Melinda Gates makes inspiring literary debut with 'The Moment of Lift'

It is indeed the season of memoirs. After Michelle Obama’s highly lauded Becoming, Melinda Gates is making her literary debut in a heart-warming The Moment of Lift.

Launched a few days ago, the book is an account of Melinda’s highly successful stint at Microsoft as partner and her work as co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Melinda talks about the critical need to invest in women. Because, if only you do so, can you lift up a society - an important fact outlined in the book.

The third most powerful woman of the world, according to Forbes, does not stop at that. The Moment of Lift shares Melinda’s data from her conversations with women all over the world in an effort to understand gender equality at every level.

But what has perhaps garnered a lot of attention since the book was published was her statement about the brash culture at Microsoft in her early days at the company. She reveals that she wanted to quit but didn’t discuss it with her then boyfriend and later husband, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.

Also read: Beyond Michelle Obama's 'Becoming', here are 5 great memoirs by women to pick up on World Book Day

Despite the strong message conveyed through the book, there are also lighter moments that make it “human”. It brings across a certain vulnerability that Melinda Gates is neither ashamed nor afraid of.

Apart from that, it also focusses on the work of the Foundation, which in turn is a huge part of her life, how it has succeeded in breaking down numerous barriers, and its impact on people all over the world.

There are also specific tales from India - accounts of a sex worker and tales of deprivation. The Moment of Life is about the personal and the professional. It is a story of two worlds interspersed with snippets of her life, family, and marriage.

If you want someone to inspire you to do better in your career and also make a difference to the world you live in, who better than Melinda Gates? The book is certainly the “lift” you need in your life.

(Keep an eye out for a detailed book review of The Moment of Life coming soon on HerStory)

Also read: Bill and Melinda Gates’ 10th Annual Letter addresses the tough questions they face