summer reading list entry on Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens.

2016-05-17·gatesnotes.com ↗

Being NixonBook Evan Thomas

recommended

It’s a worthwhile read for anyone who is interested in this brilliant, conflicted, and complicated man.

Gates's 2015 holiday reading list entry on Evan Thomas's biography of Richard Nixon.

2015-12-07·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Bully PulpitBook Doris Kearns Goodwin

recommended

I loved Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals, about President Lincoln, and highly recommend this one too.

Gates reviews Doris Kearns Goodwin's book on Roosevelt, Taft and the Progressive era.

2014-07-12·gatesnotes.com ↗

The BetBook Paul Sabin

recommended

I recommend The Bet to anyone wanting to understand the history of the divisive discussions we have today, especially the stalemate over climate change.

Gates reviews Paul Sabin's book on the Ehrlich-Simon wager over resource scarcity.

2013-12-12·gatesnotes.com ↗

A World-Class EducationBook Vivien Stewart

recommended

I recommend this book as a good overview of what other countries are doing, although I would have liked to see more data.

Gates reviews Vivien Stewart's book on education systems around the world.

2012-10-30·gatesnotes.com ↗

That Used to Be UsBook Tom Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum

recommended

The book has a valuable message and I recommend it, although there are some things I wish the authors had clarified.

Gates reviews Friedman and Mandelbaum's book on American competitiveness.

2012-02-27·gatesnotes.com ↗

The Man Who Fed the WorldBook Leon Hesser

recommended

Fortunately, there is a great biography of Borlaug, The Man Who Fed the World, which I highly recommend.

Gates writes about Norman Borlaug and the Green Revolution.

2012-01-24·gatesnotes.com ↗

Educational EconomicsBook Marguerite Roza

recommended

For a basic understanding of where education money comes from and how it gets spent, one of the books I highly recommend is Educational Economics: Where Do School Funds Go?

Gates reviews Marguerite Roza's book on how school money is actually spent.

2011-03-01·gatesnotes.com ↗

Energy Myths and RealitiesBook Vaclav Smil

recommended

I recommend this book to everyone who spends time working on energy issues, not to cheer them up but to help them have a stronger framework for evaluating energy promises.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's book debunking energy myths.

2010-10-13·gatesnotes.com ↗

Energy TransitionsBook Vaclav Smil

recommended

Even though this section overlaps with the other energy book he published this year (Energy Myths and Realities) it is still very much worth reading.

Gates reviews Vaclav Smil's Energy Transitions.

2010-10-06·gatesnotes.com ↗

SuperFreakonomicsBook Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

recommended

I recommend this book to anyone who reads nonfiction.

Gates's reflections on Levitt and Dubner's SuperFreakonomics.

2010-02-01·gatesnotes.com ↗

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